[Courses] [C Programming] Anyone still here?

[Charlotte Oliver]

On Sun, May 26, 2002 at 11:24:31PM -0700, Dave North wrote:
> Charlotte:
> > "get your MCSE without touching a computer!"
> Wow, I don't see those (and I'm grateful). Sounds like the "physics
> without math" crowd ... ouch.

Very much so.  What gets me is that these ads are still running
(though not as frequently) even though the tech market has collapsed
around here.  I've been job-hunting since my lay-off in December,
so you can imagine how close the radio comes to being smashed
every time I hear one. :)

> > Pseudocode and flow charts are what we've covered exhaustively so far.
> Well, at least one instructor agrees with me. I do think it a good place
> to start, but there's also a good argument for just starting with K&R.

A lot of what we're doing in this class is the kind of thing you would
learn if you learned shell scripting -- progressive logic, if-then,
do-while, etc.  So it's definnitely something you could pick up programming,
but I'm just one of those people that needed some extra review. :)

(not to mention that it's a required course :)

> > And getting over the learning curve
> I'm a bit slow, myself. I often have to go back to a concept two or three
> times before the light goes on, and sometimes there are weeks
> intervening...

I know that one...but I find that I remember the concept much better
if I learn it that way.

> Jenn:
> > If you're math-phobic, though, start by thinking about recipes.
> I love that approach. Particularly poignant when you consider that
> "algorithm" and "recipe" are nearly synonyms.

I'd never thought of programming quite that way and I found the 
analogy really helpful.  Thanks Jenn!
(As well as your explanation of variables, which is saved into 
my "nifty tech tricks" mail folder) :)

Cheers,
Charlotte