computer science?

ThickeningAgent

hello. if it isn't already painfully apparent in my other posts (see recent movie thread and others) I know very little about computers. I know how to use software, but when it comes to anything 'under the hood' I am 100% clueless.

I want to change that. I don't necessarily want to become a computer wizard, but i'd like to get to the point where i can understand the basics- so i can hopefully expand my thinking about creative projects and come to better understand the options and limitations.

to do this i am ready to take some classes. but even there i am not sure where to begin. Intro to Computer Science? Computers for Dummies?

since i know there are many computer geniuses amongst us I am hoping someone can point me in a good direction.

HELP ME HELP MYSELF!

1234

Tell us more about the kinds of things you want to know. Or do.

I don't think a broad understanding of computer science or how the hardware works will help you in any practical sense...

Loose_Thread

Maybe you could volunteer at Free Geek and get some on the job training

ManInTheIvoryTower

http://delicious.com/stacks/view/P1nmt2 is a beginning of a link "stack" with links to online computer/programming classes that I'm putting together. Feel free to make suggestions if you know of any good stuff I don't have on there yet as I'm just starting it.

http://www.codecademy.com/ is probably the best example of a intro to programming class online.

1234

I've been thinking recently that my own web skills have not progressed much, which means they are less valuable as the web has changed. I'd like to return to the shitty level of barely being able to do things in an ugly way...

ThickeningAgent

well, i feel like i am often seeing really great art projects that have interesting digital components to them. like some smart phone app art projects, or GPS integrated land-art things, or very complex websites, etc. it is not necessarily that i expect to be able to do those things after just taking a class or two, but i would like to understand the basics. right now that stuff just seems like magic to me- my thought is that if i had a better understanding of the basics it would broaden my creative process. (cinema is so 20th century)

but basically, i don't even know where i want, or need, to start. and it all seems so very complicated.

ThickeningAgent

facetweet- those look like some great links!

Leland

Yes, I've been working in Codeacademy. Seems like a good way into the 'guts'.

MirandaJuly

At one point this book was recommended to me as helpful to artists. Not sure if there's a better, more current one.

Check out "Scratch," which is kind of a legos approach to programming http://scratch.mit.edu/ Actually, maybe also check out those legos that you can program? Mindstorm?

I'm also doing Codecademy.

Leland

".... like some smart phone app art projects, or GPS integrated land-art things, or very complex websites, etc....."

I have parallel dreams. ;)

I desire art works based on analyzing the location and content of twitter posts.

ed_chigliak

http://lifehacker.com/5744113/learn-to-code-the-full-beginners-guide

MirandaJuly

Hm, I'd say skip that article and just jump right into the lessons at codecademy.

ThickeningAgent

i've been doing Codecedamy all morning, and think i am understanding some stuff. but boy does this make my head spin, it reminds me of algebra and i think i am understanding why this might be a lot easier to learn when you are young (at least before you forgot all that algebra stuff)

one quick question i can't seem to figure out- am I correct in thinking that Java and JavaScript are NOT the same thing? I don't think they are, but i don't really understand the difference.

curt

Java and Javascript are as different as night and day.

Javascript is called that because the people who created wanted to trick people into thinking they were related.

Loose_Thread

I used to teach Computers for Seniors and they would make the most refreshing observations... like "'HTML'... is that why they call it Hotmail?"

Leland

I like how Codeacademy helped it kind of make sense when I look at the source code for most all pages on the interwebs.

Do you ever do that @bigmacattack? Look at your browser menu and click 'View' and then 'View Source'...? (Those are the names of the menu items in Safari anyway.)

Lo and behold, there it is, the magic stuff that makes the pages go! You just write that stuff the right way and the HTML money comes out your hotmail!

ThickeningAgent

yes, but don't forget that HTML and JavaScript are very different things*

(*i just learned that about five minutes ago)

Leland

;)

Yessssss! By Jove, that's it!


Another thing that is important is called 'Cascading Style Sheets' (CSS). This is an efficient, standardized way of organizing the 'layout' of web pages.

There is a fairly useful tutorial for CSS here. I say 'fairly' because their method of speaking to beginners is to be kind of jokey. I find that distracting, but I can over-look it. Just saying....

swamp_knobbler_mahan

CSS is the coolest.

Matthew

Cascadia Style Sheets

Loose_Thread

Also M. M., to get back to your original query.... wouldn't it be cool if there was some kind of gadget store you could just go to, that had all these cool lookin' gadgets, and you could just be like I want to play with that I better learn how it works. Like an old school electronics store or summat

distant_shoe

all you need to know?

Leland

Once you start getting your codes all in a row, the next thing to do is to get a server somewhere to run them (and be ON the internet!).

I rent a virtual server on Linode to do this, but I bet the UHX aunts and uncles have good suggestions too.

ManInTheIvoryTower

http://www.rackspace.com/cloud/cloud_hosting_products/servers/

~$10/mo* for a server with root access, killer backup imaging process, killer cloud file storage for big downloads.

* Does not include bandwidth.