Udacity website

AHarvey

AHarvey

AHarvey

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So, is anyone taking part in the http://www.udacity.com search engine building CS101 course?

I am about 90 minutes in, and I feel like they are making it more complex than they need to. Talking about how fast light travels across the processor in 1 cycle, python grammer etc.

It's like listening to Sheldon from the big bang theory.

The educational bits are actually ok, but 90 mins in and just hitting variables. Perhaps it's because I know these basics already, I am hoping it gets more streamlined as the course goes on.

Still recommend it to anyone interested in Python/programming :)
 
It is CS101 1st, and building a search engine 2nd, so they'll cover some basics of computer science that aren't necessary to learning how to build just a search engine. It was aimed at noobies to CS.
 
Finished the first week and the coursework, amazing really seeing as I've been working 15 hour weeks and getting very little sleep.

Was definitely worth watching and taking part in.

I also signed up for the "programming a car" lectures but the programming knowledge needed is well beyond my level of knowledge so far. :(

Is anyone else doing this?
 
I'm doing both though for anyone who has programming experience, CS101 is really just a Python primer (and an OK one at that, it has shown me some nuances of the language already that are far different from the languages I have experience of, that would have tripped me up without doing this). For anyone new to programming and wanting to learn, I now have a new favourite resource (this course) to recommend to them.

I took the Intro to AI course (which despite being called Intro is about on par with the level of knowledge CS373 / "programming a car" is asking for and this is more like a v2 of that same course) that Sebastien was teaching with Peter last year.

So - so far at least - I'm finding it straightforward as the last course was more theory and didn't have programming assignments (until a voluntary / non-scored one at the very end), and this is very similar but this time with the programming assignments along the way. I have enough experience with other languages and the topic to muddle through.

I suspect Sebastien's aims are to help people get to the level they can do this and join in with the main passion he has, as I remember in one of the older Sebastien and Peter 'office hour' chats for the last course, they said they'd like to do some more entry level courses next, and here we are. So build up your python/programming knowledge starting with CS101, maybe do some of the khanacademy.org videos on probability and linear algebra if you could do with some brushing up on those, and you'd be able to give CS373 a proper crack next time if it requires too much time/effort now to try and squeeze in. As far as I know, there's no penalty or prohibitions that would stop you from enrolling in CS373 again next time around it comes if needed.
 
I was thinking of having a bash at the cs101 course and doing the learn python the hard way book at the same time.
 
Chaos said:
I was thinking of having a bash at the cs101 course and doing the learn python the hard way book at the same time.
Click to expand...

I am doing that and reading through the head first learn to programme with python book and it's good going!

No need not to try it :D
 
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