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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

#51

Post by znpy »

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…

> which, as far as I can tell, started in earnest with Julia Evans

Sacha Chua " rel="nofollow">http://sachachua.com/blog/> used to do this way earlier than Julia Evans.

No flame though, just wanted to point this out.

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

#52

Post by supergreg »

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…

How DNS works is a favorite of mine: https://howdns.works/

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

#54

Post by devdad »

cbzehner wrote: post #49
frwntfwtr wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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!

I second this. Love the idea.

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

#56

Post by frwntfwtr »

cbzehner wrote: post #49
frwntfwtr wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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!

Awesome! If you want me to notify you when the book comes out, I put together a simple mailing list at coderscoloringbook.com. Thanks

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

#57

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…

Oh, forgot to mention if you want me to notify you when the book comes out, I put together a simple mailing list at coderscoloringbook.com. Thanks

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

#58

Post by frwntfwtr »

pera wrote: post #7

I would totally buy a book like this. I think if you also added some pseudocode that would make it much more effective: you could, for instance, have pseudocode (and maybe some complexity analysis) on the left page, and the coloring on the right page. Somehow it reminds me to The Little Schemer :)

Forgot to mention! if you want me to notify you when the book comes out, I put together a simple mailing list at coderscoloringbook.com. Thanks

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

#59

Post by aphextron »

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 remember really loving Oreilly's "Head First" series of intro web programming books [0]. The way they laid things out in a relatable fashion really stuck with me as a beginner programmer. There's definitely a lot to be said for losing the ego and "dumbing" things down to easily digested formats so long as it's being done by an expert.

https://www.amazon.com/Head-First-JavaScript-Programming-Bra... [0]

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