Re: university studies?

[Crutcher Dunnavant <crutcher@datastacks.com>]

++ 02/08/01 14:36 +0300 - Muzaffer Ozakca:
> 
> I don't think, one should learn all the "hot" languages of the day to
> become a good programmer. A computer science student should (and will)
> learn the theoretical background that lays beneath. Data structures,
> graph theory, computational linguistics, compiler theory, OS, AI, so on.

Hmm. Thank you, Knuth.

> Practical studies such as programming projects will let the students
> solid the theory. These thoughts are not actually mine, most of the
> computer science departments -more or less- follow a cirriculum
> appreciating these ideas, I think. However, a kernel (or systems)
> programmer should also know basics of microprocessors, interrupts, etc.
> and programming in assembly, besides the theory given in a university.

They also need to understand large parts of security, and system API
design.

> After getting the theory and completing the understanding by practice,
> learning a programming language is just a detail.

I disagree. This is equivalent to saying, once I am an archetect, it is
easy for me to build houses. Tools and practices take incredible amounts
of time to master. Languages take years, and learning the
non-algorithmic parts of hacking, like techniques for keeping namespaces
clean, or designing APIs to be extensible, or just tracking code; all
these are time devouring.

> Always solving problems "C" style, may not be the best approach,
> a functional language may better suit the needs -usually not in our course.

But, ultimately, computers are procedural. FP helps /prove/ algorithms,
but it is a terible way to actually run them.

-- 
Crutcher        <crutcher@datastacks.com>
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