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• --- How do I learn computer? ---
• Anonymous Techie (2023-09-29 21:26 ID:vOTR+GC/ )
• So how do I actually learn computing. Do I start with programming? Then what do I do after that? I just want to know how my damn machine works, get the best out of it and know how to write programs. What programming language should I start with? Should I install Linux? What's a good curriculum I can follow in my spare time? \n\n
• Anonymous Techie (2023-09-30 05:10 ID:a79gp11T )
• C programming language. Many languages are influenced by it. After you learn C then just learn whatever you want to use. \n\n Don't bother with Linux unless you NEED to run software that only works on Linux. Just stick with what you are already running.
• You will waste time dealing with distribution or Linux-specific problems that would not be found in a well designed operating system. \n\n
• Anonymous Techie (2023-09-30 12:22 ID:4xO8Dj9/ )
• Unix and C are the basis of literally everything so just learn those \n\n
• Anonymous Techie (2023-10-04 02:40 ID:PH71Wibb )
• Read the book Linux Command Line (you can get it free online) then install Arch Linux by reading through the wiki (or just Debian if you want something more stable). Then learn C or Scheme. Scheme is easier but doesn’t have a lot of practical use. C is primitive but powerful and it runs literally everything. Choice is yours. \n\n
• Anonymous Techie (2023-10-26 01:20 ID:f8xAwF5H )
• Okay so I installed Debian and now I am learning the Scheme but the SICP book is too hard. What else should I read? \n\n
• Anonymous Techie (2023-12-31 00:29 ID:keFstFqV )
• >>6 \n\n Keep learning SICP. Just reference other books or online sources when you need to know more about something it's talking about. Also get a good book on Linux to help you get used to that. I reccomend A Practical Guide to Linux: Commands, Editors and Shell Programming by Mark G. Sobell. It's quite a tome and not a book you read cover to cover (unless you want...it would be good to do so, just not really intended to be read that way as it's dry) but it will teach you the ins and outs of Linux in ways a gay JooTube video or some blog post can't. \n\n
• Anonymous Techie (2023-12-31 00:30 ID:keFstFqV )
• >>7 \n\n Here's a digital copy below, but it's worth picking up a physical version as it's a lot easier to reference a book that you can have sitting on your desk and pull out anytime. \n\n https://www.cs.csubak.edu/~jstaggs/Books/Mark20G20Sobell2020Practical20Guide20to20Linux20Commands2C20Editors20and20Shell20Programming2020132C20Prentice20Hall.986049898.pdf \n\n
• Anonymous Techie (2024-01-31 02:38 ID:y0QpnlD4 )
• These videos should help
• https://archive.org/details/ucberkeley_webcast_itunesu_391532630/01.+2010-08-30+-+Lecture+1.mp4 \n\n
• Anonymous Techie (2025-11-04 14:17 ID:RiVmw3vY )
• Hey >>1, how's it going? Did you manage to get anywhere with your studies? Immo, everyone ITT except maybe >>9 gave you more advanced tips than I think you were asking for. But that's just based on my own experience of learning computing at high school. \n\n
• Anonymous Techie (2025-12-13 02:48 ID:SguFAF8L )
• >>11
• Not far. I’m slowly following >>9’s videos and going through a C book very very slowly. Yeah direct reading SCIP was a massive waste of time because I suck at math and never programmed before so it was beyond my level. \n\n
• Anonymous Techie (2025-12-20 12:59 ID:Q0uNWZFw )
• >>12 At my school, we could do IT and Computer Studies. (IT was basically learning Microsoft Word and Excel and Powerpoint so you could get an office job. I got my “European Computer Driving Licence” qualification there.) In Computer Studies (called Computer Science elsewhere I guess) we learned what a computer is, how it all goes together, and the foundations of programming. We used Visual Basic to learn and create simple programs. I think this was to focus on the basic concepts of writing a program, rather than learn a programming language like C that you might actually use at a job. Maybe they thought that more useful than teaching one in particular that could become obsolete in a few years. If you know the basics and what the purpose of a programming language is, you can apply that to teach yourself other programming languages. For the final grade, we had to create a sufficiently complex program. I asked if I could make a Minesweeper game, but it wasn't complex enough by itself, but it would be if I added a Best Times table, so I did. \n\n > >Do I start with programming? Start with the structure of the computer: understand what the kernel, ALU, CU, BIOS, RAM, ROM, peripherals, etc. are and how they work together, what's happening inside the computer when you click something, open a program, save a file, etc. \n\n > >Then what do I do after that? Learn what a computer program is in essence before learning a particular language. When writing a program you would sketch it out in pseudocode, i.e. simple English descriptions of each step in a program, to know beforehand all the variables you'll need to address and to make sure the logic's correct and everything. Then you would implement it in whichever language you're using. Knowing what you're trying to do with the code will help you understand the language better when you try to learn. \n\n > >What programming language should I start with? Hmmm... I don't know... Like I said above, we learned in Visual Basic, but that was a long time ago, there's probably a better language to learn today where you'll learn the fundamentals at the same time as learning a useful language. \n\n > >Should I install Linux?I don't think you need to. I've worked at a few software houses and most of the developers use Macs, while some other departments used PCs and Macs. If someone wanted to use Linux, the office had to make special arrangements to get them connected to work networks and their licensed software and all that. Of course this is only an issue for being employed as part of a team, but don't think you need to use Linux to get into this. \n\n > >I just want to know how my damn machine works, get the best out of it and know how to write programs.
• >What's a good curriculum I can follow in my spare time? I found this online you might find useful, or maybe it's too simple https://archive.org/details/standardgradecom0000elli/mode/2up I realise it's a bit old but the core concepts will be the same. I just figured if you really want to start with the basics, you might be better starting with a high school-level curriculum instead of reading SICP or university lectures. I didn't watch >>9's videos so maybe they are good if they teach at a beginner level. \n\n
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