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Ask HN: Math for Programmers?

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Re: Ask HN: Math for Programmers?

#41

Post by deterministic »

throw_away_8080 wrote: post #9

Category theory has very hard definitions and not many theorems. Would not recommend. It has Grand Unified Theory vibes so pseudo intellectuals have a hard on for it. Don't waste your time trying to understand people who write to make themselves sound smart. You aren't missing out on anything. Here is a recent article from TOPLAS, imo a top programming language journal. No category theory here... https://dl.acm.org/d…

Agree 100%. CT is fun if you like abstract mathematics. But it is not a practical useful tool for developing software. A much better choice would be “Software Foundations”. Now that is also hyper abstract math but useful for developing real world software. As demonstrated with the CompCert and seL4 projects. Even pro mathematicians are starting to dive on (see the LEAN mathlib project for example).

Re: Ask HN: Math for Programmers?

#43

Post by warrenm »

>So how hard or how many math domains should one learn to be able to understand all major CS theory?

Understand "all major CS theory"? ...you need all the math

However, you'll never understand "all major CS theory" (maybe Donald Knuth does...but no one else does, that's for sure) - so focus on what you want to know/do, then study the math that's related to it (at least enough to be passingly conversant)

Best way to figure out the math you need to know is to survey the math requirements of several CS degree programs ...people far smarter than you have been working on this far longer than you've been alive - and their work is show in the degree requirements :)

Re: Ask HN: Math for Programmers?

#44

Post by warrenm »

eternityforest wrote: post #27

This is not a math textbook. It's a listing of the math that I am glad to vaguely be aware of, without anything that requires true understanding, because I don't have that, but with references to what the people who do have it can do! It's 90kb of pure text and covers a lot of domains with just enough info you could figure out how to make a CAS do the things, with maybe some googling. It's had some reviews, and it fa…

That's an awesome github post!

I shared it direct on HN - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35357865

Re: Ask HN: Math for Programmers?

#45

Post by fbomb »

Over the last 30+ years, I've found automata theory to be pretty much indispensable. I can't even begin to tell you the number of times I've run across hideously complex logic that I replaced with a simple and maintainable finite state machine.
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