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DISCLAIMER: THE VIDEOS WILL TAKE TIME AWAY FROM CREATING SOMETHING PEOPLE WANT. This is something I would have found very interesting when I was 17 years old,
by vlad 19y ago
DISCLAIMER: THE VIDEOS WILL TAKE TIME AWAY FROM CREATING SOMETHING PEOPLE WANT.
This is something I would have found very interesting when I was 17 years old, but I decided I am not going to let a 20 hour long video Introduction to CS course, no matter how free, keep me from programming my startups, not even if it's from MIT. Plus it'll still be around for me to watch it in another 22 years.
I've tried leaving it running in the background so I could listen to the audio, but it's just so distracting and the presentation is so interesting, that I had to leave the room before I could decide to come back, close it, and write this. :)
It was kind of like the video course "Physics for Presidents" from Berkley. Although it's very interesting, and the professors are so very smart, I had to shut it down because it's a time sink.
- aston 19y agoDisclaimer! Eating will take time away from creating something people want! I think if the value you gain from doing something outweighs the opportunity cost paid for not working on your startup, you ought to go ahead and do that thing. Whether these videos are worth your time is your opinion. But they are excellent resources, and others might find them worthwhile.
- jamesbritt 19y agoI think if the value you gain from doing something outweighs the opportunity cost paid for not working on your startup, you ought to go ahead and do that thing. Quite true. Ive been going through the videos, an SICP (albeit slowly). Yes, I sometimes feel that I could be writing production code instead of getting an education. I believe, though, that having some additional insights on software development will pay off quite well in the future. Plus it's fun. :)
- vlad 19y agoI respectfully disagree, because the video is something one can watch at any time, but releasing a web service to the public is something that should be done as soon as possible. But you made me reconsider. I guess I can probably put it on my phone and watch it at the gym when I'm doing some stretches or warming up! I'm glad you enjoyed my link, and I hope I have some time to watch more of it myself. Thanks for your reply!
- euccastro 19y agoGee, this reminds me of the time when I showed to a friend a stop motion clay animation I had painstakingly made. The man played it in fast forward. I didn't stay for his comments. Check out the reviews at amazon.com: both PG and some Peter Norvig give you permission to read it: http://www.amazon.com/Structure-Interpretation-Computer-Programs-Engineering/dp/0262510871/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-7486399-1082204?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179281225&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Structure-Interpretation-Computer-Programs-Engineering/dp/0262510871/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-7486399-1082204?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179281225&sr=8-1 Or yes, you can choose to postpone the important for the urgent. But for your deity of choice's sake, don't multitask at this. Whenever you think you're ready, get a paper copy and set aside some time for it every day. Kiss the cover. Open the book. Read at least one subsection and do the exercises. Close the book and kiss the cover again. Candles optional.
- vlad 19y agoHi! I posted both the link and disclaimer. You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed the link. I hope you enjoy these and other links I find. Thank you for taking time to reply!
- papersmith 19y agoActually in most universities this is a graduate level course. Only in MIT and a few elite schools is it introductory. It's meant to scare the freshmen and put their career into perspective before they dive too deep into the rabbit hole. The first few chapters seem pretty straight forward, but it gets advanced very quickly.
- vlad 19y agoThat's partially what I meant -- it's 20 hours of video, but in addition to that, it will actually take much, much longer than that to digest, since it's not really an Introduction to CS in the way most people are used to.