Getting Started with Computer Science- Part 1

I have completed a year at IITB, pursuing Computer Science and Engineering. This post will be for anyone who is interested in Computer Science, be it a middle school student, a class 12 student preparing for his/her school exam, or a college student who is interested.

I am not a 'hackerman type' coder, but I guess I know enough to set up a path for people who are about to start with programming. I know C++ very well, and I am pretty decent in Python, Java, and Lisp(taught in college, otherwise I would never have learned this beautiful language). I have recently solved a lot of competitive programming questions, and have also learned some basic Data Structure and Algorithms. I recently tried my hands on Android and Web Development(didn't go very far though, as of now).

There are always some questions which trouble beginners a lot. I had those questions in my mind too, when I was about to join college. Some of these include-

1. I guess I am too 'young' to do something magnificent like 'coding'.
2. I should wait until college to start. I should focus on my school and 'JEE' for now.
3. I don't know where to start.
4. Which laptop should I buy?
5. Why should I learn to code?
6. I fear I will break something.
7. I don't have a laptop. I guess I should not go into this field.
8. I am not in Computer Science branch in my college, I think I should focus more on my subject instead of learning Computers.
9. Which 'language' should I begin with?

This post will focus on these questions. I will be telling you more about resources, and what to learn first later(in a separate post). This post is more focused towards taking out all your fears out.


1. I guess I am too 'young' to do something magnificent like 'coding'.

Well, this used to happen with me too. Believe me, coding is something which even a class 6 student can do(or at least class 8). it is not a very huge thing. People think coding is something like building Google and Facebook. These companies employ thousands of highly trained individuals(only a few IITians from top colleges manage to land a job there). Please don't think too much in the initial stages, and focus on yourself. It's a skill acquired over years, and it's not tough if you keep yourself motivated. Programming is fun and everyone must learn it. It is a very easy thing, contrary to public opinion.


2. I should focus on school/JEE instead of doing this.

This is probably the stupidest reason for not learning to programme. I personally feel I should have started coding at an early age, say 6th or so, instead of learning Physics and all. I do understand that JEE is important. My advice is that if you are someone who is good at studies and is below class 11, then I guess you MUST take out an hour every day and learn how to code. You can stop if you are serious about JEE and continue it in class 11, and stop for a year, and continue after JEE. But if you are in class 9, and feel that it's too early/I should focus on JEE, then you are doing a huge mistake. I personally feel that these Olympiads and NTSE aren't really great stuff. Not very useful. Better learn to programme, if you are interested. It will help you in the long run. You can go for IOI too, which is highly valued(Adam D Angelo, the founder of Quora, is an IOI medallist too).
Bottomline is that if you are below 11th, start ASAP if you have even the slightest of interest. Else focus on JEE, if not already started.


3. I don't know where to start.

Well, see this post for that(will be updated soon). First, I want you to realize that programming isn't tough or something magical. I'll be putting up the post on resources and where to begin after a few days.


4. Which laptop should I buy?

Pretty much anything will do but have a look at this post to see more about laptops.


5. Why should I learn to code?

Well, I can write a 1000 page book on this. Basically, everything today(and even more in future) depends on computers, and hence on programmers and computer scientists. Your mobile phone works cause someone has coded the software. Heard of those self-replicating robots and all? They involve a branch of Computer Science called 'Machine Learning', which is a subpart of 'Artificial Intelligence'. Your bank details, passwords and login credentials of your Facebook account are secure due to secure Cryptosystems in place(another branch of Computer Science). You might not be knowing it, but you already know a lot of Computer Science! You might be knowing many Algorithms like Eratosthene's Sieve, Greedy Algorithms, Linear Search, etc. without even knowing! Engineers, Medical Scientists, Mathematicians, and probably every imaginable field of science is benefitted from the existence of Computers in some way or the other.

Talking of materialistic benefits(although I am a sophomore), CSE has got really good research and job prospects. Every company, startup and research project needs good quality Computer Scientists/Software Engineers. Computer Science is the future. You can practically go to any field of interest if you are into it. So yeah, it's definitely worth trying!


6. I fear I will break something.

Lol, no way. Quoting Professor Umesh Bellur from IIT Bombay, CSE is one of the few fields where you can't break anything. Every other field includes some or the other physical device, but in CSE, you are just using your computer. Unless you are really unlucky, nothing happens to you or your laptop at all! Don't be afraid of anything and focus on learning.


7. I don't have a laptop/PC. I can't code!

Well, there are many online IDEs(basically a website where you can type code and it will act like a laptop where you are coding) like Ideone. I use this sometimes, and I find it really great. You can use your phone(I assume you must be having a phone which supports Internet) and go to Ideone, and code there while learning from online resources. So, laptops/PCs won't be a real issue, but it's recommended you use one.


8. I am not in Computer Science branch in my college, I think I should focus more on my subject instead of learning Computers.

Well, read point 5 again. I don't know much about placements and all, but I have heard from seniors that even if you are from a non-CS branch, you can get a career in CSE provided you study well. If you are interested, go for it. To learn a skill is better than not learning anything.


9. Which 'language' should I begin with?

This sounds very naive to me now, but there was a time when I used to ask the same question to everyone, and it's perfectly fine. Well, Computer Science is not about learning n number of language. Language is just a means of communicating with the computer. There are hundreds of programming languages, and everyone has its merits and demerits, and different use. Most complex structures like Facebook use many languages. You need to pick up one language first. Once you are good with its concepts, you can pick up any language.

I personally feel that C++ must be your first language. I will put up resources about it in another post, soon. Stay tuned.


So, this was it. I hope all your doubts are clear now. Hopefully, this post must have cleared many of your doubts and misconceptions. You can see this post for the second part, where I'll be telling where should a guy who hasn't touched a computer in his life go to become a programmer.

I hope you liked the introductory post for the Computer Science section of my blog. Do share with anyone who might be interested. Thanks, and feedbacks welcome as comments below.


Also see: Getting Started with Computer Science-Part 2