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Show HN: A coloring book of data structures and algorithms

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Re: Show HN: A coloring book of data structures and algorithms

#31

Post by infinite8s »

tw1010 wrote: post #8

I'm writing this off-the-cuff so don't read too much into it if you don't want to. I love this trend of using comics to describe technical ideas (which, as far as I can tell, started in earnest with Julia Evans). I think it's a great way to remove some of the scaryness-factor that more serious tomes (like Cormen et al) are associated to. I don't think the niche is nearly reaching oversaturation. I think there is plen…

I think it started earlier (around 2008) with Scott McCloud doing a comic describing the architecture of the (then newly introduced) Chrome browser, especially the innovation of running each tab in a separate process - http://www.scottmccloud.com/googlechrome/

Re: Show HN: A coloring book of data structures and algorithms

#32

Post by DonHopkins »

infinite8s wrote: post #31
tw1010 wrote: post #8

I'm writing this off-the-cuff so don't read too much into it if you don't want to. I love this trend of using comics to describe technical ideas (which, as far as I can tell, started in earnest with Julia Evans). I think it's a great way to remove some of the scaryness-factor that more serious tomes (like Cormen et al) are associated to. I don't think the niche is nearly reaching oversaturation. I think there is plen…

I think it started earlier (around 2008) with Scott McCloud doing a comic describing the architecture of the (then newly introduced) Chrome browser, especially the innovation of running each tab in a separate process - http://www.scottmccloud.com/googlechrome/

Scott McCloud is the Marshall McLuhan of Comic Art!

"McCloud" is congruent with "McLuhan", as "Understanding Comics" is congruent with "Understanding Media".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understanding_Comics

Re: Show HN: A coloring book of data structures and algorithms

#33

Post by billhathaway »

ijidak wrote: post #9

This is excellent. I'm starting up a coding school and would love something like this. I think something like this is critical for persons learning how to code that don't have a strong math background. Of course they'll need to graduate to more formal methods of learning, but this would help them to get an initial context before the more formal study starts. I don't think this would be an enormous money maker, just b…

you might be interested in https://www.manning.com/books/grokking-algorithms it is illustrated and very approachable

Re: Show HN: A coloring book of data structures and algorithms

#34

Post by jonjacky »

tw1010 wrote: post #8

I'm writing this off-the-cuff so don't read too much into it if you don't want to. I love this trend of using comics to describe technical ideas (which, as far as I can tell, started in earnest with Julia Evans). I think it's a great way to remove some of the scaryness-factor that more serious tomes (like Cormen et al) are associated to. I don't think the niche is nearly reaching oversaturation. I think there is plen…

Roger Kaufman's FORTRAN Coloring Book was published by MIT press in 1978.

Re: Show HN: A coloring book of data structures and algorithms

#36

Post by joshdance »

tw1010 wrote: post #8

I'm writing this off-the-cuff so don't read too much into it if you don't want to. I love this trend of using comics to describe technical ideas (which, as far as I can tell, started in earnest with Julia Evans). I think it's a great way to remove some of the scaryness-factor that more serious tomes (like Cormen et al) are associated to. I don't think the niche is nearly reaching oversaturation. I think there is plen…

Do you have a link to Julia's stuff?

Re: Show HN: A coloring book of data structures and algorithms

#37

Post by jberry93 »

tw1010 wrote: post #8

I'm writing this off-the-cuff so don't read too much into it if you don't want to. I love this trend of using comics to describe technical ideas (which, as far as I can tell, started in earnest with Julia Evans). I think it's a great way to remove some of the scaryness-factor that more serious tomes (like Cormen et al) are associated to. I don't think the niche is nearly reaching oversaturation. I think there is plen…

When it comes to comics, No Starch Press (https://www.nostarch.com/catalog/manga) has manga/comics that describes advanced ideas in a fun way. A Manga Guide to Algorithms and Data Structures sounds like a great addition to the collection

Re: Show HN: A coloring book of data structures and algorithms

#38

Post by kd1 »

I really liked this idea as an approach to learning algorithms, and i think it would really enhance people's understanding of an algorithm, because it's easier when they visualize it like that. But i think this would work better with younger people and high school students.

Re: Show HN: A coloring book of data structures and algorithms

#39

Post by bcook »

joshdance wrote: post #36
tw1010 wrote: post #8

I'm writing this off-the-cuff so don't read too much into it if you don't want to. I love this trend of using comics to describe technical ideas (which, as far as I can tell, started in earnest with Julia Evans). I think it's a great way to remove some of the scaryness-factor that more serious tomes (like Cormen et al) are associated to. I don't think the niche is nearly reaching oversaturation. I think there is plen…

Do you have a link to Julia's stuff?

https://jvns.ca

Re: Show HN: A coloring book of data structures and algorithms

#40

Post by frwntfwtr »

jberry93 wrote: post #37
tw1010 wrote: post #8

I'm writing this off-the-cuff so don't read too much into it if you don't want to. I love this trend of using comics to describe technical ideas (which, as far as I can tell, started in earnest with Julia Evans). I think it's a great way to remove some of the scaryness-factor that more serious tomes (like Cormen et al) are associated to. I don't think the niche is nearly reaching oversaturation. I think there is plen…

When it comes to comics, No Starch Press ( https://www.nostarch.com/catalog/manga ) has manga/comics that describes advanced ideas in a fun way. A Manga Guide to Algorithms and Data Structures sounds like a great addition to the collection

Actually the founder of No Starch reached out to me about publishing this book. Will definitely be following up with him =)
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