Coding or Programming?

[frostburg]

Just now, chuckasaurus rex said:

Dude, everyone relies on some library at some point when they code. Unless you're writing pure assembly, every language has a standard library, every OS/platform has an API. Why make that distinction?

I did say "(which is almost everyone)"; the line of argument was that even if you personally don't use any advanced math in your code, it might be worthwhile to be able to understand how it was used in the code you're likely depending upon.

[Guest]

IMO Coding is when you're learning and actually typing code like Hello World,

And then you graduate college and become a programmer where you program.

 

14 hours a day you stare at a screen drooling debugging someone's horribly organized code written at 4 in the morning. 

[dalekphalm]

@jasonwj322a as you can see, lots of people have their own definitions and personal ideals of what constitutes a programmer vs a coder..

 

But frankly, when it comes down to it, the words are Interchangeable. There's not one universally respected definition that categorizes and defines them into separate categories.

 

Until such a time as the industry solidifies on a singular universal definition, it really doesn't matter which term you use,

 

If you write computer programming language, compile it, and create a software application, you can call yourself a coder or a programmer, whatever you'd like.

 

I would say that Programmer is the formal definition, and coder (to me) is the informal term. That would be my personal definition.

 

Programming (and coding) can extend beyond writing code and compiling it into a software application. Scripting can be considered programming or coding - same with HTML design. Along with programming instructions into a device (eg: a robot), or programming non-compiling code for a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), for example.

[jasonwj322a]

2 hours ago, frostburg said:

Err, assuming that this is a question in good faith: a theorem is also a sequence of words. A computer program is equivalent to a proof (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry–Howard_correspondence but this stuff gets pretty hard pretty fast, so don't get scared if you can't understand anything there).

Most of what you might want a computer to do involves math, for example graphics programming is heavily based on linear algebra.

 

2 hours ago, M.Yurizaki said:

It depends on what you're doing though. Computer science isn't strictly speaking about programming computers. It's about coming up with algorithms and analyzing the feasibility of them. Computers just makes the task more easy.

 

I've been a software developer for many years and I've yet to touch calculus, linear algebra, or any college level math.

What should I start with ultimately then? Sites that teaches coding doesn't have any math to my knowledge. 

[Mira Yurizaki]

Just now, jasonwj322a said:

What should I start with ultimately then? Sites that teaches coding doesn't have any math to my knowledge. 

I would start with a combination an easy-to-pick-up language like Python (well, most people say it's easy to pick up) and learning how computers work. You don't need to get into the nitty gritty details, but at least be familiar with how logic works, the general aspects of program control, etc. Looking up some simple processors on Wikipedia, like the MOS 6502 or Intel's 8086 can give you some foundation since most processors haven't deviated all that much from their designs on a 10,000 foot level.

 

It also depends on what you're interested in. If you want to develop apps for phones, you should focus on a different path than if you want to tinker with an Arduino board.

[jasonwj322a]

5 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

I would start with a combination an easy-to-pick-up language like Python (well, most people say it's easy to pick up) and learning how computers work. You don't need to get into the nitty gritty details, but at least be familiar with how logic works, the general aspects of program control, etc. Looking up some simple processors on Wikipedia, like the MOS 6502 or Intel's 8086 can give you some foundation since most processors haven't deviated all that much from their designs on a 10,000 foot level.

 

It also depends on what you're interested in. If you want to develop apps for phones, you should focus on a different path than if you want to tinker with an Arduino board.

Any place other than wikipedia to learn how a computer works? Its quite vague on wikipedia. I really need advice on what parts of the computer I need to learn about. About different paths I should choose, what is the difference? Aren't they all just coding?

[Mira Yurizaki]

2 minutes ago, jasonwj322a said:

Any place other than wikipedia to learn how a computer works? Its quite vague on wikipedia. I really need advice on what parts of the computer I need to learn about. About different paths I should choose, what is the difference? Aren't they all just coding?

What parts are we talking about? I mean, the best advice I can give you is to read books like Computer Architecture and Computer Organization and Design. I mean what kind of overview are looking for? Down to how the circuits work?

 

And no, there's a huge difference between developing application software that runs with an OS and firmware that runs on microcontrollers. For one, you really should not use anything other than C for firmware because anything else is too bloated or slow.

[jasonwj322a]

2 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

What parts are we talking about? I mean, the best advice I can give you is to read books like Computer Architecture and Computer Organization and Design. I mean what kind of overview are looking for? Down to how the circuits work?

 

And no, there's a huge difference between developing application software that runs with an OS and firmware that runs on microcontrollers. For one, you really should not use anything other than C for firmware because anything else is too bloated or slow.

Should I just start with learning all the languages first and then start to focus on other things?

[frostburg]

3 minutes ago, M.Yurizaki said:

 Computer Organization and Design.

I second this one. It's widely adopted for good reason. One very elegant and "didactic" assembly language you can look at is the 32-bit MIPS one.

[Mira Yurizaki]

1 minute ago, jasonwj322a said:

Should I just start with learning all the languages first and then start to focus on other things?

You can try to do that and see what sticks, but what are you trying to get out of this?

[jasonwj322a]

1 minute ago, M.Yurizaki said:

You can try to do that and see what sticks, but what are you trying to get out of this?

I dont really know since I'm just starting out.

[Mira Yurizaki]

Just now, jasonwj322a said:

I dont really know since I'm just starting out.

At this rate, go try out Python and play around with that. Take at least a step into some programming language.

[jasonwj322a]

Just now, M.Yurizaki said:

At this rate, go try out Python and play around with that. Take at least a step into some programming language.

Ok will do. Thanks!

[frostburg]

3 minutes ago, jasonwj322a said:

I dont really know since I'm just starting out.

It's probably better if you start reading the very useful Patterson book on computer architecture that was suggested to you above and pick a single, well documented language to start with. Python maybe isn't optimal but it's a good choice.

[Clanscorpia]

4 hours ago, M.Yurizaki said:

It depends on what you're doing though. Computer science isn't strictly speaking about programming computers. It's about coming up with algorithms and analyzing the feasibility of them. Computers just makes the task more easy.

 

I've been a software developer for many years and I've yet to touch calculus, linear algebra, or any college level math.

Ive been in elementary school for many years and I touched on that  Im almost in my Algebra textbook to Calculus cant wait

 

[mrchow19910319]

FreeCodeCamp. Or Codecademy. I never tried codecademy before, but I have been hearing that they do not give you any real world project to practice. (Don't quote me on this though). FreeCodeCamp is great. If you want to learn programming, go sign up. It is free. Starting coding from today. Finish all the quiz. And start building your projects. You will get into it as time go by. 

 

I have learnt a little bit of C++ before. And compares that to HTML/CSS the latter one is more easier. At least for me. 

 

Asking questions are good, and since you are just starting out, it is common to have questions. However do not get overly attach to questions like this. Coding/Programming , which language is better, sass vs css, iOS or android which one is the better platform. Do not get into all those argument. Find ONE language and stick to it. Be a master at it. Then see what other languages that are interested to you or you just need it because of the work you do. Here are some articles about learning to code. Go read them. It is helpful. And most importantly, go sign up a online free courses and start coding right now. Open your IDE (or at this point of time codepen.io will do) and start writing now.  

 

https://medium.freecodecamp.com/making-sense-of-front-end-build-tools-3a1b3a87043b#.q2c914jeu

https://medium.freecodecamp.com/read-search-dont-be-afraid-to-ask-743a23c411b4#.l9n2u9qm2

https://medium.freecodecamp.com/what-programming-language-should-i-learn-first-ʇdıɹɔsɐʌɐɾ-ɹǝʍsuɐ-19a33b0a467d#.qxsdli7q1

 

The last one is the most important one. Read it 1st. Written by the creator of freecodecamp.

 

 

This is 2 of my favourite channel on youtube about coding.

https://www.youtube.com/user/killerphp

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyIe-61Y8C4_o-zZCtO4ETQ

 

[jasonwj322a]

8 hours ago, mrchow19910319 said:

FreeCodeCamp. Or Codecademy. I never tried codecademy before, but I have been hearing that they do not give you any real world project to practice. (Don't quote me on this though). FreeCodeCamp is great. If you want to learn programming, go sign up. It is free. Starting coding from today. Finish all the quiz. And start building your projects. You will get into it as time go by. 

 

I have learnt a little bit of C++ before. And compares that to HTML/CSS the latter one is more easier. At least for me. 

 

Asking questions are good, and since you are just starting out, it is common to have questions. However do not get overly attach to questions like this. Coding/Programming , which language is better, sass vs css, iOS or android which one is the better platform. Do not get into all those argument. Find ONE language and stick to it. Be a master at it. Then see what other languages that are interested to you or you just need it because of the work you do. Here are some articles about learning to code. Go read them. It is helpful. And most importantly, go sign up a online free courses and start coding right now. Open your IDE (or at this point of time codepen.io will do) and start writing now.  

 

https://medium.freecodecamp.com/making-sense-of-front-end-build-tools-3a1b3a87043b#.q2c914jeu

https://medium.freecodecamp.com/read-search-dont-be-afraid-to-ask-743a23c411b4#.l9n2u9qm2

https://medium.freecodecamp.com/what-programming-language-should-i-learn-first-ʇdıɹɔsɐʌɐɾ-ɹǝʍsuɐ-19a33b0a467d#.qxsdli7q1

 

The last one is the most important one. Read it 1st. Written by the creator of freecodecamp.

 

 

This is 2 of my favourite channel on youtube about coding.

https://www.youtube.com/user/killerphp

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyIe-61Y8C4_o-zZCtO4ETQ

 

Thanks for the advice and kind words