5 answers
Samuel
Student
Chicago Heights, Illinois
2
Questions
Asked
1087 views
How do I become a great computer scientist?
How do I become a great computer scientist and how do I make sure I am the best at what I do....
I have been coding before but how do I make sure my codes are the best codes
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5 answers
Joshua Allard, Ph.D.
Data Science & AI, Quantum AI designer developer
38
Answers
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Updated
Joshua’s Answer
The field of computer science is incredibly diverse, offering a multitude of career paths. Here are just a few examples:
Software Development: This includes roles such as Software Developer/Engineer, Front-End Developer, Back-End Developer, Full-Stack Developer, and Mobile App Developer. These professionals design, code, and test software applications and systems, and specialize in various aspects of development, from user interface design to server-side development.
Data Science and Analytics: Data Scientists, Data Analysts, Data Engineers, Machine Learning Engineers, and Artificial Intelligence Engineers fall under this category. They interpret complex data, build infrastructure for data collection and analysis, and develop machine learning and AI-based systems.
Cybersecurity: This field consists of Cybersecurity Analysts, Penetration Testers, Security Engineers, and Security Architects. These professionals protect systems and networks from cyber threats, test systems for vulnerabilities, and design secure network solutions.
Network and System Administration: Network Administrators, System Administrators, and Cloud Engineers manage and maintain computer networks and cloud computing systems within organizations.
DevOps and Infrastructure: DevOps Engineers and Site Reliability Engineers work to bridge the gap between software development and IT operations, ensuring that services are reliable and scalable.
Database Management: Database Administrators and Database Developers manage and implement databases and database applications.
Software Testing and Quality Assurance: Quality Assurance Engineers and Software Testers ensure software meets quality standards before release, conducting manual or automated tests to find bugs and issues.
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics: AI Research Scientists and Robotics Engineers conduct advanced research in AI and machine learning, and design and build robots and robotic systems.
Web Development and Design: Web Developers, Web Designers, and UI/UX Designers build and maintain websites and web applications, focusing on the aesthetic and user experience aspects.
Technical Support and IT: Technical Support Specialists and IT Support Technicians provide technical assistance and troubleshoot IT issues within organizations.
Game Development: Game Developers, Game Designers, and Game Programmers design, create, and code video games.
Emerging Technologies: Blockchain Developers, Virtual Reality Developers, and Augmented Reality Developers work on developing and implementing applications for these emerging technologies.
Research and Academia: Computer Science Researchers and Professors/Lecturers in Computer Science conduct research and teach courses in various areas of computer science.
Project Management: IT Project Managers and Scrum Masters plan, execute, and close IT projects, and facilitate Scrum practices in Agile teams.
Technical Writing and Documentation: Technical Writers create manuals, guides, and documentation for software and systems.
Artificial Intelligence Specializations: NLP Engineers and Computer Vision Engineers develop systems that can understand and process human language, and interpret visual information from the world.
Other Specialized Roles: Bioinformatics Specialists and Quantum Computing Researchers use computer science to solve problems in biology and medicine, and study and develop algorithms for quantum computers.
This is just a snapshot of the possibilities in the field of computer science. To choose the best path, you need to identify your interests and goals. Regardless of the specific path you choose, a structured approach to learning new skills can be applied across different roles and domains.
This approach involves setting clear goals, researching and planning, choosing quality learning resources, starting with the fundamentals, practicing hands-on, moving on to advanced topics, seeking feedback, continuously learning, collaborating and networking, and reflecting on and iterating your learning process.
For instance, if you're interested in machine learning, you could start by setting a goal to build and deploy a basic machine learning model. You could then gather resources, start with introductory modules, implement simple models, explore advanced topics, share your code for feedback, stay updated with industry news, join forums and meetups, contribute to projects, and regularly review your progress. This structured approach ensures a comprehensive and practical learning experience.
Software Development: This includes roles such as Software Developer/Engineer, Front-End Developer, Back-End Developer, Full-Stack Developer, and Mobile App Developer. These professionals design, code, and test software applications and systems, and specialize in various aspects of development, from user interface design to server-side development.
Data Science and Analytics: Data Scientists, Data Analysts, Data Engineers, Machine Learning Engineers, and Artificial Intelligence Engineers fall under this category. They interpret complex data, build infrastructure for data collection and analysis, and develop machine learning and AI-based systems.
Cybersecurity: This field consists of Cybersecurity Analysts, Penetration Testers, Security Engineers, and Security Architects. These professionals protect systems and networks from cyber threats, test systems for vulnerabilities, and design secure network solutions.
Network and System Administration: Network Administrators, System Administrators, and Cloud Engineers manage and maintain computer networks and cloud computing systems within organizations.
DevOps and Infrastructure: DevOps Engineers and Site Reliability Engineers work to bridge the gap between software development and IT operations, ensuring that services are reliable and scalable.
Database Management: Database Administrators and Database Developers manage and implement databases and database applications.
Software Testing and Quality Assurance: Quality Assurance Engineers and Software Testers ensure software meets quality standards before release, conducting manual or automated tests to find bugs and issues.
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics: AI Research Scientists and Robotics Engineers conduct advanced research in AI and machine learning, and design and build robots and robotic systems.
Web Development and Design: Web Developers, Web Designers, and UI/UX Designers build and maintain websites and web applications, focusing on the aesthetic and user experience aspects.
Technical Support and IT: Technical Support Specialists and IT Support Technicians provide technical assistance and troubleshoot IT issues within organizations.
Game Development: Game Developers, Game Designers, and Game Programmers design, create, and code video games.
Emerging Technologies: Blockchain Developers, Virtual Reality Developers, and Augmented Reality Developers work on developing and implementing applications for these emerging technologies.
Research and Academia: Computer Science Researchers and Professors/Lecturers in Computer Science conduct research and teach courses in various areas of computer science.
Project Management: IT Project Managers and Scrum Masters plan, execute, and close IT projects, and facilitate Scrum practices in Agile teams.
Technical Writing and Documentation: Technical Writers create manuals, guides, and documentation for software and systems.
Artificial Intelligence Specializations: NLP Engineers and Computer Vision Engineers develop systems that can understand and process human language, and interpret visual information from the world.
Other Specialized Roles: Bioinformatics Specialists and Quantum Computing Researchers use computer science to solve problems in biology and medicine, and study and develop algorithms for quantum computers.
This is just a snapshot of the possibilities in the field of computer science. To choose the best path, you need to identify your interests and goals. Regardless of the specific path you choose, a structured approach to learning new skills can be applied across different roles and domains.
This approach involves setting clear goals, researching and planning, choosing quality learning resources, starting with the fundamentals, practicing hands-on, moving on to advanced topics, seeking feedback, continuously learning, collaborating and networking, and reflecting on and iterating your learning process.
For instance, if you're interested in machine learning, you could start by setting a goal to build and deploy a basic machine learning model. You could then gather resources, start with introductory modules, implement simple models, explore advanced topics, share your code for feedback, stay updated with industry news, join forums and meetups, contribute to projects, and regularly review your progress. This structured approach ensures a comprehensive and practical learning experience.
George Allen
Director of Product Management
12
Answers
Milpitas, California
Updated
George’s Answer
Hello Samuel,
Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of collaborating with numerous computer scientists. The ones who truly stand out are those who 1. Possess a comprehensive understanding of the code base and systems they work with. 2. Demonstrate a willingness to self-educate. 3. Invest time in comprehending the business objectives tied to the solutions they're developing.
For point #1, a computer scientist's credibility stems from their capacity to tackle bugs and devise enhancements for the product area they oversee. You might assume it's all about crafting the most innovative application, but in reality, it's usually about maintaining code that someone else has created or a system that's already operational.
For point #2, self-learning is a crucial factor for success. You need to be eager to delve deep and thoroughly comprehend the code you're working on. If you were the author, you'd understand it, but most of the time, you'll be deciphering what someone else has done. The ability to figure out how someone else's code functions is also vital when leveraging existing code libraries. If you aspire to learn and utilize these libraries, you need to be capable of deep analysis and learning. This all demands the discipline to learn independently. Computer scientists also need to continually learn new languages and techniques to stay abreast of the latest technology, which again, requires a commitment to self-learning.
For point #3, many computer scientists prefer to focus solely on coding without much consideration for the broader purpose. However, the truly exceptional ones take the time to attentively listen to user and business requirements. This allows them to fully grasp the problem at hand and, in doing so, they are equipped to deliver a solution that effectively meets the needs.
Throughout my career, I've had the privilege of collaborating with numerous computer scientists. The ones who truly stand out are those who 1. Possess a comprehensive understanding of the code base and systems they work with. 2. Demonstrate a willingness to self-educate. 3. Invest time in comprehending the business objectives tied to the solutions they're developing.
For point #1, a computer scientist's credibility stems from their capacity to tackle bugs and devise enhancements for the product area they oversee. You might assume it's all about crafting the most innovative application, but in reality, it's usually about maintaining code that someone else has created or a system that's already operational.
For point #2, self-learning is a crucial factor for success. You need to be eager to delve deep and thoroughly comprehend the code you're working on. If you were the author, you'd understand it, but most of the time, you'll be deciphering what someone else has done. The ability to figure out how someone else's code functions is also vital when leveraging existing code libraries. If you aspire to learn and utilize these libraries, you need to be capable of deep analysis and learning. This all demands the discipline to learn independently. Computer scientists also need to continually learn new languages and techniques to stay abreast of the latest technology, which again, requires a commitment to self-learning.
For point #3, many computer scientists prefer to focus solely on coding without much consideration for the broader purpose. However, the truly exceptional ones take the time to attentively listen to user and business requirements. This allows them to fully grasp the problem at hand and, in doing so, they are equipped to deliver a solution that effectively meets the needs.
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1879
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Samuel !
You have chosen a field of work that lends itself to brilliance. To be your "best", not THE best, just relax and be yourself. There are millions of computer scientists out there with great achievements and you can be among them if you do not compare yourself to them, rather bring you own unique ingenuity to your work.
To begin with, get as much formal and informal education as you can. Someone with your goal should have dedication, foresight, sharp communication and critical thinking skills and be a person that is pleasant to work with. Focus on building your creative skills and try to be versatile and well-rounded in your filed. Open minded, flexible and handle stress well. Never compare yourself to others because you will have a very unique journey towards your goals and only you can do it.
Foster confidence by attending conferences, trainings and obtaining specialized Certifications. Work on projects even if you may not be interested fully in the particular project and test your limits. Find areas of computer work that you enjoy doing. Read trade journals, websites and keep up with the new and trending things in computer science. Knowledge will take you far and you will have many options for work. So don't worry about standing out or being above everyone else. Just like many other careers, you may have to collaborate on your work and projects and having a peaceful mindset will greatly help you achieve.
With the right education, you will learn enough so that you can recognize if your codes are good and effective for application. You will be the judge of that through your learning and experience. Stay in the here and now and take each small step forward. I do not know much about computer science or codes, but I would imagine since you've asked that there may be a small element of opinion based perception in the work. I think if you stay organized and start viewing yourself as a unique person with much potential, you'll contribute great things to your field. Now is not the time to worry about how people will perceive you in the future.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you a smooth education and work path. Enjoy all that you do and know that you will bring your own flair to your work. It's a good career choice !
You have chosen a field of work that lends itself to brilliance. To be your "best", not THE best, just relax and be yourself. There are millions of computer scientists out there with great achievements and you can be among them if you do not compare yourself to them, rather bring you own unique ingenuity to your work.
To begin with, get as much formal and informal education as you can. Someone with your goal should have dedication, foresight, sharp communication and critical thinking skills and be a person that is pleasant to work with. Focus on building your creative skills and try to be versatile and well-rounded in your filed. Open minded, flexible and handle stress well. Never compare yourself to others because you will have a very unique journey towards your goals and only you can do it.
Foster confidence by attending conferences, trainings and obtaining specialized Certifications. Work on projects even if you may not be interested fully in the particular project and test your limits. Find areas of computer work that you enjoy doing. Read trade journals, websites and keep up with the new and trending things in computer science. Knowledge will take you far and you will have many options for work. So don't worry about standing out or being above everyone else. Just like many other careers, you may have to collaborate on your work and projects and having a peaceful mindset will greatly help you achieve.
With the right education, you will learn enough so that you can recognize if your codes are good and effective for application. You will be the judge of that through your learning and experience. Stay in the here and now and take each small step forward. I do not know much about computer science or codes, but I would imagine since you've asked that there may be a small element of opinion based perception in the work. I think if you stay organized and start viewing yourself as a unique person with much potential, you'll contribute great things to your field. Now is not the time to worry about how people will perceive you in the future.
I hope that this is helpful and I wish you a smooth education and work path. Enjoy all that you do and know that you will bring your own flair to your work. It's a good career choice !
Giacomo Paini
Dental hygienist
37
Answers
Vicenza, Veneto, Italy
Updated
Giacomo’s Answer
you will be the best if you have more knowledge in detail, regarding programming. I advise you to study, study, study. if it is also important for you to find a lot of work, delve into current disciplines, for example artificial intelligence.
Elliot Jordan
Web Developer
76
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Elliot’s Answer
There's a lot to it. Key ingredients to accomplishing this are to put in the time and work hard. Study it in a great college program. Read a LOT. Read all the Best: Kernighan and Ritchie, books like Clean Code and Pragmatic Programming, learn algorithms and data structures and compilers. Google for the lists of programming books and read them. Take courses, and practice. Code for hours each day. Build projects. Go to meetups and conferences. Talk to other students and programmers. Find your special interest and niche and area within CS. Do all the things! Tired yet? Well its years of these activities so get going!
Good luck!
Good luck!