Date Structures and Algorithms?
from InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world to programming@programming.dev on 14 Apr 18:31
https://lemmy.world/post/45602298

cross-posted from: lemmy.world/post/45602294

Hello All

I am someone who graduated some time back and was not able to score their first job in the field. I am recently getting back into programming a bit more as a hobby. In particular I am toying around with Rust and a bit of C#.

Was wondering what books you all used for data and algo class? It would be good if you know some with those languages in mind, but otherwise just a book that is more generic would be great too.

#programming

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SailorFuzz@lemmy.world on 14 Apr 19:12 next collapse

Depends on what you’re doing, programming wise. Structures and Algos is good if you’re doing a lot of foundational, ground-up work. But most times (like 90%) you’ll just use a library for those structures. If you really, really need a RedBlackTree (you dont), you’re probably not going to build it yourself. I mean you can, but it’s probably better (and safer) to import a library for it. It’s more important to know their use-cases rather than how to build them.

I would argue, that if you’re want to learn something functional, I would study up on Design Patterns. Especially for C#.

Structures/Algos are the tools, Patterns are what to build with the tools.

Best book, long term, is probably: Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software I have it, use it. It’s great as a reference, but it’s also very “textbook”.

I actually recommend: Game Programming Patterns it covers almost all the same patterns as the above. But, it’s written with a functional “game” usecase standpoint, which makes it easier to comprehend and get through.

InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world on 14 Apr 19:30 next collapse

Depends on what you’re doing, programming wise. Structures and Algos is good if you’re doing a lot of foundational, ground-up work.

True. I guess to be a bit more clear its a bit more for its own sake to built the brain muscle of sorts.

Thank you for the links. I do love a yummy textbook.

sobchak@programming.dev on 14 Apr 23:48 next collapse

You need to have a general idea what structures and algorithms those libraries are using, so you know if they’re a right fit for your use case,what configuration options to use, and how they’ll scale. Design patterns are good to learn (required even), but I wouldn’t go too deep into them. IIRC, that Design Patterns book goes a little too crazy and gets a little too abstract in some cases, and is what caused all that Enterprise Java craziness. The profession seems to be currently moving away from that kind of OOP, and moving to OOP-ish + some functional programming concepts mixed in (Rust, React, etc).

one_old_coder@piefed.social on 15 Apr 07:22 collapse

I would go with Head First Design Patterns, it’s more fun.

I would also give a try to Head First Software Architecture and the associated podcast.

Dumhuvud@programming.dev on 14 Apr 23:00 next collapse

Introduction to Algorithms / CLRS is what you’re looking for. It’s language-agnostic.

InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world on 15 Apr 00:05 next collapse

Thank you for that pointer, helped me find it here

SorteKanin@feddit.dk on 16 Apr 06:03 collapse

Keep in mind this book is really long - I believe it’s something to do with authors being paid by the page in the US? But anyways, it’s very detailed but that may not be a bad thing. I don’t have any other suggestions.

Glitchvid@lemmy.world on 14 Apr 23:42 next collapse

The course I’m in uses Algorithms (Fourth Edition) by Sedgwick and Wayne^[Theres a book, supplemental video courses, and example implementations: algs4.cs.princeton.edu/home ], and I consider it pretty good. A large focus is on clear implementations that demonstrate the core parts of each algorithm, without getting bogged down in specialization, which I can appreciate. The book also has very good visualizations (they call them traces) if you learn better visually. The only real downside is it’s entirely Java oriented material. But since you’re working with C# this probably isn’t a deal breaker.

The other recommendation in the thread is Introduction to Algorithms, which I’ve read chapters of (used as reference) — personally it’s ok, definitely more abstract and math heavy, so if that’s something you want or appreciate then it’s a good option.

There’s also The Art of Computer Programming by Knuth, which to me is grad level stuff, very very math heavy, but also brilliant, if you can keep up.

InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world on 15 Apr 00:02 collapse

That course link looks very helpful thanks

eah@programming.dev on 15 Apr 00:08 collapse

openlibrary.org/…/Introduction_to_Algorithms_Seco…

I don’t have any experience reading similar books to say if this is a good one, but it was the book we were assigned for class. Algorithms are written in pseudocode. I sometimes use it as a reference.

InternetCitizen2@lemmy.world on 15 Apr 00:41 next collapse

Thank you for the link

FrostyPolicy@suppo.fi on 16 Apr 05:13 collapse

This a very good book on algorithms. Another good one is “The art of computer programming” by Donald Knuth. He also created Tex.