Is there any place where you can discuss the textbook problems in this course?
There's a discord group
https://jointeachyourselfcs.carrd.co/
Teach Yourself Computer Science (2020)
41–50 of 58 posts
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science (2020)
#42I think the advice to avoid an MSCS should be taken with a grain of salt, particularly if you have an undergrad degree in CS and/or already know the material on this page. While it is true that programs are cash cows and there is both potential debt and opportunity cost, you can learn a lot if you pick the right courses, such as well-taught graduate systems courses with a serious project component. I have often wishe…
The cash cow thing depends on region. Up here my MSc was effectively free.
Not sure you understood already, but I think the GP means actually at no cost.
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science (2020)
#43I'm a self-taught programmer and I've been looking at this curriculum longingly for a while now. I've been working up the courage to quit a cushy but unfulfilling job to study CS full-time (also math and physics, but that's just for fun). I fell in love with programming after I started working, and have spent the last 7 years automating everything I can in my job. I'm confident in my ability to solve problems, but I'…
>the courage to quit a cushy but unfulfilling job to study CS full-time
My advice would be, don't.
It will not make you a better developer. Most of the best software engineers I've come across are like yourselves; the worst ones are those with CS degrees.
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science (2020)
#44Computer science is overrated. Computer engineering on the other hand... much more practical ;)
I'm seeing this belief more and more among engineers these days. It's not even an admission of ignorance, but an explicit position they hold. "You don't need to know the chemical composition of the patty to flip burgers," one told me. All I was doing was trying to explain that he could be way more than a burger flipper if he learned more deeply.
If you ask me, the word computer scientist mostly applies to people in academia, and those spend most of their time teaching the same thing every year, or trying to get their papers accepted, and fighting workplace politics instead of doing something practical.
Knowing what something is isn't science, it's just being educated. Figuring out a new type of semiconductor or new sorting algorithm is science, and even that sometimes isn't. Something that I threw together one night that hasn't been peer reviewed isn't science, it's just engineering.
Obligatory SMBC: https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2011-02-17
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science (2020)
#45Eerie. I was just browsing this site minutes ago. Good all-around guide but I wonder if it could use an update to include things like machine learning, cryptography, or safety-critical software.
They respond to that update suggestion in their FAQ. Machine learning in particular is just not something they belief every type 1 engineer needs to know.
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science (2020)
#46Earlier quoted context omitted.
I definitely got significant value out of studying CS in a structured/academic context after being self-taught; it helped a lot of concepts that I already fuzzily understood gel together. For instance, I had written little config file parsers, and even most of my own (mini) programming language, but taking a course on programming languages, studying grammars, lexers, parsers, etc. helped make everything click and fee…
> but taking a course on programming languages, studying grammars, lexers, parsers, etc. helped make everything click and feel less shaky. I'm currently trying to learn all of this and wish I had completed my CS degree since you have peers going through the same thing, and a professor for office hours. I find it a little difficult to get through on my own, but I hope to get far enough to participate in PL.
Check out https://craftinginterpreters.com/. I created a interpreter with the help of this book and it's been a great resource.
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science (2020)
#47Love this website, and love how there are more and more resources for auto-didacts. For anyone who wants to learn how to draw, check out drawabox: https://www.drawabox.com . The guy started out just wanted to share the basics and now I think he makes a living through that site. EDIT: I should also add that I know drawabox is off topic, but it is IMO a great example of where education might be going. Carefully constru…
I get a “you should go back-this site looks like it’s impersonating drawbox” message from that link.
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science (2020)
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm seeing this belief more and more among engineers these days. It's not even an admission of ignorance, but an explicit position they hold. "You don't need to know the chemical composition of the patty to flip burgers," one told me. All I was doing was trying to explain that he could be way more than a burger flipper if he learned more deeply.
If you ask me, the word computer scientist mostly applies to people in academia, and those spend most of their time teaching the same thing every year, or trying to get their papers accepted, and fighting workplace politics instead of doing something practical. Knowing what something is isn't science, it's just being educated. Figuring out a new type of semiconductor or new sorting algorithm is science, and even that…
> trying to get their papers accepted
I think that to do that one has to spend (most of their) time writing those papers, and doing the research contained in them.
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science (2020)
#49It's cool that there are more of these around; I remember I just kind of went to a few universities' CS program Web sites, looked at what courses you'd take to get the major and what books they used, and went from there.
I use this method for every subject I want to know deeply. After I have the foundational knowledge down I can create my own niche curriculum.
Re: Teach Yourself Computer Science (2020)
#50Love this website, and love how there are more and more resources for auto-didacts. For anyone who wants to learn how to draw, check out drawabox: https://www.drawabox.com . The guy started out just wanted to share the basics and now I think he makes a living through that site. EDIT: I should also add that I know drawabox is off topic, but it is IMO a great example of where education might be going. Carefully constru…
As someone who always struggled to draw anything , even stick figures, this site just seems like a new revelation to me.
Google "Darren Rousar The Sight Size Cast". The two approaches to drawing are constructive and observational. Internet guides like draw a box largely neglect the observational side.