Computer science or computing science (abbreviated CS or CompSci) is the scientific approach to computation and its applications.
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How is Basic Physics applied in CS/SE? [closed]
What basic physics principles do software engineers and/or computer scientists use/apply to solve problems?
EXAMPLE:
The knowledge of Forces and Motion: Kinematics, Dynamics, Circular Motion is used ...
52
votes
11answers
4k views
How can I make sure that I'm actually learning how to program rather than simply learning the details of a language?
I often hear the saying that a real programmer can easily learn any language within a week, because languages are just tools for getting things done while programming is the ultimate skill that must ...
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3answers
320 views
Why are algorithms and data structures important? [duplicate]
It seems like a lot of university-level computer science programs and programmer job interviews focus heavily on algorithms and data structures. I'm curious as to why universities and employers put so ...
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1answer
81 views
Generic name for types and values
In computer science, what is the abstract common name of types and values (I mean an abstract "something" that can be a type or a value) ?
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1answer
88 views
Converting a DFA to an NFA
I have an assignment to convert various language descriptions into NFAs and DFAs.
Having graduated with my CompSci B.S. years ago and not touching the topic until my M.S. program, I am racking my ...
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10answers
951 views
Is learning C essential for Computer Science? [closed]
I am a front-end developer who barely even see a file with .h or .c extension.
I know basic C syntax, I've learned it in Unreality but never was interested in such
low level programming because it ...
3
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4answers
213 views
Generic term for “objects” vs “fundamental types”?
What are the exact terms to call data types with a logic structure (like C structures, C++ or Java objects) versus fundamental data types (like numeric types, characters, booleans...) independently of ...
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2answers
97 views
Calculate transfer time while accounting for loss of conductivity and speed over circuits [closed]
So based on my limited understand of how computers work I derived the following question.
As you transfer things over circuits the circuits heat up.
As they heat up they lose conductivity and ...
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2answers
75 views
By the definition of a Tree(ADT), is it “wrong” for a node to add a sibling?
The title pretty much says it all. I'm just having a little computer science exercise and am building a Tree. I want a node to be able to add a sibling which requires one to first get a reference to ...
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3answers
2k views
Can I get a job in Computer Science without a degree by self-studying? [closed]
I have looked at many other questions here and I would just like to know the pros and cons of going to college vs self studying computer science. By self-studying I would finish the curriculum of a ...
19
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2answers
863 views
What class of problem is this, and what math do I need to know to solve it?
Mushroom cultivation requires fairly precise chemical composition of substrate (a.k.a. growing medium). Let's pretend we're growing shitakes and that this is the required composition of their ...
2
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2answers
288 views
High Schooler learning to program (Objective C) on my own — What are the essential things I need to learn? [closed]
About a year and a half ago I became interested in learning to program (specifically, iOS). Since my school currently lacks computer science classes (well next year they say they might have one using ...
3
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1answer
210 views
How to understand computer science as a whole? [closed]
I am a college student in Computer Science, I have been studying CS for a long time. But even till today, I still feel so confused about a lot of things. First of all, I have solid foundation in alg, ...
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1answer
153 views
Is the term “dots” in DPI ( dots per inch ) another word for pixel? [closed]
Is the term "dots" in DPI ( dots per inch ), another word for pixel?
If not :
1) What is the difference between "dot" and "pixel" . How each looks like ? eg, pixel should be square... a dot is round ...
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1answer
95 views
Formal definition of “concepts / type system” for parametric types - Where to start?
I would be interested in formally defining (and consequently demonstrating) a "type system" for, well, a type system. More specifically, I would like to explore the idea of what C++ calls concepts for ...
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2answers
634 views
Could we build a functional computer?
As mush as FP has done, in the end, all our programs are structured.
That is, it doesn't matter how pure or functional we make a them - they are always translated to assembly,
so what actually runs ...
4
votes
2answers
262 views
Professional Mentorships and Study Groups for Seasoned Programmers?
I am presently an employed software engineer, less than a decade out of college. Given where I would like to be in my career, I am currently looking to sharpen my skills to find my next job. However, ...
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4answers
287 views
What does it mean to perform an operation “In Place” for Interpreted Languages?
Programming question:
Reverse words in a string (words are separated by one or more spaces).
Now do it in-place.
What does "in-place" mean in the above context for an interpreted language ...
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4answers
412 views
Is there such a thing as truly random? [closed]
I saw a video about random numbers and how the programmer in that video was talking about computers generating pseudo random numbers and that they are not really random. I knew about this.
Then he ...
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6answers
2k views
What methods are there to avoid a stack overflow in a recursive algorithm?
Question
What are the possible ways to solve a stack overflow caused by an recursive algorithm?
Example
I'm trying to solve Project Euler problem 14 and decided to try it with a recursive ...
2
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1answer
398 views
The physical implementation of quantum annealing algorithm
From that question about differences between Quantum annealing and simulated annealing, we found (in comments to answer) that physical implementation of quantum annealing exists (D-Wave quantum ...
4
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1answer
609 views
What is the difference between Quantum annealing and simulated annealing?
In both algorithms objective functions, that will be executed with non quantum computers, are used. Both algorithms are methods for finding the global minimum of a given objective function.
From ...
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2answers
207 views
Does any well-known license require to make modifications available when only derived *output* is published?
Is there a way to make sure that modifications to free software are released even when no binaries of modified code are conveyed? Though it may sound odd and from what I understand, e.g., GPL requires ...
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2answers
558 views
Began with iOS development, skipped CS, and getting hit hard at interviews? [duplicate]
I'll start with a brief background: my degree is in Recording Arts, so mainly audio engineering and stuff relating to the music industry, with some synthesis and stuff which was my link into coding ...
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vote
2answers
186 views
Class of problems solvable by sed or stream editors
I've came across a question transform this text with sed [sed only]
and it got me wondering what class of problems is solvable by stream editors or programs/computational models with similar ...
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2answers
262 views
the fact that computer science changes fast bothers me [closed]
I started with Visual Basic (the old one) for some months, after that I moved to Delphi, after noticing it's dead I started working with WPF, then I heard about the birth of WinRt (API that metro ...
3
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1answer
180 views
Best Traversing Strategy / Logic Help Needed
Background: Here is the scenario, imagine I have a little Robot. I give this robot a Map, and I want him to traverse the map, after doing so, I want the Robot to tell me the shortest possible path on ...
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2answers
550 views
Is this statement from Knuth's fundamental algorithms still applicable today?
In a sense, 10! (ten factorial) represents an approximate dividing
line between things which are practical to compute and things which
are not.
This is from Knuth's TAOCP Fundamental ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
How do we differentiate between a computer and a calculator?
In this SO Question there is a comment by starblue that
A computer without loops is a calculator
Is this true?
Is that the only difference?
Is there a set of criteria to differentiate or has ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
How many bits' address is required for a computer with n bytes of memory?
How many bits of address is required (for the program counter for example) in a byte-addressed computer with 512 Mbyte RAM?
What does the formula look like?
How is this connected with the fact that ...
1
vote
2answers
233 views
How should i organize my priorities for learning? [closed]
I could use some guidance on what would be more beneficial to learn as i pursue a computer science degree. I take computer science courses at a nearby college(i am in highschool) and code daily in my ...
4
votes
3answers
389 views
Prerequisites to compiler theory? [closed]
It's not meant to be subjective or get advice on what would be the best path to take, but an objective list of things that must be known in order for me to pick up a book on compiler theory and ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
What is the difference between E-Science Infrastructures and Distributed Computing Infrastructures
What is the difference between eScience infrastructures and grid computing or distributed computing infrastructures? And what are some of their examples.
I can not distinguish them clearly. Is it ...
5
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4answers
820 views
What are graphs in laymen's terms
What are graphs, in computer science, and what are they used for? In laymen's terms preferably.
I have read the definition on Wikipedia:
In computer science, a graph is an abstract data type ...
2
votes
1answer
196 views
Tiling Problem Solutions for Various Size “Dominoes”
I've got an interesting tiling problem, I have a large square image (size 128k so 131072 squares) with dimensons 256x512... I want to fill this image with certain grain types (a 1x1 tile, a 1x2 ...
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2answers
226 views
What is the standard for describing functions and objects?
What is the standard for describing functions/methods (function name, number of arguments, argument type, return type, etc...) in a manner that is language independent?
EDIT: More specifically, how ...
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2answers
324 views
From where is a DES key generated? [closed]
GOing over a lecture on DES
I got most of it except WHERE DOES DES KEY COME FROM?
Does an authority give you the key or what?
Simple language please
2
votes
1answer
601 views
Getting URLs from search results
After 1 months research I basically give up on getting all URL's from a search results programmatically,
I looked at Google Search API to find a way to get millions of search results "URL's" to be ...
5
votes
3answers
656 views
What's the best way to inject science into everyday programming? [closed]
I work better when I have some firm foundations. This helps me to solve everyday problems better, because I can generalize them. The thing I find in programming is so many things are black boxes. ...
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1answer
180 views
Good tutorial or book about creating a DSL and interpret it and explaining the computer language parsing and interpreting theory
I'm a seasoned Java dev. I would like to refresh my memory about a topic I was not so good with when I was at university: language parsing and interpreting.
I would like to write a quite basic and ...
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4answers
267 views
Good resources to understand how a program interacts with machine hardware
I never had any formal education in CS. So after being an average developer for 7 years now, I am feeling the need to understand questions like: What exactly happens when I write a java class. i.e. ...
4
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3answers
923 views
What Discrete Mathematics topics should the average computer science student know?
I know that Discrete Mathematics is a pretty broad topic that's used in a number of fields but I was just wondering what are some of the topics from it that you would expect an average computer ...
19
votes
6answers
1k views
How not to forget new and interesting information [closed]
The thing is that I read a lot of things over a period of time because it is interesting and I like to know it and secondly it will be helpful in my future job interviews.
For example I read about ...
4
votes
5answers
505 views
Is there a single book that covers the breadth of computer science fundamentals? [closed]
When I did my undergraduate studies in elecrical engineering, there was this book called "Basic Electricity" by Van Valkenburgh. If you read that book cover to cover, your fundamentals in electrical ...
25
votes
4answers
17k views
How do I completely-self-study Computer Science? [closed]
Being a completely self taught programmer, I would like it if I could better myself by self-learning the computer science course taught to a typical CS grad.
Finding different resources on internet ...
8
votes
7answers
1k views
I'm having trouble learning [closed]
I'm only 13 but i'm genuinely interested in CS and would really like it if I could actually accomplish it. I've read books on C++ and C#, but ALL of them are the same!! They all say "Ok so since you ...
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2answers
503 views
Quantum computers and Turing Machine
As far as I know, a Turing Machine is the widely used model in computational theory to know whether something could be computed and if computed can they can be computed in finite time (P, NP, ...
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2answers
354 views
Are there any scientific studies done on TDD that use total cost of ownership for a product as the measurement?
When I was reading the summary of previous work in Dogsa T, Batic D. The effectiveness of test-driven development: an industrial case study. Software Quality Journal. 2011;19(4):643-661. it struck me ...
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3answers
824 views
Why do trees grow downward?
Why do trees grow downward in computer science?
I have a feeling it goes back to a printer, and that a program traversing a tree first prints the root, and uses the notion of a bottomless stack of ...
3
votes
5answers
466 views
Why is CS never a topic of conversation of the layman? [closed]
Granted, every profession has it's technicalities. If you are an MD, you better know the anatomy of the human body, and if you are astronomer, you better know your calculus. Yet, you don't have to ...
