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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

#41

Post by frwntfwtr »

mattstonebraker wrote: post #25
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…

To expand on this from the perspective of a student, I primarily study mathematics but will be pursing a double in math and cs, and I actually enjoy very rigorous (what some people may call dry or intimidating) textbooks in both fields because I am generally quite pedantic. However, that being said, I would love a book like this not necessarily as a main source of the actual information I am learning, but rather as a…

I agree on all counts. Thanks for the support!

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

#42

Post by abhirag »

mrexroad wrote: post #12

another thing you may find inspiration from are algorithm visualizations referenced or created by Edward Tufte [1] "Excellent sparkline-like graphics from Robert Sedgewick, Algorithms in C (1998) Sparklines and sparkline-like graphs can also move within complex multivariate spaces, as in these 9-step sequential results (reading down the columns) in merge-sorting 5 different types of input files. Four variables and 18…

Agree with the advice of taking inspiration from algorithm visualizations and would like to add the work of Mike Bostock to the list above --

[1] Article -- https://bost.ocks.org/mike/algorithms/ [2] Talk -- https://vimeo.com/112319901

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

#43

Post by moongu »

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/

glad to learn about him! i appreciate the artistically inclined visually explaining technical things. i also love randall munroe (xkcd author)'s thing explainer.

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

#44

Post by frwntfwtr »

tsumnia wrote: post #26

I don't see myself coloring the pages in; primarily as I wouldn't want to use up any resources. Granted, I'm a 30+ PhD student, so I might not be the targeted market. The only things I have of differing colors are dry erase markers. For a (much) younger audience, I could see the teacher buying this, but in that breath, they are always looking to not spend a lot (or any) money on supplies, so a $30-40 coloring book fo…

Thanks a lot for the input. It's super useful to hear a different perspective on the idea. I have no clue how much something like this should cost and will probably wait until it's closer to finished before deciding.

I think your idea about providing colored examples is good and have heard it from a few people now so that's definitely worth looking into.

Also I am red green colorblind so thanks for keeping people like me in mind! I'll have to remember to stay mindful of that.

Cheers

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

#45

Post by frwntfwtr »

kd1 wrote: post #38

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.

Thanks for the input. For more experienced folks, do you think it could be a nice break from coding just for fun?

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

#46

Post by Waterluvian »

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…

YES!!!

I was playing Human Resource Machine and implemented a linked list in assembly without even realising it. Once I did, I first felt so smart that I had to brag about it, and I also thought, "that wasn't so scary..."

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

#49

Post by cbzehner »

frwntfwtr wrote: post #40
jberry93 wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 =)

I'll buy it. Please do! I really like the idea of being able to share this with people just getting started who find algorithms intimidating (we're not all math double majors :P). It probably can't serve as a primary source of material but is a great supplement.

Grokking Algorithms by Aditya Bhargava is something I skim for fun occasionally and this seems like a great complement!

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

#50

Post by kd1 »

frwntfwtr wrote: post #45
kd1 wrote: post #38

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.

Thanks for the input. For more experienced folks, do you think it could be a nice break from coding just for fun?

Yes definitely
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