3 ms·

Theory to systems: A grounded approach to programming language education (2019)

51 points by vector_spaces 3y ago

cuanim 3y ago
Link to the course: https://stanford-cs242.github.io/f18/ https://stanford-cs242.github.io/f18/
garrisonhh 3y ago
wow, I really wish I had this course in college. if this is what the cs degree at my university looked like I would never have switched to a humanities degree
082349872349872 3y ago
Are Theory and Systems the "soft" and "hard"* of CS? In principle, one gets to the same mountain-top no matter whether one starts ascent on the theory or on the systems side, but in practice, it seems departments specialise in routes on either northern or southern faces. * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_techniques https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_techniques
dang 3y ago
Discussed at the time: From Theory to Systems: A Grounded Approach to Programming Language Education - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19670518 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19670518 - April 2019 (14 comments)
einpoklum 3y ago
> focused on using systems programming ideas and languages like WebAssembly You kind lost me there.
xwowsersx 3y ago
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to pursue anything intellectually demanding outside of work. I used to be able to stay up late and immerse myself in whatever I was interested in, but can't seem to anymore. I still try and I'm always excited to sit down and dig in, but I find that I just don't have the mental energy anymore. I dunno if it's a function of age or my work getting more and more demanding over time. Sometimes I wonder if I ought to take a few-week staycation just to pursue my intellectual interests. Does anyone else relate to this? How do you manage to pursue subjects rigorously after feeling mentally drained by work and life?
- JHonaker 3y ago
  It sounds like you’re on the edge of burnout. When’s the last time you took a day off?
  - xwowsersx 3y ago
    That's probably part of it. I took off a few months back but a) it wasn't the type of vacation that I personally recharge from and b) it was a week (maybe less) and wasn't enough. All the stress and fatigue induced by work returned pretty quickly upon return. Much of this is just how demanding my job is I think.
    - JHonaker 3y ago
      The fact that you acknowledge that it wasn't really a vacation that would help you in that situation, and you don't know how long it was says everything you need to know. I'm not going to tell you how to live your life, but I want you to know that it's okay to not do everything. In fact, you can't do everything. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it, but sometimes you just need someone else to say it.
- dustingetz 3y ago
  Law of Focus - at risk of being unhelpful, if you only have enough energy for work, then you’d best carefully select your work
  - xwowsersx 3y ago
    This actually is helpful. You mean to say that if I can only focus on work then it should ideally satisfy or gratify me intellectually or at least align with some of my interests, whereas if my work leaves me with plenty of leftover energy then I can afford to be pretty flexible/unpicky about my work? Do I have that right?
    - dustingetz 3y ago
      everything worth doing takes a long time to compound; I don’t think anyone can afford not to be intentional about our investments. Plant a tree. Quit alcohol. Start a school. Raise your kids. All the fruit is at the tail.

51 points by vector_spaces 3y ago

Link to the course: https://stanford-cs242.github.io/f18/ https://stanford-cs242.github.io/f18/

wow, I really wish I had this course in college. if this is what the cs degree at my university looked like I would never have switched to a humanities degree

082349872349872 3y ago

Are Theory and Systems the "soft" and "hard"* of CS? In principle, one gets to the same mountain-top no matter whether one starts ascent on the theory or on the systems side, but in practice, it seems departments specialise in routes on either northern or southern faces. * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_techniques https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_techniques

dang 3y ago

Discussed at the time: From Theory to Systems: A Grounded Approach to Programming Language Education - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19670518 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19670518 - April 2019 (14 comments)

einpoklum 3y ago

> focused on using systems programming ideas and languages like WebAssembly You kind lost me there.

xwowsersx 3y ago

I'm finding it increasingly difficult to pursue anything intellectually demanding outside of work. I used to be able to stay up late and immerse myself in whatever I was interested in, but can't seem to anymore. I still try and I'm always excited to sit down and dig in, but I find that I just don't have the mental energy anymore. I dunno if it's a function of age or my work getting more and more demanding over time. Sometimes I wonder if I ought to take a few-week staycation just to pursue my intellectual interests. Does anyone else relate to this? How do you manage to pursue subjects rigorously after feeling mentally drained by work and life?

JHonaker 3y ago
It sounds like you’re on the edge of burnout. When’s the last time you took a day off?
- xwowsersx 3y ago
  That's probably part of it. I took off a few months back but a) it wasn't the type of vacation that I personally recharge from and b) it was a week (maybe less) and wasn't enough. All the stress and fatigue induced by work returned pretty quickly upon return. Much of this is just how demanding my job is I think.
  - JHonaker 3y ago
    The fact that you acknowledge that it wasn't really a vacation that would help you in that situation, and you don't know how long it was says everything you need to know. I'm not going to tell you how to live your life, but I want you to know that it's okay to not do everything. In fact, you can't do everything. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it, but sometimes you just need someone else to say it.
dustingetz 3y ago
Law of Focus - at risk of being unhelpful, if you only have enough energy for work, then you’d best carefully select your work
- xwowsersx 3y ago
  This actually is helpful. You mean to say that if I can only focus on work then it should ideally satisfy or gratify me intellectually or at least align with some of my interests, whereas if my work leaves me with plenty of leftover energy then I can afford to be pretty flexible/unpicky about my work? Do I have that right?
  - dustingetz 3y ago
    everything worth doing takes a long time to compound; I don’t think anyone can afford not to be intentional about our investments. Plant a tree. Quit alcohol. Start a school. Raise your kids. All the fruit is at the tail.