Should We Do "Computer Science"? • Hacker News Board

Re: Should We Do "Computer Science"?

#11

Post by njharman » Fri, Mar 06, 2009, 7:16 AM UTC

Zak wrote: post #5

I think the kind of education and training needed for most software development situations is not widely available. What's needed, and starting to show up is a software engineering degree that bridges the gap between code-monkey and computer scientist. Vocational education programs in computer programming tend to produce code-monkeys who produce internal applications that don't do anything especially interesting. The…

You overestimate(wish fulfillment?) the prevalence of difficult problems. The vast majority of work involves problems that you classify as not doing "anything especially interesting" and written by "code-monkeys".

Re: Should We Do "Computer Science"?

#12

Post by koningrobot » Fri, Mar 06, 2009, 8:29 AM UTC

jhaski wrote: post #9

In my opinion, a university education should only be about intellectual curiosity with the greatest research minds. If you are only interested in the practical aspects of programming, I don't think that a university fits your needs. To extend this thought, I also believe that someone majoring in any field--from English to art history--should be able to become professional programmers. I feel that industry is trying t…

In my opinion, a university education should only be about intellectual curiosity with the greatest research minds. If you are only interested in the practical aspects of programming, I don't think that a university fits your needs.

I agree with this. I've been working as a programmer for a couple of years now and I'm planning to go to university to study computer science. I'm kind of annoyed that all of the universities I've looked at are all business now: the brochures are full of how students won't "miss out" on the practical, real-world side of things.

That's exactly what I'm not looking for, but unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any place to go if all you want is computer science.

Re: Should We Do "Computer Science"?

#13

Post by lacker » Sat, Mar 07, 2009, 6:04 PM UTC

Universities cannot churn out people who have real world experience. That is a fundamental contradiction.

Where do we find programmers who understand both the theory of algorithms and the practice of software engineering? It's simple - find someone who learned the theory in school and also has a few years of experience applying that theory. There are many of these people. If you can't find them, maybe the opportunity you are offering is not very attractive.

Re: Should We Do "Computer Science"?

#14

Post by lacker » Sat, Mar 07, 2009, 6:07 PM UTC

menloparkbum wrote: post #10

When I talk to new "university" programmers, they can write a heap sort from memory, they can explain complicated algorithms they've memorized... If that's actually the case he should be hiring those people because most interviewees can't even do those things.

Definitely. It's not too hard to teach a smart but inexperienced employee things like how to use source control, automated testing, multiple language paradigms, and "why deadlines are important".