Daggers in Darkness

The follow-up to Cory Althoff's bestselling The Self-Taught Programmer, which inspired hundreds of thousands of professionals to learn to program outside of school! The Self-Taught Computer Scientist introduces beginner and self-taught programmers to computer science fundamentals that are essential for success in programming and software engineering fields. Computer science is a massive subject that could cover an entire lifetime of learning. This book does not aim to cover everything you would learn about if you went to school to get a computer science degree. Instead, Cory's goal is to give you an introduction to some of the most important concepts in computer science that apply to a programming career. With a focus on data structures and algorithms, The Self-Taught Computer Scientist helps you fill gaps in your knowledge, prepare for a technical interview, feel knowledgeable and confident on the job, and ultimately, become a better programmer. It's as simple as this: You have to study computer science if you want to become a successful programmer, and if you don't understand computer science, you won't get hired. Ready for a career in programming, coding, or software engineering and willing to embrace an "always be learning" mindset? The Self-Taught Computer Scientist is for you. Cover Title Page Copyright Page About the Author About the Technical Editor Acknowledgments Contents at a Glance Contents Introduction What You Will Learn Who Is This Book For? Self-Taught Success Stories Matt Munson Tianni Myers Getting Started Installing Python Troubleshooting Challenges Sticking with It Part I Introduction to Algorithms Chapter 1 What Is an Algorithm? Analyzing Algorithms Constant Time Logarithmic Time Linear Time Log-Linear Time Quadratic Time Cubic Time Exponential Time Best-Case vs. Worst-Case Complexity Space Complexity Why Is This Important? Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 2 Recursion When to Use Recursion Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 3 Search Algorithms Linear Search When to Use a Linear Search Binary Search When to Use a Binary Search Searching for Characters Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 4 Sorting Algorithms Bubble Sort When to Use Bubble Sort Insertion Sort When to Use Insertion Sort Merge Sort When to Use Merge Sort Sorting Algorithms in Python Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 5 String Algorithms Anagram Detection Palindrome Detection Last Digit Caesar Cipher Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 6 Math Binary Bitwise Operators FizzBuzz Greatest Common Factor Euclid’s Algorithm Primes Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 7 Self-Taught Inspiration: Margaret Hamilton Part II Data Structures Chapter 8 What Is a Data Structure? Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 9 Arrays Array Performance Creating an Array Moving Zeros Combining Two Lists Finding the Duplicates in a List Finding the Intersection of Two Lists Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 10 Linked Lists Linked List Performance Create a Linked List Search a Linked List Removing a Node from a Linked List Reverse a Linked List Finding a Linked List Cycle Vocabulary Challenges Chapter 11 Stacks When to Use Stacks Creating a Stack Using Stacks to Reverse Strings Min Stack Stacked Parentheses Vocabulary Challenges Chapter 12 Queues When to Use Queues Creating a Queue Python’s Built-In Queue Class Create a Queue Using Two Stacks Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 13 Hash Tables When to Use Hash Tables Characters in a String Two Sum Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 14 Binary Trees When to Use Trees Creating a Binary Tree Breadth-First Tree Traversal More Tree Traversals Invert a Binary Tree Vocabulary Challenges Chapter 15 Binary Heaps When to Use Heaps Creating a Heap Connecting Ropes with Minimal Cost Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 16 Graphs When to Use Graphs Creating a Graph Dijkstra’s Algorithm Vocabulary Challenge Chapter 17 Self-Taught Inspiration: Elon Musk Chapter 18 Next Steps What’s Next? Climbing the Freelance Ladder How to Get an Interview How to Prepare for a Technical Interview Additional Resources Final Thoughts Index EULA The follow-up to Cory Althoff's bestselling The Self-Taught Programmer, which inspired hundreds of thousands of professionals to learn to program outside of school! Fresh out of college and with just a year of self-study behind him, Cory Althoff was offered a dream first job as a software engineer for a well-known tech company, but he quickly found himself overwhelmed by the amount of things he needed to know, but hadn't learned yet. This experience combined with his personal journey learning to program inspired his widely praised guide, The Self-Taught Programmer. Now Cory's back with another guide for the self-taught community of learners focusing on the foundations of computer science. The Self-Taught Computer Scientist introduces beginner and self-taught programmers to computer science fundamentals that are essential for success in programming and software engineering fields. Computer science is a massive subject that could cover an entire lifetime of learning. This book does not aim to cover everything you would learn about if you went to school to get a computer science degree. Instead, Cory's goal is to give you an introduction to some of the most important concepts in computer science that apply to a programming career. With a focus on data structures and algorithms, The Self-Taught Computer Scientist helps you fill gaps in your knowledge, prepare for a technical interview, feel knowledgeable and confident on the job, and ultimately, become a better programmer. Learn different algorithms including linear and binary search and test your knowledge with feedback loops Understand what a data structure is and study arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, hash tables, binary trees, binary heaps, and graphs Prepare for technical interviews and feel comfortable working with more experienced colleagues Discover additional resources and tools to expand your skillset and continue your learning journey It's as simple as this: You have to study computer science if you want to become a successful programmer, and if you don't understand computer science, you won't get hired. Ready for a career in programming, coding, or software engineering and willing to embrace an'always be learning'mindset? The Self-Taught Computer Scientist is for you.

The Self-Taught Computer Scientist is Cory Althoff's follow-up to The Self-Taught Programmer, which inspired hundreds of thousands of professionals to learn how to program outside of school.

In The Self-Taught Programmer, Cory showed readers why you don't need a computer science degree to program professionally and taught the programming fundamentals he used to go from a complete beginner to a software engineer at eBay without one.

In The Self-Taught Computer Scientist, Cory teaches you the computer science concepts that all self-taught programmers should understand to have outstanding careers. The Self-Taught Computer Scientist will not only make you a better programmer; it will also help you pass your technical interview: the interview all programmers have to pass to land a new job.

Whether you are preparing to apply for jobs or sharpen your computer science knowledge, reading The Self-Taught Computer Scientist will improve your programming career. It's written for complete beginners, so you should have no problem reading it even if you've never studied computer science before.

The Self-Taught Computer Scientist is Cory Althoff's follow-up to The Self-Taught Programmer , which inspired hundreds of thousands of professionals to learn how to program outside of school. In The Self-Taught Programmer , Cory showed readers why you don't need a computer science degree to program professionally and taught the programming fundamentals he used to go from a complete beginner to a software engineer at eBay without one. In The Self-Taught Computer Scientist , Cory teaches you the computer science concepts that all self-taught programmers should understand to have outstanding careers. The Self-Taught Computer Scientist will not only make you a better programmer; it will also help you pass your technical interview: the interview all programmers have to pass to land a new job. Whether you are preparing to apply for jobs or sharpen your computer science knowledge, reading The Self-Taught Computer Scientist will improve your programming career. It's written for complete beginners, so you should have no problem reading it even if you've never studied computer science before. Get a head start in a rapidly growing industry with help from a Silicon Valley insider. Computer science is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and shows no signs of slowing down. In The Self-Taught Computer Scientist: The Beginner's Guide to Computer Science, expert programmer and author Cory Althoff shows you the hands-on exercises, stories, and examples, you need to help you become a successful computer scientist. You'll discover how to: Understand computer science fundamentals, including how memory and compilers work, how the TCP/IP stack works, and how to pass a technical job interview; Use data structures and algorithms, both of which are essential to a successful programming career; Write your first programs in Python, an easy-to-use programming language ideal for beginners. Perfect for self-taught programmers everywhere, The Self-Taught Computer Scientist will help you get up to speed and ready for a job in computer science whether you're brand new to coding or you've already learned a language or two Teaches the most important computer science topics that all self-taught programmers should understand to have outstanding careers. The book focuses on data structures and algorithms: two subjects all future programmers need to understand