I have a question about learning Computer Science if someone could help (OSSU)

In summary: P.S I reckon the basic theory about computer hardware hasn't changed a lot either. Just the theory regarding the technology on how to make smaller transistors with faster frequency.
  • #1
dawezz
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Im 14 years old and in the future I want to study computer science, I have found the OSSU course, it would be a good start?Thanks
 
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  • #2
dawezz said:
Im 14 years old and in the future I want to study computer science, I have found the OSSU course, it would be a good start?
Looks good!
 
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You should be aware that the OSSU course is not accredited as a university course. It might be a good way to learn CS but it might not be as official as you will want.
 
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This book was part of my learning: http://www.cba.mit.edu/events/03.11.ASE/docs/Minsky.pdf

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Other books in the Prentice-Hall Series, and other books at the library in QA 75 and QA 76, were good too ##-## especially (author/originator of ##\TeX##) Professor Don Knuth's The Art of Computer Programming ##-## available at: https://www-cs-faculty.stanford.edu/~knuth/taocp.html ##\leftarrow## (that's rather advanced).
 
  • #6
DaveC426913 said:
Umm. That book was first published when state-of-the-art was this:
View attachment 301103

:oldbiggrin:
True, but the foundational concepts in computer science elucidated by MIT Professor Marvin Minsky in that book and others remain valid, even for today's much more advanced technology.
 
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  • #7
DaveC426913 said:
Umm. That book was first published when state-of-the-art was this:
View attachment 301103

:oldbiggrin:
I started my research as a physics graduate student writing FORTRAN code for one of those, but that was 45 years ago. :eek:
 
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  • #8
jtbell said:
I started my research as a physics graduate student writing FORTRAN code for one of those, but that was 45 years ago. :eek:
40 years ago, in Grade 11, I was writing FORTRAN on punch cards and taking the subway downtown to the university on a Sunday to put my program in the stack for the mainframe.
 
  • #9
DaveC426913 said:
40 years ago, in Grade 11, I was writing FORTRAN on punch cards and taking the subway downtown to the university on a Sunday to put my program in the stack for the mainframe.
Forty years ago, and in grade 11 ? An indication maybe that modern technology was expensive back then.
 
  • #10
symbolipoint said:
Forty years ago, and in grade 11 ? An indication maybe that modern technology was expensive back then.
You mean, why did I have to go downtown to find a punch card processor in 1980?
Yeah, I think by the time I graduated, they'd started putting in actual PCs in my HS.
 
  • #11
DaveC426913 said:
You mean, why did I have to go downtown to find a punch card processor in 1980?
Yeah, I think by the time I graduated, they'd started putting in actual PCs in my HS.
This makes me a little curious what were the transition years range?
 
  • #12
symbolipoint said:
This makes me a little curious what were the transition years range?
When I was a freshman in university in Northern California around 1975-76, my FORTRAN class used the same punched cards and a reader to load the programs into the (big Burroughs B6700) mainframe. By the end of that school year in 1976 they started to have some shared terminals where you could type your programs in and save them to print out at the mainframe.
 
  • #13
symbolipoint said:
This makes me a little curious what were the transition years range?
Of me? Or of the computers?
 
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  • #14
DaveC426913 said:
Of me? Or of the computers?
I meant, of the computers; the technology and the practices; using the cards or using digital(?) computers.
 
  • #16
valenumr said:
So was: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_Computer_Programming

A lot has changed, but the fundamentals, not a lot. I wish I could grok quantum computing though. That's the leap right now.
I apologize for missing the context. Knuth was mentioned, but I skimmed passed it. He is exceptionally good at fundamentals, but there have been a lot of incremental changes since.

We put men on the moon in that era with that technology, and it is still highly relevant today.
 
  • #17
The mathematical theory behind computer software is the same for the last 60-70 years. It is just the technology that allows to build smaller, faster, more reliable computer, but based on the same theory. Of course the theory about the hardware changed a lot the last 60-70 years.

For example, the quick sort algorithm is known from the 1950s and has complexity ##O(nlogn)##. However this same algorithm can run up to 1000000 faster if run on a modern computer than on a computer of the 1960s because each of the nlogn steps of the algorithm takes smaller time in modern computers. But it is the same number of steps in both cases.

P.S I reckon the basic theory about computer hardware hasn't changed a lot either. Just the theory regarding the technology on how to make smaller transistors with faster frequency. In sort Larger scale of integration and faster frequency is what is essentially different in a modern computer than that of the 60s.
 
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FAQ: I have a question about learning Computer Science if someone could help (OSSU)

What is OSSU?

OSSU stands for "Open Source Society University." It is a free online curriculum created by a group of volunteers to provide a comprehensive education in computer science and software development.

Is OSSU a replacement for a traditional degree in computer science?

No, OSSU is not a replacement for a traditional degree. It is meant to supplement or enhance one's education in computer science. It can also serve as a self-study guide for those interested in learning computer science on their own.

How long does it take to complete the OSSU curriculum?

The length of time it takes to complete the OSSU curriculum varies depending on the individual's learning pace and prior knowledge. It is designed to be completed in 2-3 years if one follows the recommended schedule and puts in a few hours of study each day.

Can I earn a certificate or degree from completing the OSSU curriculum?

No, there is no official certificate or degree awarded upon completion of the OSSU curriculum. However, some courses within the curriculum may offer certificates of completion or transferable college credit.

Do I need any prior knowledge or experience in computer science to start the OSSU curriculum?

No, the OSSU curriculum is designed for beginners and assumes no prior knowledge or experience in computer science. However, it is recommended to have some basic math and programming skills before starting the curriculum.

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