Best products from r/OSUOnlineCS

We found 32 comments on r/OSUOnlineCS discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 36 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.

Top comments mentioning products on r/OSUOnlineCS:

u/bashfulbear · 3 pointsr/OSUOnlineCS

It's less math intensive in the sense that you won't be solving calculus problems very often (or at all), but there are classes where a (basic) understanding of calculus will be helpful. For instance, I just completed algorithms and was pretty glad that I had taken Calculus. Knowing a lot about limits and knowing L'Hopital's rule made parts of asymptotic analysis a lot more intuitive than it otherwise would have been.

With that said, discrete math (which you'll cover in CS 225) is a pretty big part of the program and computer science as a whole. You'll serve yourself well by getting a solid understanding of discrete math--even in classes where it's not an explicit requirement.

To give an example, in CS 344 (operating systems), there was an assignment where we had to build a pretty simple dungeon-crawler game where a player moved through a series of rooms. Each time the player played the game, there needed to be a new random dungeon, and the connections between rooms needed to be two-way. Calculus isn't really going to help you solve this problem, but if you're good with discrete math, you'll quickly realize that this sort of problem can easily be solved with a graph. Further, you can represent the graph as a 2D array, and at that point the implementation becomes pretty easy.

So, there is math in the program, but not the type that you've probably been doing throughout your academic career. Discrete math comes naturally to some, and it's really difficult for others. I'd recommend picking up this book (which is used in the program) whenever you get a chance:

https://www.amazon.com/Discrete-Mathematics-Applications-Susanna-Epp/dp/0495391328

I'm almost done with the program, but I've been returning to that a lot to review concepts we covered in class and to learn new stuff that we didn't have time for in the term. It's a great book.

Good luck!

u/Alektorophobiae · 11 pointsr/OSUOnlineCS

Grinding problems, haha! I can't answer your more specific questions, but I'll distill the resources that I have found to be most useful. The types of questions will depend on wherever you are applying and you might not even get technical questions at some places.

  • Elements of Programming Interviews
  • CTCI
  • leetcode

    I would start with CTCI then, if you feel like it, move on to Elements of Programming Interviews which (I think) has more difficult problems. All the while just grind problems on leetcode. Also, make sure to practice answering these questions without coding in an IDE. I have just been using a notebook and pencil. A whiteboard works too. Before beginning any sort of coding, you should have the general algorithm down that you will use to solve the problem.

    It also would be helpful to know how to implement / be familiar with the following:

    Data Structures

  • Linked Lists
  • Dynamic Arrays
  • Hash tables / dictionaries (Definitely know how to use these)
  • Binary Search Tree
  • Queue
  • Deque
  • Stack

    Algorithms

  • Binary Search
  • Quicksort
  • Mergesort
  • Insertion Sort
  • Dynamic Programming
  • Bit Manipulation
  • DFS
  • BFS
  • String Manipulation( reversing, detecting palindromes, word count, counting repeated words, comparing strings)
  • A*


    OOP (define these)

  • Interfaces
  • Abstract classes
  • Polymorphism
  • Inheritance
  • Encapsulation
  • Overriding
  • Overloading

    Other stuff:

  • What happens when you type www.google.com and click enter on the browser
  • Algorithms Course Heard this is really good

    Finally, know Big-O complexity Big-O Cheatsheet! I'm sure there is a lot more but this should be a great start.

    Good luck! :)
u/poorpigsly · 1 pointr/OSUOnlineCS

I used a great ebook on amazon that I'll link below that was a little outdated and I couldnt use the majority of their techniques for my game for a variety of reasons, but it gave a great outline for the architecture. I just rented it for a while.

Also, I want to start another project that is well architectured (based on the mistakes of this one) and maybe uses react, redux, nodejs, mongodb, socket io. (My goal is to get great at Es6 and React to land a job) If you have an idea, like that stack, and want to team up, I'd be down. PM me if you want to build something together.

Just found react game kit which might be something to consider using: https://github.com/FormidableLabs/react-game-kit

Here's the book that inspired my design: https://www.amazon.com/dp/143024710X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_a90PybWB4THMB

u/akame_21 · 6 pointsr/OSUOnlineCS

I would follow up on the courses delia_ann posted. I preferred the MIT course over the Harvard course for several reasons but YMMV.

I would recommend brushing up on math if you think you might have trouble, but considering you have an engineering background this may not be necessary. Before I started the program I worked through khan academy for several months and it helped me a lot in 225: Discrete Math.

Since this is the close of my first semester I decided I'm going to spend time off between semesters to take courses on edx and/or start reading the textbook(s) for my next class. Having rudimentary knowledge of the subject matter before the class starts makes things so much easier.

Someone on this sub recommended Think Like a Programmer to me, and that's what I'm using to reinforce concepts and get ready for 162 next semester (especially because it uses C++). There's a free pdf on that you can find using google. This may be a good read for you when you get a little experience using C++.

u/periphrasistic · 2 pointsr/OSUOnlineCS

The Linux Programming Interface has been a recommended text for CS344 in past quarters. It's a pretty comprehensive tutorial and reference for Linux system programming and well worth having if that's a topic that interests you. For the purposes of the class though, it's total overkill. It will however make you look smarter if you put it on your desk at work. ;)

When I took CS361 in the Spring, it recommended the textbook Software Engineering. It honestly isn't very good and is very overpriced. Last I checked, they have a different instructor for 361 this quarter, so he or she may have a different textbook or none at all.

u/PretzelSmoothie · 1 pointr/OSUOnlineCS

I found this book really helpful! It isn't solely about pointers, but rather how to solve problems in C++. However, it has a chapter on pointers and dynamic memory that I found really useful. Definitely worth a gander.

u/AxleTheDog · 1 pointr/OSUOnlineCS

When I took it, we used the sample "Sakila" database for a lot, it is part of the MySQL tutorials here: https://dev.mysql.com/doc/sakila/en/.

Also a strong book on database design is: Check this out: Database Systems: Design, Implementation, and Management (with Prem... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1111969604/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_DxCOyb8P48Q7D )

It's a text at many colleges - but covers stuff like ERDs in great detail. Handy reference. Don't buy a new one though, $$$. Find a used one or you can rent e-book for like 30 bucks / semester ( may not be most recent version but that's ok)

u/ph49 · 3 pointsr/OSUOnlineCS

You might consider checking out Programming Collective Intelligence, or Algorithms of the Intelligent Web - really interesting stuff. They cover the algorithms used for things like recommendation engines, ranking systems, optimized search and filtering, etc.

u/iheartshampoo · 2 pointsr/OSUOnlineCS

I don't print much, in this program or otherwise, but I do have a Brother laser printer (Brother HL-L2340DW https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LZS5EEI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_C-eFybBQ2D7D7). It's the best selling laser printer on Amazon for about $100. It has wireless, duplex printing, and airprint. I have it hidden and out of the way in a corner and can easily print from any of my devices. Can't recommend it enough.

u/ShenmeNamaeSollich · 1 pointr/OSUOnlineCS

It was enjoyable, but very shallow/cursory/basic. I read it quickly & almost immediately forgot everything in it.

An alternative that's slightly more in-depth is "A Common Sense Guide to Data Structures and Algorithms" by Jay Wengrow. May also be helpful for 261.

It's still pretty visual & slightly cheaper, but w/more step-by-step walkthroughs & code examples. It's sort of in between Grokking & the CLRS algorithms book in complexity.

Get Grokking from the library if you can, read it quickly to get the basic ideas, and then look at the "real" textbook to see if it makes more sense.

u/joshroxu · 1 pointr/OSUOnlineCS

I've used a chromebook for most of the program. I didn't put linux on it, but instead created a workspace on cloud9 which is a web based IDE that runs on linux. I can see some issues with some classes like webdev, mobile/cloud, assembly, and probably a few more. I just got this one for my wife at 185. I like the screen and speakers a lot.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I0560MS

u/LulzBaby · 1 pointr/OSUOnlineCS

You can try giving this book a shot. I took 271 on the Cascades campus and we used that book plus this book. The first is free and I thought was useful, a bit quirky but good info.

u/hilduff5 · 1 pointr/OSUOnlineCS

Im currently in the class now. I agree with the previous posts in that reviewing C is a great idea. The whole class is entirely in C. I also recommend to get a supplemental book on C. The book in the link below really saved my ass.

Understanding C Pointers

u/Teimoso · 1 pointr/OSUOnlineCS

[For coding best practices : ] (https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Code-Handbook-Software-Craftsmanship/dp/0132350882)
Maybe you don't need to follow this to the T but it's helpful overall.

[For when you are stuck / architecting your program: ] (https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Yellow-Rubber-Ducky-Schylling/dp/B000K21D4K/)

Explain your code/talk through exactly what you are doing to a rubber duck or willing participant. A lot of times saying it out loud and explaining your code will help you find any holes to think about/fix.

u/Fulminata · 8 pointsr/OSUOnlineCS

> I read that SWE internships typically have data structures/algorithms style interviews. Is this true?

Yeah, out of 3 offers only one of them had me do any interviewing that wasn't strictly DSA, and that was because they do banking.

>When's a good time in your OSU online degree progression for you to begin applying to internships?

Whenever you have time. It's July so you can probably catch the spring co-op cycle and definitely the summer internship cycle for most companies. All you need is enough data structures and algorithms knowledge to interview (anecdotally, I wrapped up all my interviewing while I was finishing 162 and discrete).

> How did you do it?

  1. I skimmed this $10 python dsa course first
  2. I skimmed cracking the coding interview (ignoring stuff like bit manipulation and system design, because most people aren't asking you that)
  3. And did common leetcode questions (only easy or medium though)


    Ultimately optimize for time, try to study stuff that 80% of people will ask you, but look at specific questions companies ask when you get down to the interview stage.
u/b_poore · 1 pointr/OSUOnlineCS

It's been a while since I've taken 161, but when I did, this was the book: https://www.amazon.com/Starting-Out-Early-Objects-8th/dp/013336092X

Back then 161 and 165 were using the same book. We made it through most of the book in 161 and 162 and my understanding is that 165 is the same story, just twice as fast, so looking at the book might help you decide as well!

u/noobercakes · 1 pointr/OSUOnlineCS

Read the book. CS 161/162 uses 'Starting out with Early Objects', better known as 'The Gaddis book.'

https://www.amazon.com/Starting-Out-Early-Objects-9th/dp/0134400240

They've been using 8th ed up to this point, but I read somewhere they may be switching to 9th. 8th you can find online for free, just google around a bit. All in all, the concepts are the same.

u/ricamnstr · 3 pointsr/OSUOnlineCS

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0134400240/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the text for the course. You can get by with the 8th edition, but the 9th has added material regarding C++11.