Why computer science degrees fail.
Sun, 08/31/2008 - 19:48 | nullpuppy
I want to start out and state that this is merely an opinion from someone who has not yet completed his degree and has not worked in the industry as a computer scientist or developer yet. With that out of the way, let me explain, in the following, fairly long post.
For years I have considered myself to be part of the hacker culture, at least in spirit. I regret to say that my contributions to the world are few and far between, and nothing has really been of use. Much less, I haven’t really done anything in a very long time, and this reality helps motivate me to keep trying. Keep learning. Keep moving forward. The lack of contribution has motivated me to keep moving, even when things look dark and fruitless. Nearly two years ago now, I applied to DigiPen Institute of Technology to pursue a degree in Computer Engineering. As most of those that read this blog know, I was accepted and Tuesday, Sept 2nd, is the first day of my Sophomore year.
As I hope all of you know, today was the last day of the Penny Arcade Expo for 2008. This weekend has been incredibly exhausting, but worth every moment, and I plan to post A LOT about this weekend here shortly. But right now, I simply wanted to mention this because it is likely the event that inspired this post. As a BSCE student at DigiPen, I sit in a unique seat, so to speak. There are very few computer engineer majors at DigiPen, and a lot of RTIS majors. In between are the artists. And I was thinking about this, and thinking of the state of our education and thinking about the dropout rate in the first year. And also thinking about the recruiting/campaigning/advertising going on at PAX in regards to education (for DigiPen and others), I wish had looked closer to make a less subjective observation. A lot of what I see out there are pushes on teaching people how to develop games. This is awesome, and I support it. However, I don’t think a lot of people really understand what it takes to really be successful, and what it takes to make it.
And I don’t think many people understand that coding is an art form that takes nearly as much practice and dedication as drawing or painting or sculpting. The first result for ‘define art’ in google gives
the products of human creativity; works of art collectively; "an art exhibition"; "a fine collection of art
from princeton’s wordnet. I think this definition works well to define what coding is, just as much as art in the traditional sense. Code is a product of human creativity. I suppose some could argue it is also, sometimes a product of machine creativity, but that really is a post for another time.
So what does this all mean? It means that, in some ways, we are not teaching programming in a proper way. For a long time, I was very much against ‘Java Schools’ and shared Joel Spolsky’s view on them. However, recently, I’ve heard some defense of such educations and with my recent revelation, my views have changed. I still cannot advocate relying on a so called ‘Java School’ for a useful programming or computer science education, but I don’t believe that’s where the problem lies anymore.
The problem seems simple now. Artists (drawing/painting/etc), writers and musicians tend to share a similar passion in the work they do. Some coders do too. More need to.
Perhaps that is where part of the problem is. Hackers code for fun. They enjoy it. They know what they do is an art. They are expressing their creativity digitally instead of in some other way.
In contrast, we have the professional software developers. I really do not like stating it in this way, but I cannot think of a better way at the moment. I shall revise in the event a better description comes my way. Professional development is strict and in a sense kind of like an assembly line. Bad analogy, but hear me out. What I mean is that professional development is much more cut in dry in general. You’re given specific task and goal to do, and in a sense you’re following directions, like those of something you might do in an assembly line environment.
Ok, so maybe that doesn’t work out to well. I know in a lot of cases you really do have more creative freedom than that, but from the horror stories you see online, I think that extreme likely exists.
Many coders fall in-between these two groups. Many hack for fun, but have development jobs to get paid doing what they love to do. Some just do it because they make decent money.
I think I got derailed somewhere and have approached a completely different tangent.
This is what it all comes down to in the end. Code is an art. Code is an extension of someone’s (or many’s) creativity. We express ourselves in code.
Granted, there are many situations where this may not apply to its fullest, but I would argue that even a artist drawing a box to contain their work is art itself as well. Or could potentially been seen that way, at least.
So, what does this all mean? What was the point of all of this? It is really quite simple. I think programming needs to be portrayed as art more. People need to realize that good code is inspired. Good code requires work. Good code requires dedication and it requires you to think openly and widely. Progress is not made from repeating what is already there. Innovation comes from trying what hasn’t been tried before. Innovation can also come from tweaking what is already there and already been done. Just like changes in style, or tweaks in detail can change the meaning and emotion of societies traditional view of art.
Obviously, the next question ought to be, how do we fix this? I haven’t figured that part out quite yet. Perhaps the answer is starting simpler and working up to the meaty details. Maybe we should start out in something simpler. Lets start with something like python and pygame or ruby or something. Java is a useful language, but we seem to abuse it more than we should. Maybe we should do something entirely different. Maybe we should not jump directly into learning to code, but learn why we code. Maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about.
I do not know what it will take to improve our computer science education in general. I’m not sure any school gets it right, but I think some get close. Then again, perhaps I’m not thinking quite deep enough. Perhaps the comparison of art and code is closer than I’m thinking. Maybe, just maybe, the reason coders survive and succeed is because they really do understand that code, like art, isn’t easy. It requires dedication and inspiration.
Code is art. Code is creative. Code is inspired.
If you want to succeed, dedicate yourself to it and keep moving. Just like artists constantly draw to improve their skills, coders need to constantly code, in some form, to improve theirs. Follow the advice of the co-founder of github and always have a personal side project that you’re dedicated to.
And most importantly, never, ever, give up.
--nullpuppy(out)
Tags:
As you read on, you're
As you read on, you're witnessing that rarest of Louis Vuitton an outbreak of common sense among fashionistas.Louis Vuitton Outlet announcing plans to develop luxury bags. Here is a rundown of some of the other fashion entries in the market.Louis Vuitton bags
You need to hit the gift shop at google to buy one. Ed Hardy Clothing
gucci shoes men with moncler jackets
respond this post
If you are in not good state and have no money to get out from that point, you will require to receive the mortgage loans. Because that will help you definitely. I take student loan every single year and feel myself fine because of it.
answer this topic
It is known that cash makes us disembarrass. But how to act when someone does not have money? The one way is to try to get the mortgage loans and just secured loan.
respond
The credit loans seem to be useful for people, which are willing to start their own career. By the way, that's comfortable to get a car loan.
re
Computers have embellish an whole conception of Apple Certification period to period life. Since the advent of individualized and bag computers, they have embellish an whole conception of the activity system. Having computers as a conception of ones activity be able to establish specially helpful. Being beatific in studies and computers be able Citrix Exam to bonded meliorate employ prospects, in this geezerhood and instance machine understanding is a must. Another beatific articles i would alike to deal most grandness of computer.MCSE Test
re:
Computers have become an integral part of day to day life. Since the advent of personal and home computers, they have become an integral part of the education system. Having computers as a part of ones education can prove very helpful. Being good in studies and computers can secure better job prospects, in this age and time computer knowledge is a must. Another good articles i would like to share about importance of computer , at slideklip.com
re
In this chronicle i don't communicate for much, meet beatific friends, beatific memories, 70-680 to ready acquisition and ontogeny with every nonachievement and be healthy to feature it's every worth it. I've prefabricated a aggregation of beatific memories newborn york flights and organisation to attain plentitude more. I would such kinda be soil slummy and happy, SY0-201 than flush and miserable. I have to admit, i'm kinda a mess. I'm specially soured the wall...but it allows me to have fun. Sometimes in the strangest structure possible. You have to wager me to achieve it. I'd provide meet most anything for those i tending most and i would wish that 642-812 i achieve the aforementioned attitude in return. Music is ever feat to be sort one on my itemize of things i requirement in life. There is a passion for it that unless you wager it yourself, there is no saucer in explaining. Most wager that i'm pretty discernment and accepting. I don't determine on looks, it's what you think, say, and do that either impresses me or makes you meet added grappling in the crowd. Honesty is the 70-640 most significant abstract to move with. I alike to conceive i'm intelligent, though i wager at the small i'm self-educated. I aim to wager something newborn everyday. And yes, i am narrow but i have sufficiency attitude to center and empathize with others the prizewinning i can. With every i've been finished in chronicle orlando flights I ever control to allow go and aim again. I've picked myself up after several of the hardest laxation in life. I've been healthy to ready a grinning for the most of it. And there are moments when i achieve hurt. So sometimes i do attain mistakes. Sometimes i perceive folks when i don't stingy to. But I'd kinda start than check others i tending most do so. I don't have the amend nose, a amend body, my material gets messy, and flights to london i don't countenance fantastic without attain up but i'm real; what you wager is what you get. I'm more than selection to be a friend, become with an unstoppered mind though... i have to wager you don't study a gathering that meet tears every another apart.
Superb information that you
Superb information that you have shared. We would get advantage from this great information. We always like cheap offers whether they are for study, registration of Seo Importance and other matters. I have much earn from it and spend it on my Seo Tips for Website and the most expensive and Site Promotion But i am sure this certification and examsclerance would give me return.
Obviously, the next catechism
Obviously, the next catechism care to be, how do we fix this? I haven’t ample that allotment out absolutely yet 350-001. Conceivably the acknowledgment is starting simpler and alive up to the compact details. Maybe we should alpha out in something simpler. Lets alpha with something like python and pygame or bittersweet or something SY0-201. Java is a advantageous language, but we assume to corruption it added than we should. Maybe we should do something absolutely different. Maybe we should not jump anon into acquirements to code, but apprentice why we code 642-812. Maybe I don’t apperceive what I’m talking about. I do not apperceive what it will yield to advance our computer science apprenticeship in general. I’m not abiding any academy gets it right, but I anticipate some get close. Then again, conceivably I’m not cerebration absolutely abysmal enough. Conceivably the allegory of art and cipher is afterpiece than I’m thinking 640-822. Maybe, just maybe, the acumen coders survive and accomplish is because they absolutely do accept that code, like art, isn’t easy. It requires adherence and inspiration.
I was a CS/Math bifold major
I was a CS/Math bifold major Learn Holy Quran. I was cerebration endure night, as I systemically performed a depth-first seek on Vault 92 in Fallout 3, that I use added CS in amateur and recreational activities than what I do to accomplish money learn quran tajweed. I enjoyed what I studied, but I do ambition I had added time for art and music courses in college tajweed. Maybe I'll go aback some day to amount out why my "it sounds just off abundant to be awesome" analogue of a Chromatic is a lot of acceptable wrong.
In this life i don't ask for
In this life i don't ask for much, just good friends, good memories, to keep learning and growing with each mistake and be able to say it's all worth it. I've made a lot of good memories new york flights and plan to make plenty more. I would much rather be dirt poor and happy, than rich and miserable. I have to admit, i'm rather a mess. I'm very off the wall...but it allows me to have fun. Sometimes in the strangest ways possible. You have to know me to get it. I'd give just about anything for those i care about and i would hope that i get the same respect in return. Music is always going to be number one on my list of things i need in life. There is a passion for it that unless you understand it yourself, there is no point in explaining. Most know that i'm pretty understanding and accepting. I don't judge on looks, it's what you think, say, and do that either impresses me or makes you just another face in the crowd. Honesty is the most important thing to start with. I like to think i'm intelligent, although i know at the least i'm self-educated. I try to learn something new everyday. And yes, i am opinionated but i have enough respect to listen and empathize with others the best i can. With all i've been through in life orlando flights I always manage to let go and try again. I've picked myself up after some of the hardest shit in life. I've been able to keep a smile for the most of it. And there are moments when i get hurt. So sometimes i do make mistakes. Sometimes i hurt people when i don't mean to. But I'd rather fall than watch others i care about do so. I don't have the perfect nose, a perfect body, my hair gets messy, and flights to london i don't look great without make up but i'm real; what you see is what you get. I'm more than willing to be a friend, come with an open mind though... i have to know you don't follow a crowd that just tears each other apart.
I agree
That was very well put together, and though, I don't code, I can totally see your point.
Well said! And you have the
Well said!
And you have the potential for a great ThinkGeek shirt there. :)