Solved another HW problem

Things work out.  It took a while to finish another homework problem.  But it's generally enjoyable experience.

Starting from now, I will probably jot down tip on Java such that my life will be easier next time.  Tidbit on things like how String function should be written should be committed to either my memory or some convenient note.

There is only 1 more question to go.  It requires understanding a technique called recursive backtracking.  This is a little bit different from just recursion.  So I wonder what the term means in this class.  

Time to take a break.  I will work on the problem sets again tomorrow.

Some notes on my java implementations

I will undoubtedly rewrite a lot of stuffs in Java during the Data Structure class in the famous extension school.   I would hope to just post the code here because it benefits all other people.  But of course, I also want to avoid the situation where some body suspect I copied my code in the class in case they see this blog.

So my take is this, I will probably just post code when I finish a class.  In any case, that will take some organization anyway.

A sudden feeling

I suddenly feel I am quite elated with the simple questions I solved in the Data Structure class for the famous extension school.   Famous extension school is famous because its programs are one of the top of the world.  But famous extension school is still a worthwhile place to study for a moment because it charges a large sum of fee for courses.   Studying there may not be the most-valued thing in the world but the education is decent.   You can think of its graduate program as at least in the top of the 2nd tier.

Some of its graduate exhibit a trait which I dislike : that is to claim they are graduated from the university itself.   But extension school is still an extension school.  Its quality is still poorer than the core.  It's pretentious to claim you graduate from the core which only a few very talented can do. So I always refer it to the "extension school" because I don't like to brat with the name.

In such a context, being able to finish the homework with ease is a pretty encouraging thing.   That might mean I might really able to apply jobs in some Big shots company.   But well, let's wait and see.  Programming skill is something it takes time to refine.


Another interesting feeling I have when I walked home is that programming could be something fun and interesting.  Unlike work in my job which is dull and super-uncreative, a lot of programming tasks are artistic and challenging.  This makes me feel happy about my choice to admit to the famous extension school.   It really adds something positive to my life and balances out my rather s*ty work life.

First programming exercise from the class

It takes around 1-2.5 hours to finish the first programming exercises.  I will say mainly it's because of the setup time.  But other than that, it's no biggy.  I think the 10-20 hour estimates per week is not a bad one from the course instructor.  If one is not experienced with Java, it will take a little bit more time. Strictly speaking, I am not that great neither. But things working reasonably well.

I might want to spend time to put experience of Java into this place as well.  I hope to make sure I learned something during the process.

First homework assignment

It didn't arrive yet but I was able to search for the last year assignment using Google.  I tried my hands on the written questions.  Of course, they are just a breeze.   Once you can finish CLRS Chapter 2 to 4.  You are way more powerful to solve basic programming problems. 

Java is also pretty nice to use when testing algorithm.  It is also elegant in the way I don't need to implement my algorithm with static array which is kind of ugly. 

There are totally 5 assignments and there is a programming project after that.  I guess my first goal is to finish all assignments first.  As the difficulty is fairly low.  This should take me around 40-60 hours to finish them. 

After finishing the first class

Refreshing.  Though I know that its level is probably not as good as the MIT course, I still feel benefited from the interaction.

The extension course was a basic introduction to simple data structure.  But underneath that, it also teaches Java.  For example, one of the key thing that I learned is how stack frames were represented in the stack and it is nice to see how things were represented neatly in the stack/heap diagram.

The course also taught me Java and I want to take advantages on it.  It is a good idea to keep up with the most popular programming language.

I have great expectation with this relearning process.  There are many course in this famous extension school are very valuable.   For starter, the mobile and web programming courses will be very useful.

My goal though is still trying to work out the whole CLRS.  It is more daunting than 1 to probably up to 3 university class.

I am going to take a Data Structure course!

It's a win. I am able to convince a stakeholder to let me take a data structure class in September! Alright, I am going to fully utilize this opportunity!

33_P