What's the best source to learn about database replication mechanisms?
What's the widest overview and where are the deepest analysis of different replication methods and problems? ...
computer-science
What CS class has helped you over and over?
The converse of my earlier question. Despite all signs at the time, Theory of Compuation and a Compilers class are the two where techniques learned there have been used again and again. Designing state machines as well as writing tokenizers and parsers have been key skills that have proven their worth. What have you found invaluable? ...
What College/Univ has the best computer science/software engineering program?
I can't seem to find a rating for this anywhere online. I don't want just online degrees (although information on those would still be good). I also need to take cost into account. If tuition is 2x more but the quality is only 5% better, then it's not worth it to me. Basically, I want the most bang for my buck. Thanks! ...
How does Jan Willem Klop's "(L L L...)" Y combinator work?
I understand what a Y Combinator is (those who don't should go here), but I don't understand this example of a "novel" YC, from the Wikipedia page: Yk = (L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L) where: L = λabcdefghijklmnopqstuvwxyzr. (r (t h i s i s a f i x e d p o i n t c o m b i n a t o r)) How does this work? ...
What's "P=NP?", and why is it such a famous question?
The question of whether P=NP is perhaps the most famous in all of Computer Science. What does it mean? And why is it so interesting? Oh, and for extra credit, please post a proof of the statement's truth or falsehood. :) ...
How helpful is knowing lambda calculus?
To all the people who know lambda calculus: What benefit has it bought you, regarding programming? Would you recommend that people learn it? ...
How expensive are JS function calls (compared to allocating memory for a variable)?
Given some JS code like that one here: for (var i = 0; i < document.getElementsByName('scale_select').length; i++) { document.getElementsByName('scale_select')[i].onclick = vSetScale; } Would the code be faster if we put the result of getElementsByName into a variable before the loop and then use the variable after that? I am...
What are your favorite CS video lectures?
Do you watch video lectures? MIT, Stanford, Berkeley and lots of other universities provide online learning materials,lectures.. What are your favorite ones? ...
Where is a good place to brush up on some math?
Math skills are becoming more and more essential, I'm wonder where is a good place to brush up on some basics before moving on to some more CompSci specific stuff? A sight with lots of video's as well as practise exercises would be a double win but I cant seem to find one. ...
What is Test-and-Set used for?
After reading the Test-and-Set Wikipedia entry, I am still left with the question "What would a Test-and-Set be used for?" I realize that you can use it to implement Mutex (as described in wikipedia), but what other uses does it have? ...
Mathematics / Algorithmic Resources: ProjectEuler.net puzzles
I've used brute force for the most part for the ProjectEuler.net problems that I have been able to solve. One thing I'm finding is that, for some of the puzzles, I'm not able to find good resources for 'backfilling' my understanding of the problem domains the puzzles represent. What are suggested resources for learning about those topi...
As a programmer without formal CS training or a CS degree, what am I missing?
I have worked as a programmer for over ten years, with a pretty good grasp of PHP, classic ASP, and VB. But I am self-taught, first using books and magazines, and now the Internet to improve my skills. [Edit: I studied engineering in school, so I quickly learned enough programming to get my lab work done (Fortran, Pascal, and Assembly i...
How to determine differences in two lists of data
This is an exercise for the CS guys to shine with the theory. Imagine you have 2 containers with elements. Folders, URLs, Files, Strings, it really doesn't matter. What is AN algorithm to calculate the added and the removed? Notice: If there are many ways to solve this problem, please post one per answer so it can be analysed and vote...
Evolutionary Algorithms: Optimal Repopulation Breakdowns
It's really all in the title, but here's a breakdown for anyone who is interested in Evolutionary Algorithms: In an EA, the basic premise is that you randomly generate a certain number of organisms (which are really just sets of parameters), run them against a problem, and then let the top performers survive. You then repopulate with ...
Balancing a Binary Tree (AVL)
Ok, this is another one in the theory realm for the CS guys around. In the 90's I did fairly well in implementing BST's. The only thing I could bever get my head around was the intricacy of the algorithm to balance a Binary Tree (AVL). Can you guys help me on this? ...
Lost Classics: Out of Print Books?
On Lisp is well regarded as an advanced Lisp book. The author put it into the public domain, and it is now available from an on-deman printer (Lulu.com). What other classic books are we missing out on because they're out of print, and which ones are available on-line or on-demand? ...
Should a programmer go back to school if he/she doesn't have a degree?
I'm 30 years old, a programmer in DC, and I do not have a degree. I currently am taking community college classes, but I am bored out of my mind. I am actually thinking of switching to physics or some other field other than CS just to keep interested. I know Joel has mentioned several times that he would only hire someone who maintain...
What books should I read to have an undergraduate education in Computer Science?
I've always been a largely independent learner gleaning what I can from Wikipedia and various books. However, I fear that I may have biased my self-education by inadvertent omission of topics and concepts. My goal is to teach myself the equivalent of an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from a top university (doesn't matter which ...
What are the techniques for face detection on a bitmap?
I'm quite curious about this since it's quite a leap in image processing. In a broad way, how would one do face recognition on a bitmap? Edit: My intention is a brief description on how a face is recognized. Not for comparison. Just how to recognize that there is a face in a bitmap. The Wikipedia article is sparse on algorithm explana...
What are the techniques for word recognition in a sound stream?
I'm quite curious about this. In a broad way, how does one go about doing the following: Detection of word separations. Detection of syllables. Compensate for normal speech word connections. ...