Beginner Computer Scientist

Hi, I'm going to be studying computer science at uni from October and I don't actually have much proper programming knowledge. Does anyone have some good advice as to where I should start at? (Like what languages to learn and the like) I've been looking a bit at codecademy which has been a fun start atm. Cheers.

Reply 1

Lewissunn

Python is basically English. Start there if you have nothing to go on. There is a game called 'Human Resource machine' Which is good at teaching and understanding optimization but otherwise isn't very related.

Reply 2

BakedPotatoast

I'll take a look thanks!

Reply 3

theBranicAc

Original post by BakedPotatoast

learn python, easiest language to learn, use this website to teach you : http://cscircles.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/

after that learn a harder language like java

Reply 4

oShahpo

This book is the best resource you can possibly get your hands on,
http://pdfsr.com/pdf/how-to-think-like-a-computer-scientist

Reply 5

BakedPotatoast

Python seems to be the best place to start, I'll take a look at them, cheers.

Reply 6

theBranicAc

Original post by oShahpo

This book is the best resource you can possibly get your hands on,
http://pdfsr.com/pdf/how-to-think-like-a-computer-scientist

no don't read books to learn python, you have to been hands on to be good at it

Reply 7

oShahpo

Original post by theBranicAc

no don't read books to learn python, you have to been hands on to be good at it

That's possibly the worst advice a person could give when it comes to computer science.
Reading books and learning hands on are not mutually exclusive, quite the opposite. You can't learn a python book without working with an IDE, so you will have to work hands on if you plan to study Python using a book. The advantage of reading a book, however, to all the other silly websites on the internet, is that you learn the ins and outs of the language, why it works and how it works, instead of just learning how write a program or a game without understanding the deep mechanics of the language, which is essential to any computer scientist.

Reply 8

theBranicAc

Original post by oShahpo

my point is if you just read a book and no hands on experience, that is the worst way to learn python, however if you learn jusst hands on experience it won't be that bad.

Also many websites do teach you the ins and outs, the logic and the problem solving to programming, for example this website: http://cscircles.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/

Reply 9

oShahpo

Original post by theBranicAc

If that was true, then why do universities have textbooks? Surely you can just learn the program without a book, but why not benefit from the knowledge of pioneers in the field?

Reply 10

niteninja1

I wouldn't reccomend Python. Email the uni and ask what programming languages they use mine use Java mainly.

Also if you have no knowledge what so ever start with something like Visual Basic as there are loads of resources. It is easy to set up and is a hybrid of pure code and a GUI (let's you program the logic/function of a button but creates the button itself).

Reply 11

theBranicAc

Original post by oShahpo

If that was true, then why do universities have textbooks? Surely you can just learn the program without a book, but why not benefit from the knowledge of pioneers in the field?