The Big Programming Thread - Page 114

On February 07 2012 04:53 Inori wrote:

Well if you know your way around in programming (i.e. paradigms, design patterns, etc), then language doesn't really matter. Pick something that suits you. Or something trendy like Scala or node.js.

Since you have a whole year before school, then you could just learn them all (think of a simple project and build it with scala, node.js, ruby, python, java and c++), doing 1 language/1-2 months.

On February 07 2012 04:53 Inori wrote:

Well if you know your way around in programming (i.e. paradigms, design patterns, etc), then language doesn't really matter. Pick something that suits you. Or something trendy like Scala or node.js.

Since you have a whole year before school, then you could just learn them all (think of a simple project and build it with scala, node.js, ruby, python, java and c++), doing 1 language/1-2 months.

On February 08 2012 06:18 eFonSG wrote:
Hey, i need some help with string manipulation in Java.

Essentially im suppose to take a string from the user that is a word
Im writing a class that with a few different methods that are to help split the word up into syllables and help with pronunciation
For one of my methods, Im suppose to change lets say September into sep/tem/ber. Im not really sure how to go about attacking this. We have rules given for when to break syllables up, how to count them, etc.

"How to identify syllables: We’ll confine ourselves to just two situations, commonly known as the ‘vccv’
and ‘vcv’ rules. As you scan a word from left to right, if you encounter a vowel followed by two consonants
(non-vowels) followed by a vowel, divide between the consonants. For example, “hidden” contains this
pattern and is divided into two syllables: ‘hid/den’. If you see the ‘vcv’ pattern, divide before the
consonant. Thus, “consonant”, which exhibits both patterns, would be divided like this: ‘con/so/nant’."

I just need some direction on a project like this, im pretty lost about where to start. The string were manipulating is user input, so i cant find a consistent way to break it up correctly. Sometimes it feels like my brain just cant make the right connections when it comes to programming -.-

variable lower <-- lower_case <-- word
variable vc_form <-- convert_vowels_to_v <-- convert_consonants_to_c <-- lower
for symbol in vc_form:
   ... details ...

On February 07 2012 06:21 esotericc wrote:
Thanks for the advice, I think the one language every few months plan seems like the best course.

On February 08 2012 07:15 mmp wrote:

This sounds like homework...

First thing you want to do is think about the problem, think about how you would do it by hand if you were given this task to do instead of the computer. Use pencil & paper to sketch out your strategy.

Once you think you've got a basic strategy laid out, look for exceptional cases, anything you think might break your basic strategy.

Once you have a sound strategy, write it down as a series of logical steps, pseudocode preferably. Abstract over any details, like converting uppercase to lowercase, or how you will break the word into syllables. Just write what is intuitive.

Maybe it is sketched out something like this (don't actually use this, it is non-normative):

variable lower <-- lower_case <-- word
variable vc_form <-- convert_vowels_to_v <-- convert_consonants_to_c <-- lower
for symbol in vc_form:
   ... details ...

Ok, then in Java, you go and code up the lower_case method, the convert_foo_to_bar methods, etc. Once all of the pieces are put together, you test it. If it fails, then you either (a) didn't assemble one of the pieces correctly, or (b) your strategy failed.

If you think your strategy is getting too large and complicated for this task, then you need to go back to that pseudocode and find a more concise way of expressing your abstractions (how would you instruct a human to do this task?). Very likely, if you are concise enough in your abstraction, there is probably a library or algorithm already in existence to solve a similar problem.

Hint:
+ Show Spoiler +

So anyways. As I've mentioned, I'm third year. All of my knowledge in computer programming comes from my classes. I'll admit I'm not the best student, but I do pay attention when I can and I'm not exactly failing my way through this. I don't ever program on my free time or read programming-related things that aren't school related.

The thing is, I feel like I don't know anything. I feel like pepole who have way less education than me are more capable than I am.

What I hope is going on is that I'm being given the basic (and hopefully more advanced, too) programming skills and knowledge that can be applied to all computer science, and then the more specific things I'll be able to pick up without too much effort.

Any computer-related(or even technology-related) job you ever get will only be familiar, related to your college education, and simple for a short period of time. In case you weren't aware, computers are leaps and bounds ahead of where they were a mere 10 years ago. Look back 20 years, and it's almost like we're dealing with alien technology.

On February 08 2012 08:44 Kasha_Not_Kesha wrote:
I had a couple of responses to Crazyeyes, the guy who's post is quoted in the first post, so I figured I'd throw them out there and see what you all think =P


This is a huge issue right here. It honestly doesn't even matter that you aren't the best student; the issue is you aren't driven to learn. You need to pursue this stuff in your spare time, and you need to do so because you love it. Math teachers always say "you can't learn math unless you practice it a lot"; the same is true of Computer Science. You can't learn to program unless you do it a lot, and you probably won't do it a lot unless you really truly love it.

Any computer-related(or even technology-related) job you ever get will only be familiar, related to your college education, and simple for a short period of time. In case you weren't aware, computers are leaps and bounds ahead of where they were a mere 10 years ago. Look back 20 years, and it's almost like we're dealing with alien technology. Computer related fields are constantly changing, and if you don't love learning/lack the drive to continually teach yourself new things and keep up to date on the major developments that are going on in your field, you aren't going to be very successful (Unless your job involves computer proficiency, rather than computer science).

Taking a passive approach to learning programming is a pitfall because it sets you up for failure in a big way, and it doesn't prepare you for a future where everything you learned in college is antiquated and discussed in history books. You have to get yourself interested and knowledgeable about this stuff, because eventually the demands placed on you won't come from a professor that also gives you everything you need to know to meet those demands.


They probably are. You don't need (nor, in my opinion, should you really have) someone to teach you how to program; there are guides and tutorials galore available for free online, and knowing how to find them is just another skill every programmer should develop as soon as possible. I'm a sophomore in college at the moment, and I have a friend who is two years younger than me that recently graduated High school and isn't going to college. He's never taken a single programming course in his entire life; I've taken somewhere around 8. Despite all of this, he's a hundred times more knowledgeable about computers in general, and a million times better at programming than I am, because he's so damn interested in it, and he has the drive to teach himself and learn, something I only recently developed in myself.


If I can give you any advice it's that you not rely on college to teach you ANYTHING. College is more or less a place you go to in order to secure a paper that tells possible employers that you probably aren't too stupid. You won't get anything of value out of college unless you pursue it yourself. [Your professors *should* know a hell of a lot, and they are resources you literally can't utilize enough, ever. Ask them questions, ask them for challenges, ask them for interesting topics to look into and read about. Just going to lectures and pulling off B's in all of your classes isn't going to make you a good, or even mediocre programmer. You *have* to work at it yourself and go beyond what is required of you, and the best time to do it is now, while you still have physical access to people that (ideally) know how to answer any questions you could have.

On February 08 2012 08:02 eFonSG wrote:



Hey thanks for the reply, and it is homework; but its self mandated homework. Im doing this out of a book i bought. But thats why i tried not to ask for direct help instead i just wanted some direction. I Want to be able to do this, so just getting the answer doesnt help all that much. One of my problems though, is that this is straight up not that intuitive to me and im very unfamiliar with writing any code by hand. Still, I appreciate the help, and i like the approach you laid out, ill do my best on this see if i can piece it together. Thanks again

On February 08 2012 08:02 eFonSG wrote:
Edit: a few hours later and 0 progress, i cant wrap my head around any of this. And ive been doing this for months, i must just be fucking stupid, it will not click in my head.

On February 10 2012 06:47 Kasha_Not_Kesha wrote:
Programming books are very rarely worth the money. If you're trying to teach yourself how to program in a specific language, it's usually easier and cheaper (and more beneficial in the long run) to look up tutorials online. That's my opinion anyway =P