in reply to Re^2: Programming and math
in thread Programming and math

...Of course the individual in question has to want to be a programmer in the first place. If they just went on a CS degree because they heard that the job pays well they're less likely to be competent :-)

It is exactly that. I've been exposed to too many "fast moving" CS students in the past years, who are only in it for the suits and the leased cars. Together with what I think is a sub-optimal, if not sub-standard, CS education in most institutions, makes me say that having had a CS education, is a minus.

In that respect it's a good thing that the number of new CS students in the Netherlands this year, has significantly dropped. Hopefully, there'll be more students in it for love of the subject matter, than for the great salaries.

Liz

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Re^4: Programming and math
by adrianh (Chancellor) on Aug 10, 2003 at 07:28 UTC
    I've been exposed to too many "fast moving" CS students in the past years, who are only in it for the suits and the leased cars.

    Annoying aren't they!

    That said, I still think a good developer will gain a lot from some formal CS education (assuming they don't know it already :-)

[reply]
      Why "formal CS education"? The students who study CS at a university read the same books we can read...
[reply]

        I wasn't trying to say that somebody has to go through a university programme.

        However, more "academic" CS knowledge is useful and can make you a better developer. A degree is a good a way of acquiring it. You can also go read the communications of the ACM and read a lot of Knuth.

        My (minor) point of contention is that I don't see a CS degree as a negative. Yes there are poor developers with CS degrees - but there are also poor developers without CS degrees. A good coder will get a hell of a lot out of a good degree programme.

[reply]

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