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Learning CS

S

shiz stain

Junior Member
I want to know either from anyone who taught themselves Computer Science, or who went to a college how quickly you should pick up the concepts?

I'm having trouble figuring out the actual code for programs. Is it something that should come naturally, or does it take a while to really read something and "see" what it does without having to exert too much effort?

Experiences?


Edited for clarity.
 
Originally posted by: Mo0o
It's not very hard. Click left mouse button to shoot, WASD to move. pew pew pew
Click to expand...

few other buttons for crouch, switch weapons, buy weapons, but this is all pretty self-explanatory when you actually get in front of the comp.
 
Originally posted by: Fayd
Originally posted by: Mo0o
It's not very hard. Click left mouse button to shoot, WASD to move. pew pew pew
Click to expand...

few other buttons for crouch, switch weapons, buy weapons, but this is all pretty self-explanatory when you actually get in front of the comp.
Click to expand...

Whoa easy. He's not going for a PhD in CS here mr. braniac. Just teh basics please.
 
"Learn CS?" First, you need to learn English, then learn that CS stands for Computer Science. Then you need to ask the correct question:

1) How hard is it to learn Assembly/C#/Java/...?
2) How hard is it to create efficient solutions to impossible problems?
3) ...

Your question is like asking, "How hard is it to learn Science." Science can be engineering, physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy, ...
 
Do you mean computer science, or just programming? They're very different. I'd say you'd have a hard time learning CompSci by yourself, not because the material is particularly difficult (although some of it is challenging) but because much of the material in a CS degree (especially early on) is just plain boring. Things like finite state automata and context-free grammars are necessary but mind-numbing.

Programming on the other hand, anyone can learn if they really want to. Pick a language/framework, grab a relevant book (look in the programming subforum for some great resources) and practice, practice, practice. Yes, it can take a while to "think in code", but it's a matter of time for most people. Lots of reading, lots of practice.
 
Originally posted by: Safeway
"Learn CS?" First, you need to learn English, then learn that CS stands for Computer Science. Then you need to ask the correct question:

1) How hard is it to learn Assembly/C#/Java/...?
2) How hard is it to create efficient solutions to impossible problems?
3) ...

Your question is like asking, "How hard is it to learn Science." Science can be engineering, physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy, ...
Click to expand...

It's entirely possible that he really wants to learn CompSci, and if that's the case then I don't see a problem with the question.
 
Some find it easy, some find it hard. It isn't exactly something you can teach yourself. The world of a Computer Scientist is very vast. The biggest benefit to going to college for it is to be able to learn where to focus you study. You can spend a long time learning how to do something thats already been done or not important.

As for the code, Um, its always read pretty natural to me. Do this, then this, not much to figuring it out (other then syntactical issues)
 
Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Originally posted by: Safeway
"Learn CS?" First, you need to learn English, then learn that CS stands for Computer Science. Then you need to ask the correct question:

1) How hard is it to learn Assembly/C#/Java/...?
2) How hard is it to create efficient solutions to impossible problems?
3) ...

Your question is like asking, "How hard is it to learn Science." Science can be engineering, physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy, ...
Click to expand...

It's entirely possible that he really wants to learn CompSci, and if that's the case then I don't see a problem with the question.
Click to expand...

Mo-beda quershon equals mo-beda ansa.
 
Originally posted by: tfinch2
Originally posted by: shiz stain
Experiences?
Click to expand...

Yeah. You'll never get laid with shit stains. Now were is my iPod?
Click to expand...

I am reminded of this:

http://www.thestranger.com/sea...SavageLove?oid=1670083


Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Do you mean computer science, or just programming? They're very different. I'd say you'd have a hard time learning CompSci by yourself, not because the material is particularly difficult (although some of it is challenging) but because much of the material in a CS degree (especially early on) is just plain boring. Things like finite state automata and context-free grammars are necessary but mind-numbing.

Programming on the other hand, anyone can learn if they really want to. Pick a language/framework, grab a relevant book (look in the programming subforum for some great resources) and practice, practice, practice. Yes, it can take a while to "think in code", but it's a matter of time for most people. Lots of reading, lots of practice.
Click to expand...

Good points. :thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: shiz stain
I want to know either from anyone who taught themselves CS, or who went to a college how quickly you should pick up the concepts?

I'm having trouble figuring out the actual code for programs. Is it something that should come naturally, or does it take a while to really read something and "see" what it does without having to exert too much effort?

Experiences?
Click to expand...

Well ok now for a real reply. Like with anything else learning Computing Science on your own aka (teaching yourself), you are going to pick up some really bad habits and there are going to be things that you just won't lean. Taking the classes is the way to go if you are actually thinking of making a career of it!! Not to mention it will make it a lot easier to get those first few jobs!! You can teach yourself a surprising amount on the raw programming/coding side but there are a lot of things like good OOP design / class layout and a lot more that I don't know that you will not learn by yourself.

Edit: What GA said above too. A lot of stuff in a CS degree beyond programming is not stuff you will likely pick up on your own. There's a fair bit of math involved, which isn't too bad for me cause I really like math but if you don't it's stuff you really have to slug through.
 
It is really the intro to programming classes on Stanford via Youtube, and various web sites that I have been trying to learn from. I don't want to embark on a full blown degree in Computer Science if I can't wrap my head around the simple concepts.

It just seems very difficult to follow some of the logic and syntax. I have only just started learning it though, so without years and my teens spent practising maybe that's normal. It's the reason I'm asking, really.
 
10,000 hours...

course there is also the matter of natural talent/inclination.
like how some people can learn math rather easily compared to others.
 
Really you should go to school to learn the stuff that you didn't know that you don't know.

Just picking up some programming skills can leave you in a situation where you know just enough to be dangerous...
 
Originally posted by: shiz stain
It is really the intro to programming classes on Stanford via Youtube, and various web sites that I have been trying to learn from. I don't want to embark on a full blown degree in Computer Science if I can't wrap my head around the simple concepts.

It just seems very difficult to follow some of the logic and syntax. I have only just started learning it though, so without years and my teens spent practising maybe that's normal. It's the reason I'm asking, really.
Click to expand...

Maybe you should take real college classes to find out if you are actually into it and see how difficult it is? Maybe do some job shadowing or something, idk...
 
Originally posted by: shiz stain
It just seems very difficult to follow some of the logic and syntax.
Click to expand...

Life fail. You'd be better off studying underwater basketweaving.
 
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