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From: acmfiu@serss0.fiu.edu (ACMFIU)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: math background and HLL
Message-ID: <3581@kluge.fiu.edu>
Date: 16 May 91 06:09:21 GMT
Sender: news@kluge.fiu.edu
Organization: Florida International University, Miami
Lines: 26

someone posted here recently that every decade or so their tends to be
a dominant HLL. he stressed the importance of understanding the
mathematical implications of a given language (as their is "harmony"
among them nowadays) rather than flocking to language X when it becomes
popular. understanding this way gives you more headway into next decade's
dominant language (or to make one of your own).

i'd just like to second this. i think we have a fair share of CS students
here (on csa2) and i'd hope that you are also seeking a BS degree in math. now,
if you want to be "just" another programmer with a reference library of 
many algorithms for the sole purpose of copying someone's code because you
haven't any knowledge of what you're doing, then that's your business. just
remember that joe programmer can replace you tomorrow (exceptions do apply
because there are *good* programmers).

also, if you understand what you're doing you will definitely be both a
better programmer and coder.

i would strongly recommend every CS student to have at least a BS in math.
i know this from both personal experience and with many other math/cs people
i've spoken to. they have all encouraged me to take as much math as possible
which i am doing. and i do understand what i'm doing. at least i can pick
up Knuth's "Art of Computer Programming" and *understand* some of the proofs
rather than just oodling at the pretty type :) [TeX rules]

albert