Re: debate: to get a Master's Degree in CS or Not


"slebetman@xxxxxxxxx" <slebetman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1136338567.301629.41380@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Walter Bright wrote:
>> <xtcsonik@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> news:1136303521.497809.262100@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >I am currently a Microsoft .NET developer. I've been considering the
>> > costs/benefits of enrolling in a graduate degree at a local university.
>> > I got my BA in computer science in 2002.
>> >
>> > <snip>
>> >
>> > Any comments or suggestions?
>>
>> Make sure you take solid calculus courses. Calculus is the key to the
>> kingdom, be it science, engineering, programming, economics, etc. The
>> rest
>> can be picked up on the job <g>.
>
> Funny, I took a computer engineering degree to avoid maths.

All I can do is sadly shake my head. The difference between an engineer and
a tradesman/technician/mechanic is the former knows the math.

So what use is math to a programmer? On the obvious side, it enables one to
understand *why* one random number generator is better than another. Or why
one crypto security technique isn't secure. Or how to write models of things
(game programming comes to mind). Or to understand the strengths/weaknesses
of various trig implementations, and when they give usable results and when
they don't.

On a more subtle level, mastering math teaches the mind to think a certain
way, a way that fits in very well with programming. I now and then run into
programmers who are unable to figure out why their own programs don't work,
and in working on them with the problem, they just don't think about the
problem in an organized way, and have no hope of solving it on their own.
This kind of skill is what the more challenging math classes will provide
you.


.

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