This is nice, simple and essential.
Teach Yourself Computer Science
161–170 of 273 posts
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science
#162Whenever i have someone ask me where to get started on CS - i give them a few options tiered to try and ensure some stickiness/higher utility for them specifically. ~Some Existing Touch Point With CS Teachyourselfcs.com is definitely in the conversation - in general I recommend it to friends who have a pre-existing "gateway" to the field (software engineer or otherwise). The page talks about progressing from "type 2"…
I'd never heard of OSSU, thanks. The maths courses linked in that are good, too.
The OSSU curriculum has a nice selection of textbooks.
However, I am concerned with the fact that these curated lists lack a unifying idea of what CS is.
If you go to pure math instead, the consensus is clear. A pure math bootcamp, like Math 55, is mostly linear algebra and real analysis, taught from Axler and Rudin in its current iteration.
Simpler math curriculums progress more slowly, or use easier textbooks, but the idea remains the same: Linear algebra and real analysis.
What is the equivalent distilled core of CS? It can't be so many things. There must be a core which you build upon by stacking other courses and textbooks.
My take on this is logic and computation. They are the algebra and calculus of CS, and they are intimately related by the Curry-Howard isomorphism. I find it alarming that CS students are often not taught basics of propositional logic, first-order predicate logic or lambda calculus. It's the basics, and it is really useful.
Software Foundations [1] implements a nice curriculum in line with the ideas I have written about, but it is aimed at graduates and consequently it lacks background. I am still thinking about combinations of textbooks for undergrads that would offer something equivalent. Any suggestions welcome.
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science
#163One thing I'm always amazed by when casually talking to people about what I do is how they don't think they can do it. Many people think that software engineering and programming are some inscrutable thing. Sometimes I try to tell them that it is nothing special, it doesn't take a mega genius or math expert to do it. That the most important skill is just being able to solve real problems, soft skills and breaking problems into parts. As well as the ability to self learn and research. I get the idea that most people don't believe that though. Or they think its a humblebrag. Rant done, it's just frustrating that people limit themselves like that.
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science
#164One thing I'm always amazed by when casually talking to people about what I do is how they don't think they can do it. Many people think that software engineering and programming are some inscrutable thing. Sometimes I try to tell them that it is nothing special, it doesn't take a mega genius or math expert to do it. That the most important skill is just being able to solve real problems, soft skills and breaking pro…
For me it's exactly the same.
Usually I try to explain them saying something along those lines but halfway through and I already find them distracted or confused
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science
#165One thing I'm always amazed by when casually talking to people about what I do is how they don't think they can do it. Many people think that software engineering and programming are some inscrutable thing. Sometimes I try to tell them that it is nothing special, it doesn't take a mega genius or math expert to do it. That the most important skill is just being able to solve real problems, soft skills and breaking pro…
A lot of jobs are very linear, like taking a task though some steps and wrangling people to help along the way.
I think programming in a professional context is a very unique job in how much fresh thinking is required most of the time. Even at low levels you really work in a very independent way and have to make serious choices. Having a ticket rock up for a JBoss 4 app written in Seam and Rich Faces becomes a challenge because yes I know the big topics like Java, App Servers etc but there's all this new old framework knowledge I have to reacquire to solve the issue.
Most jobs are not like that.
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science
#166I don't understand why so many programming jobs require a comp sci degree when very rarely do they require anything more than "programming"
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science
#167I don't understand why so many programming jobs require a comp sci degree when very rarely do they require anything more than "programming"
The CS degree is not for the job, it's for the individual
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science
#168One thing I'm always amazed by when casually talking to people about what I do is how they don't think they can do it. Many people think that software engineering and programming are some inscrutable thing. Sometimes I try to tell them that it is nothing special, it doesn't take a mega genius or math expert to do it. That the most important skill is just being able to solve real problems, soft skills and breaking pro…
I completely agree!
In my experience, this is often due to a lack of interest. Most people (including myself) often just want a product to work. When something fails to work correctly or you want extra features, you bring it to a shop to get it fixed. When you're not too interested in the process of fixing it, the process behind it can feel like magic.
I feel this way with most products I own or buy. For instance, for me, getting my car fixed can feel like this at times.
Getting deeper and deeper in computer science learned me that I could potentially learn allot, as long as I'm interested enough! Debugging a car couldn't be much worse than debugging a computer system, can it? You probably shouldn't start with some high end car, but an older example should be doable, right? This attitude got me through most of my college years. Sometimes you have to adjust the bar a little (or a lot) , but in the end, you probably can pull it off.