Most of us begin learning a coding language—often HTML, CSS, or JavaScript—as soon as we decide to acquire new digital skills. The majority of self-directed learning options, including boot camps and online courses, tend to focus on teaching you particular programming languages and technologies. Learning computer science skills isn’t something you see all that often. If you pursue any type of tech degree from a university, on the other hand, you will often spend time learning about computer science issues.
Thus, the question of whether computer science is worthwhile arises. Learning computer science may seem a little dull and impractical if you’re eager to get started with coding languages that will enable you to develop things right now. However, as you begin your tech adventure, lacking even the most fundamental understanding of computer science could be a costly error!
What Is the Difference Between Computer Science and Coding?
Is programming a branch of computer science? Do all computer scientists code? Let’s start by defining programming, coding, and computer science since these terms are frequently used in the same situations. The act of writing code to solve a problem is known as programming. It determines the decisions a computer must make and the circumstances in which it should make those decisions. Coding, often known as computer programming, is the process of converting what is in your thoughts into instructions that a computer can comprehend and carry out. The terms “coding” and “programming” are frequently used interchangeably when referring to coding languages. The study of what computers can perform is known as computer science. It is a mathematical science that involves applying technical solutions or algorithms to solve issues. Computer science, as opposed to coding and programming, is concerned with the actual processes that take place inside the computer while your code is executed.
Motives to Learn CS Fundamentals
Let’s move on to the reasons why learning computer science concepts could be advantageous for you before (or while) learning to code. Your motivations are the primary cause. Anyone can pick up coding. A total novice may start writing their own HTML, for example, by following along with an online coding course in just a few minutes. A grasp of CS fundamentals is not required for experimenters and hobbyists. However, studying about computer science initially will be extremely beneficial if you want to pursue a career in technology or become a programmer.
1. You’ll pick things up quicker.
Knowing the fundamentals of computer science can help you grasp the capabilities and restrictions of computers as well as how they operate. A lot of technical jargon, structures, etc. will also be already familiar to you. You’ll already be familiar with the fundamental concepts and languages needed to comprehend what you’re learning when it comes time to master a particular programming language. Although you still need to learn the precise syntax of the code, your foundational understanding of computer science gives you the general framework. Learning programming languages will ultimately be simpler and quicker with this CS foundation.
2.You’ll produce more effective, higher-quality code
Algorithms, data structures, computer networks, hardware, software, compilers, and operating systems are just a few of the many layers that make up code. Your coding skills will be more elementary and constrained if you don’t comprehend how these operate. Without truly understanding why you’ll be acting in a certain way. But you’ll be better equipped to develop code that solves issues effectively and creatively if you understand how computers function, how they comprehend your code, etc. An excellent comparison for this is cooking. You can prepare a meal by following a recipe, but you’ll likely have more success if you genuinely comprehend how flavor, texture, and other factors interact. You’ll be able to write your own recipes and develop into a more inventive cook once you have this fundamental knowledge, too!
3. You’ll learn which aspect(s) of technology you enjoy the most.
You learn about various facets of technology when you study the fundamental ideas that underlie programming languages, etc. All current technical job routes, including software engineering, network engineering, cloud computing, mobile computing, embedded systems design, database design, etc., are founded on the subfields of computer science. Finding your area of passion will be lot simpler if you master the principles of all of these subfields. You don’t need to be an expert in computer science for this; merely mastering the fundamentals opens up a world of possibilities. For those who are unsure about where to start, this is fantastic. You can determine your area of specialization by studying computer science (security, engineering, machine learning, etc).
4. Finding a job will be simpler
Anyone may now learn to code from home quickly, affordably, or even for free. Coding is accessible to everyone, which is one of my favorite aspects. However, it also implies that there are more people with coding/programming skills available because the entry barrier is lower than ever. Differentiating oneself gets difficult when learning to code gets simpler. However, if you are familiar with computer science (CS), you will be at an advantage over those who are not. You may separate out from the competition by learning computer science rather than just coding techniques. We’ve recently seen an influx of thousands of self-taught developers or Bootcamp graduates who are all looking for entry-level positions, but don’t have the basic arithmetic and CS skills to address more technically difficult challenges,” he claims. “You can set yourself apart to secure positions faster and command a greater wage when you get there by having a deeper understanding of computational theory and algorithms.” Even if coding boot camps and courses are excellent, they might not always be sufficient, especially if you’re new to technology and lack connections. Someone must offer you that first opportunity! When you invest the time in learning the CS fundamentals that so many “crash courses” skim over in order to entice students to jump right into the deep end of application code
What Computer Science Competencies Must You Learn?
Depending on the path you intend to pursue with them will determine exactly which computer science disciplines you should learn. Although you don’t have to have a certain path in mind, knowing whether you prefer to focus on front-end or back-end abilities might be helpful. Data structures and algorithms are essential CS abilities for backend engineers. To grow your app, you must comprehend how the data you are keeping in your system must be stored. CS expertise required by front-end engineers : Algorithms, in my opinion, are still crucial, but I believe that in the near future, concepts like OOP and functional programming will be even more crucial. If you follow the instructions, you should be able to learn the equivalent of a CS major in less than two years and, depending on how much time you can devote to practicing and studying each day, be able to get an internship or your first job within a period of three to six months.
SCC focuses on teaching you computer science rather than merely tools, frameworks, and technologies, in contrast to many other platforms. The platform combines content from computer science and programming, rather than separating the two. At SCC we don’t focus on the newest hyped-up framework.” “We teach evergreen skills that will help you succeed in software engineering for the rest of your career.” The platform currently offers a variety of classes in Python, Golang, and JavaScript, with support for additional languages on the horizon. Through practical projects and coding exercises, each course stresses CS principles and shows you how to apply them. A Discord community, monthly coding workshops, resume review sessions, and other built-in social support features are all included with SCC. When you have company, learning is considerably simpler (and more enjoyable).
