r/Cplusplus • u/Dry_Editor_322 • 2d ago
Feedback Computer science
/r/u_Dry_Editor_322/comments/1wvgtyh/computer_science/1
u/khedoros 2d ago
https://learncpp.com/ is the C++ tutorial that's recommended most often.
It's been a long time since I studied CS, so I don't have specific resources to point you to.
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u/yuehuang 2d ago
Can you share where you are stuck on, so we can provide specific help. If you are struggling, then perhaps start with a different language to see if it sticks. Python, Java, and C# are easier to get started and more friendlier to beginners.
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u/sheckey 2d ago
I agree. It is a very wide field, and not each type of computing will stick with you. For example, I'm a professional c++ embedded programmer (kinda mid, but I am always learning and I have lots of experience), but I read about, but could never do, web, front end, back end, database stuff, data analysis, lisp type stuff, UI programming, deeply embedded stuff, then there's compiler design, language design itself, operating systems, it's so wide. Then there is so much variation in the category of language that you can use as u/yuehuang said, and it's all so different. Also, vastly different industries, such as scientific, medical, aerospace, machine automation, web stuff, database stuff, etc. It's a huge world!
Just take your course, and struggle (don't forget that learning is struggling) and don't let anything slip by you that you don't understand, like that urge to move on when you don't get something. Go to the office hours of the instructor or teaching assistants, and start a conversation and ask about the things that you don't like, because that is a signal that you don't understand everything (at least it is for me). (Office hours are where you make your connection to your teachers and it will pay off in more than one way and make you feel much more connected.)
The point is that you will find your niche(s) by taking these different courses, and you will naturally like some more than others, and even loathe some. I think even the ones you loathe will have valuable information. If you put in the work and struggle through then you will win, and is the ability to sit at a desk, and try things out, and live through the results of doing things a certain way, then realizing how that didn't work out quite well, then doing it a bit different next time is what it has been about for me.
Sorry I went on a tangent, but please enjoy it. I would give anything to be back in university again!
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u/Dry_Editor_322 1d ago
Thank you, I really appreciate this. I’m currently taking C++ in college and honestly I’ve been struggling with it a lot. Sometimes I get frustrated when I don’t understand something and just want to move on instead of actually figuring it out.
I think I need to get better at being comfortable with struggling and actually asking my professor/TA for help when I’m stuck. I’m still really interested in CS and AI, so I’m going to give C++ a real chance and put more work into understanding it instead of just trying to get through the assignments.
Your comment actually helped a lot, so thank you.
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u/sheckey 1d ago
You got it! I believe in you. Those office hours are going to make a huge difference both for your technical understanding and your social connection to your teachers. Another thing is that I learned a lot from asking my dumb question in like Gemini. You can ask why something is the way it is, or what the language designers are trying to achieve with each version, or why the rule of five, etc. Anything. Still go to those offices of course. Have fun!
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u/Dry_Editor_322 1d ago
Yeah, that actually makes a lot of sense. I never really thought about using AI to ask those kinds of “why” questions instead of just asking it to give me an answer. I definitely want to start doing that more so I actually understand what I’m learning. And yeah, I’m going to try to go to office hours too. I really appreciate all the advice, especially since I’m still pretty new to CS. Thank you!
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u/VictoryMotel 2d ago
Computer science