λ - programming / compsci

Meta

A Map of the Territory

• Teach Yourself CS
  • a goated meta-site that outlines some of the best books and materials to teach yourself computer science.
• Roadmap
  • a site that attempts to give you a roadmap through CS specializations.

Learning

• Augmenting Long Term Memory | Best Article on Memory
• Effective Spaced Repetition | Great Article on Spaced Repetition

Productivity

• Third Time Technique | Theoretically Better Pomodoro Timer
• Task Prioritization | Theoretically Better Eisenhower Priority Matrix

Best Books

Computer Architecture

• Nand to Tetris
  • Only got halfway through this during college. Still, I found it really useful to know what was actually going on under the hood of a computer.
    • Well, this is still a higher abstraction level than electricity but...

Operating Systems

• Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces
  • Best overall book I've gone through for OSs. Actually used this as textbook while in college.
• Little Book of Semaphores
  • Pulled exercises from this book during college.

Linux

• Linux Journey
  • A site with a roadmap and tutorials to train you up on linux.

Programming

• SICP is the best book.
  • Brian Harvey's lectures are better for content.
  • OG lectures are better for vibes. <- Feel like I retained more because of this.
  • DO NOT JUMP TO SOLUTIONS BUTTTTT:
    • It's good to have something to check against
      • Here's a link

Algorithms & Data Structures

• Neetcode Roadmap
  • Claimed to be the most efficient order to learn algorithms & data structures. Anecdotal obviously.
• Big O
  • Pretty graph + time complexities of algorithms & data structure ops you should shove. in. your. head.
• Visualgo
  • Visualize your favorite algorithms!

System Design

• Systems Design 2.0 | Video Playlist
  • Haven't gone through all of these yet but they seem pretty high quality. They also don't make me wanna die.
• System Design
  • Don't remember where I found this but flipping through it seems that the content is p good!

Domains / Specializations / Etc.

AI/ML

• Understanding Deep Learning
  • One of the best resources I've used for grokking ai. Seriously breaks everything down into understandable parts.
• The Annotated Transformer
  • We always like it when the uber-smarts dumb stuff down for our little pea brains
• More Annotated Transformers
  • I just really like the formatting, also super clear.
• Visual Guide to Transformers | Video Playlist
  • I don't know why the videos are out of order, plz start w/ first one.
    • Legitimately awesome visual breakdown of how things are working.
  • Probs a good 3b1b video on all of this stuff by now too.
• ilya30u30
  • Claimed to be Ilya's recommended ramp up papers into AI/ML.

Web (What I do)

This might be what I do, but I think I hate it. Some tips: Keep it as simple as possible, do not overcomplicate. With that said, typescript is better than javascript.

• W3 Schools is absolute garbage. SKIP IT. SKIP IT. SKIP IT.
  • I can't even articulate why I feel this way, but I feel like I have learned incorrect stuff there. Maybe just bad practices? Or the way it was laid out was bad?
• MDN
  • Goated. Nothing more to say.
• web.dev
  • Google's guide to building modern web experiences. Seemd p good. I liked flipping through it.
• RFC's
  • I have spent SOOOOO much time half learning topics because I didn't realize where to go to find the single source of truth. Turns out, almost every web technology you use from HTTP(S) to Websockets to whatever, has a SPEC. A spec you can go and read.
    • I mean, these specs are stupidly long and you don't actually have to read them but if something isn't working, and you don't know why, your assumptions about the underlying tech you are using are probably wrong.
    • Just check the RFC.

Misc

• Ludicity
  • Really funny blog, you've probably seen it online before
• Monorepo Tools
  • Site that teaches you about monorepos. Kinda helpful to wrap your head around them if you want/need to use them.