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Thread: Recommended Reading

  1. #1
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    Recommended Reading

    Hi,

    I am going to be off to York university in October to study Computer Science and Systems Engineering and I have been advised to learn a bit about the following four areas:

    ~ Programming (Scheme)
    ~ Architectures (How a simple processor works [they recommended looking at a z80])
    ~ Electronics (Logic gates, simplification of circuits with karnaugh maps, sequential logic)
    ~ Maths (Boolean Algebra, Set theory, [and some calculus revision])

    I already have Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs for the programming stuff but can anybody recommend any good books that give a grounding in the other three areas (architectures, electronics and maths). Please bear in mind I know very little in any of these areas (that's why I'm going to uni after all).
    Regards,
    Haegin
    If all else fails curl up in bed with a good book.
    "<mc44> rob: every time you don’t read the topic, god kills a lolcat"

  2. #2
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    Re: Recommended Reading

    Patterson and Hennessy will give you a good grounding in how a cpu works (I like this book a lot)

    Computer Organization and Design

    This was my digital logic book at university:
    Fundamentals of Digital Logic

    Likewise for Discrete:
    Discrete Mathematics and its Applications

    To start off using good programming practices, I highly recommend Code Complete 2nd edition by Microsoft Press.

    To inspire you in your studies, you might also pick up
    Soul of a New Machine

    With any of these suggestions (esp. the textbooks) you can usually get low cost paperback versions (International Editions) if you look for them - same book, usually a fraction of the hardcover cost.

    Hope this helps, and best luck with beginning your education!

  3. #3
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    Re: Recommended Reading

    Thanks for that rather comprehensive list Max and for the rather helpful hint about the international paperback versions.
    Regards,
    Haegin
    If all else fails curl up in bed with a good book.
    "<mc44> rob: every time you don’t read the topic, god kills a lolcat"

  4. #4
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    Re: Recommended Reading

    Chances are you'll end up using this book in your studies

    http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item...ype=2&tid=8570

    It's the standard book of algorithms, its a monster.

    I wish I didn't sell mine back at the end of my senior year but I was in desperate need of beer money and that thing fetches a pretty penny

  5. #5
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    Re: Recommended Reading

    Ah yes. The infamous CLRS!
    If it isn't in there, its not an algorithm.

    That is a good book, but not appropriate for this introductory list.
    (Selling that for beer money! Sigh... )

    Another reason to get international editions! Because they are so much cheaper, you won't get crazy ideas about trading your reference library for booze because the money you'll get from the sale won't be that much.

  6. #6
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    Re: Recommended Reading

    One more reading: http://lwn.net/ - Linux Weekly News. This is the best of IT industry ezines, with most insightful comments on articles. This is the one what real hackers read

    Main editor, Corbet, is often speaker at linux conferences, because he has rare capability to understand kernel, **and** write/talk sensibly about it for people interested, but not deeply immersed in the code.

    Other informative articles about distros and applications, linux tricks, with insightful comments.

    Quite often, **discussion** to an article is more informative that the article itself: How Linux became a mobile phone OS explains **why** flash, differences between flash memories, all by Bruce Perens. It is paid, but cheap at the level of "student/hacker", and well worth the money.

    I cannot recommend it highly enough!

  7. #7
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    Re: Recommended Reading

    if you want something about digital design the best book IMO is "Digital design practises and principles" by wakerly....

    also concerning calculus check out thoma's calculus, it has 13 editions and the book is full with examples and theory...
    Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

  8. #8
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    Re: Recommended Reading

    For a scheme book, there is a good free one online available at: http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/full-text/book/book.html
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  9. #9
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    Re: Recommended Reading

    Thanks very much to everybody. These suggestions are all really helpful.

    I have been getting some good prices for them on eBay and on abebooks.com (great for second hand books on any subject) just in case anybody else was interested. Other places to look are amazon and google.

    Thanks again to you all and please add to the list if you know of any more vital books.
    Regards,
    Haegin
    If all else fails curl up in bed with a good book.
    "<mc44> rob: every time you don’t read the topic, god kills a lolcat"

  10. #10
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    Re: Recommended Reading

    Quote Originally Posted by jlintz View Post
    Chances are you'll end up using this book in your studies

    http://mitpress.mit.edu/catalog/item...ype=2&tid=8570

    It's the standard book of algorithms, its a monster.

    I wish I didn't sell mine back at the end of my senior year but I was in desperate need of beer money and that thing fetches a pretty penny
    That's THE BOOK of algorithms. Maybe a softer and more programming oriented book about algorithms, like Algorithms in C would do a better job.
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