Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site clyde.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!jona From: jona@clyde.UUCP (Jon Allingham) Newsgroups: net.cse Subject: Re: Where have all the hackers gone? Message-ID: <680@clyde.UUCP> Date: Fri, 14-Dec-84 08:33:42 EST Article-I.D.: clyde.680 Posted: Fri Dec 14 08:33:42 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 15-Dec-84 00:28:59 EST References: <3137@utah-cs.UUCP> <67@tove.UUCP>, <1016@teddy.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Whippany NJ Lines: 31 > Are you implying that passing courses is synonymous with > tremendous self-discipline?? Or is it merely figuring > out what to kiss and when? Quite frankly, most of the > programming courses I've taken have given minimal instruction > and then essentially tell you to go play. I've taken courses > at five different universities on two coasts and haven't > found consistent, well-coordinated courses at any of the > institutions. > > Let's face it, hacking is a viable means of CS training. Almost every University/College/Poodunk Com College is jumping on the Comp Sci bandwagen so I'm not surprised you didn't get anywhere. On the other hand, you seem to be mistaking Programming & Programming classes for Computer Science. Hacking may possibly be a reasonable way of learning to program - I don't feel it is a way to learn good programming techniques though. For example, it takes a fair amount of training and practise in theoretical comp sci to write quality, production compilers and to do design for advanced systems ( hacking certainly doesn't teach you a whole lot about distributed OSs, pipelining, how to get generate parallel code from non-parallel high level langages, all of which are important for next-generation computer development ) -- Jon M. Allingham (201)386-3466 AT&T Bell Laboratories-WH "Beam me up Scotty, no intelligent life down here!"