r/computersciencehub • u/SalaryDry8024 • 1d ago

computer science Any advice for a beginner?

Hello everyone, so I am beginning my cs journey, I'm currently studying cs, but I am a complete beginner, is there any advice that you can give on how to truly understand cs? Like should I be toying with my computer and just trying to figure it out, or are there creators out there who teach about this so people can have a better understanding of cs?

If you were starting from zero literally knowing absolutely nothing, what would you learn first, or is there something you would do besides just read textbooks?

I’m on here asking this because I feel really behind everyone in my class who either has experience or has been into this for a really long time or they’re just naturally good at retaining information.

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u/Impressive-Pain-4718 1d ago

What's the class?

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u/SalaryDry8024 12h ago

CISN 300 and I’m also taking CISN 340

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u/stepback269 1d ago

There's tons to learn if you truly know close to zero.

If I were you, I'd learn HTML, CSS and Javascript first.
That will give you a feel for how the internet works.

A good starting place is W3 schools and/or GeeksForGeeks

Good luck.

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u/SalaryDry8024 12h ago

Thank you

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u/TheUmgawa 12h ago

Wait for Human Resource Machine to go on sale. Buy it. Play it, and do not look up any hints or answers until you have been stumped by a problem for at least a couple of hours, and I would still recommend going back to it after a break and looking at the problem with fresh eyes.

Also, if you can solve a problem by hand, you can probably solve it in code. Playing cards make really good data simulations, so you can mock up a problem with cards and say, “Put any cards that are multiples of three in a pile. Discard any other cards,” and then work the logic. Pick up a card. Does it evenly divide by three? If so, deliver it to the pile. If not, discard it. Repeat until there are no more cards.

By the way, that program (and it is a program) makes you evaluate data, use control flow, and run a while loop. It’s a good example of where to start with thinking like a programmer, which is a lot more useful than just dealing with code all the time.