https://proto.csprimer.com/fp/
I wrote an interactive introduction to IEEE-754 floating point and would love some feedback.My main issue with existing treatments of this topic (and internet tutorials, broadly) is that they ask too little of the reader. I wanted to structure this around a sequence of questions for you to answer, using interactive widgets and optionally an LLM tutor/grader. Basically: you progress in the...
I recently made a major update, in particular: strongly recommending _Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective_ and _Designing Data-Intensive Applications_; recommending _Crafting Interpreters_ over the Dragon Book for those new to compilers; updating a number of broken links (due to shutdown of Lagunita); and, adding a few secondary recommendations
I've been meaning to update it slightly, to recommend _Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective_ over P&H (although P&H is still excellent) as well as Martin Kleppmann's book _Designing Data-Intensive Applications_ for distributed systems.
I hope, though, that you'll be honest with your students about what your program will deliver.[1] While it's currently still possible for many non-programmers to achieve upward mobility just by learning to code, there's a huge skill gap between those who can cobble together a few libraries to make a website, and those who understand theory/systems well enough to build something novel.
While compensation levels for both groups are currently still comparable, the steadily increasing supply of bootcamp grads and self-taught engineers could result in a pronounced bimodal distribution in a matter of years. Some subset of folk will have the motivation and resources to make the jump;[2] others may end up in end-user programming roles that pay poorly or aren't fulfilling.
Somebody entering your program should have a realistic view of what it takes to reach the parts of our industry that they hope to find themselves in. If they know that Modern Labor is step 0, and see themselves on a long road of learning and growth, they're likely to do very well!
[1] I wouldn't have worried about this, except that I've seen some bootcamps tell their students that they should consider themselves "senior" upon graduation, and that their skills are comparable or superior to graduates of top computer science programs.
[2] I run https://bradfieldcs.com and maintain https://teachyourselfcs.com, both of which aim to help such folk make the jump. As much as I try, many people aren't interested or driven enough to start, let alone persist for the years that it takes.
Students seem to find the Dynamo paper to be the single most enlightening resource. It does a great job of explaining Amazon's use case and how the solution fits the problem. I also reference the relevant Red Book chapter and some students value that context.
It's worth noting that students are very comfortable with relational DBMSs by this point, both in theory and in practice. It quickly becomes clear to them that NoSQL is better called "no transactions", as they know the costs and benefits of various isolation levels in a traditional RDBMS. If you don't yet have an undergraduate-level background in database systems I'd encourage you to seek that out either first or at least along the way to understanding NoSQL systems. My recommendations for how to do this as a self-learner are up on https://teachyourselfcs.com.
We teach in small classes, strictly in person in SF. I know this sucks for folk (like OP) who are outside SF, but honestly you can't teach this stuff to a high enough standard remotely. We do get plenty of interstate and international students who visit for a course or two.
We also maintain a self-teaching guide https://teachyourselfcs.com for those who don't need the full classroom experience.
Happy to answer any questions in person: [email protected]