Cambridge Chat (previously New Cambridge Students Entry 2004)

you're learning programming languages for your course!?
Which one is the snake one and which is the untidy one.....only if you know the names of course

i got that "the pleasures of counting" book...did you read that cover to cover!?

Reply 4202

Willla2

you're learning programming languages for your course!?
Which one is the snake one and which is the untidy one.....only if you know the names of course

i got that "the pleasures of counting" book...did you read that cover to cover!?

I read 20 pages of "the pleasure of counting" and given in to the pleasure of computer (psx) games... :redface:

I only did a bit of python. Not really enough for the course. I go this book called Python something, but if you download Active Python from ActiveState (ActivePerl is anothing you may be interested in if you are running a server) you'll get a tutorial/documentation with it.

It says on the recommandation that you should stay away from languages such as C/C++. Looks like it's already too late for me. I spent 2 weeks during easter on C++, now I wish I really hadn't. Then again, I got a copy of C++Builder 6 Enterprise I wanted to try out. So, I'm not really beyond helps, am I?

Reply 4203

I've dabbled in activeperl before....Perl just frustrated me though, with all the characters everywhere. I spent 5 hours debugging a script, trying to find out where I'd made a mistake. It was a single backslash I had forgotten...GRRRR

So i discovered php and left perl behind. I can still do a bit of perl though, given a quick reminder from a tutorial or something.

I've had a go at C/C++ before, but never really got beyond the basics...nothing which I couldnt do in Pascal or something (which is what my school uses to help teach program structure).

So what languages do they recommend it's worthing dabbling in? I haven't recieved ANY compsci info...kind of annoying me now i guess!

What are the other compsci books you've read for prep work? How much of them did you actually read?

Reply 4204

musicbloke

17

Willla2

There's a mistake in the Willla2 account (i accidentally spelt it with 3 l's)...I spell Will with 2 L's like everyone else does.

Ok, I thought it might be like "henry" who spells his name Hen4ry (with a silent 4)

MB

Reply 4205

no, it's hen3ry....the 3 is silent you see.

And we will ALL go together when we go
What a comforting fact that is to know
No-one will have the endurance
To collect on his insurance
Lloyds of london will be loaded when we go!

Reply 4206

MadNatSci

You can always call me Fred, if it's easier...

Reply 4207

I have never read any computer books from cover to cover. I bought a book on Delphi7 from Amazon when D7 was first released. But, I never went beyond p35. I had that C++ book for about a year now. No one else who's using the library seems to be complaining about it. In a year, I read about 200 pages, which doesn't cover a lot. I stopped just before the bits about pointers.

The first program I wrote was in Java. But I didn't like the idea of have to type in java followed by the name of the bite codes. Then again, I never understood Java. Then I went onto perl, spent 3 or 4 weeks on it and moved onto Pascal. Got a copy of P7 which is always a plus. Borrowed a book from a library, read a bit and stopped when it got to pascal units.

Can't really say I know very much about programming. In fact, I'd probably be better off if I had applied for a Maths degree. The recommandation they set was Python due to its "Simplicity". But I see no point in you doing much preparation for the course. In fact, modifying CamSIS would be a better preparation than doing Python, in my opinion. Then again, there's no harm in learning a new language. After all, Dr Michael Wise of Pembroke College uses it a lot.

Reply 4208

well if python is much like other languages i dont think I'll bother....any simple language I pick up the basics of pretty quickly.

And by the sounds of things, the level of C/c++ you've done wont affect you...i've done about the same amount and it's all very basic program structure stuff.

Stil need to find the "Computing - A Modern Introduction" book!

Reply 4209

musicbloke

17

Willla2

no, it's hen3ry....the 3 is silent you see.

And we will ALL go together when we go
What a comforting fact that is to know
No-one will have the endurance
To collect on his insurance
Lloyds of london will be loaded when we go!

lol, I knew it was something like that.

The best is of course...

Who made me the genius I am today,
The mathematician that others all quote?
Who's the professor that made me that way,
The greatest that ever got chalk on his coat?

One man deserves the credit,
One man deserves the blame,
and Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name. Oy!
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobache...

I am never forget the day I first meet the great Lobachevsky.
In one word he told me secret of success in mathematics: Plagiarize!

Plagiarize,
Let no one else's work evade your eyes,
Remember why the good Lord made your eyes,
So don't shade your eyes,
But plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize...
Only be sure always to call it please, "research".

And ever since I meet this man my life is not the same,
And Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name. Oy!
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobache...

I am never forget the day I am given first original paper to write. It
was on Analytic and Algebraic Topology of Locally Euclidean Metrization
of Infinitely Differentiable Riemannian Manifold.
Bozhe moi!
This I know from nothing.**
But I think of great Lobachevsky and I get idea - haha!

I have a friend in Minsk,
Who has a friend in Pinsk,
Whose friend in Omsk
Has friend in Tomsk
With friend in Akmolinsk.
His friend in Alexandrovsk
Has friend in Petropavlovsk,
Whose friend somehow
Is solving now
The problem in Dnepropetrovsk.

And when his work is done -
Haha! - begins the fun.
From Dnepropetrovsk
To Petropavlovsk,
By way of Iliysk,
And Novorossiysk,
To Alexandrovsk to Akmolinsk
To Tomsk to Omsk
To Pinsk to Minsk
To me the news will run,
Yes, to me the news will run!

And then I write
By morning, night,
And afternoon,
And pretty soon
My name in Dnepropetrovsk is cursed,
When he finds out I published first!

And who made me a big success
And brought me wealth and fame?
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name. Oy!
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobache...

I am never forget the day my first book is published.
Every chapter I stole from somewhere else.
Index I copy from old Vladivostok telephone directory.
This book, this book was sensational!***
Pravda - ah, Pravda - Pravda said:
"Jeel beel kara ogoday blyum blocha jeli," ("It stinks").
But Izvestia! Izvestia said:
"Jai, do gudoo sun sai pere shcum," ("It stinks").
Metro-Goldwyn-Moskva bought the movie rights for six million rubles,
Changing title to 'The Eternal Triangle',
With Brigitte Bardot playing part of hypotenuse.****

And who deserves the credit?
And who deserves the blame?
Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky is his name.
Oy!

Reply 4210

yeah that one is pretty damn good i have to admit!

Reply 4211

Willla2

Stil need to find the "Computing - A Modern Introduction" book!

I found that book on the catalogue of the Leicester Uni library. But, they don't actually have it on the shelf and the librarian doesn't know where it is either. :confused:

Reply 4212

is there a ranking table anywhere of the biggest threads? I dont have a subscription, but i accept that the mysterious "Moaning Thread" is definitely biggest. But still, after the harry potter thread, are we 3rd biggest or what?

Reply 4213

figgetyfig

2

MadNatSci

You can always call me Fred, if it's easier...

I also answer to "Nicola", "Fig" and occasionally "Oy!"

Reply 4214

figgetyfig

I also answer to "Nicola", "Fig" and occasionally "Oy!"

Why not "Oi" but "Oy"?

Reply 4215

figgetyfig

2

Camford

Why not "Oi" but "Oy"?

Hmmm, I'm sure I'd answer to "oi!" too...

On the subject of computer programming languages, I considered taking out "C++ for Dummies" from my local library, as this is the language which Cambridge use in the Engineering course, and to be honest, I haven't a clue about any of it!

Reply 4216

shiny

figgetyfig

On the subject of computer programming languages, I considered taking out "C++ for Dummies" from my local library, as this is the language which Cambridge use in the Engineering course, and to be honest, I haven't a clue about any of it!

they teach you from scratch :smile:

Reply 4217

figgetyfig

Hmmm, I'm sure I'd answer to "oi!" too...

On the subject of computer programming languages, I considered taking out "C++ for Dummies" from my local library, as this is the language which Cambridge use in the Engineering course, and to be honest, I haven't a clue about any of it!

I don't recommand that one. Normally what you find in the Dummies series are things you can learn well within 3 days. Then again, I don't recommand anyone starting their programming experience with C++. However, if you have something like the borland C++Builder or VC++ or even MetroWorks CodeWorrior, the experience could be slightly better than just a simple command line compiler. (Borland C++ complier v 5.5 is free to download, but, horrible thing to use, yak!)

Start on something simpler. Like Python for instance. If you are going to learn Python, I recommand you download Active Python from ActiveState. (do a search in google of course.) Once you've got the hang of programming learning a new language should be child play. A competent programmer should be able to grasp the basics of a new language well within two weeks. My suggestion is that it's better to follow your programming lecturers once you are there.

Reply 4218