Gummygoop.

Hallo. New week, first of an actual university semester. And yea, WE STARTED :0.

Its three modules. Math, programming, and a sort of in between (architecture). Its pretty nice, and I’ve fully enjoyed myself in all but one of them so far. I don’t think I need to point it out though, you know.

So individually, lets assess them anyways.

Programming, THE BEST ONE. Its not even fucking close WHO WOULD’VE GUESSED the programming in the programming job is cool. I’m not saying that to insinuate that the other modules, specifically mathematics, AREN’T important btw, I get that its a key contributor to logic and algorithms and whatnot, but i’m not gonna act like I particularly like the hard math compared to everything else either.

So far we’ve just had a go at markdown and python, so REALLY basic. Thing is, they did introduce git and some terminal code, which was great, and introduced us to markdown and python and all the information regarding them as services, but not really how to write the code THAT much, you know? We know the operands, hello world and talked about a couple of statements, but it didnt feel conclusive for a first week, especially since they sort of just threw us into the files to code for ourselves.

But honestly? That in and of itself was pretty fun too. I messed around with the timings of each line’s execution in class, and still got the tasks done. Admittedly, the time I added had no real purpose other than giving the code a little bit more of a personality, since I thought itd be fun if it seemed like you were getting something closer to an actual reply rather than just inputting data into a program and getting things instantly, probably wouldnt do it moving forward unless there was valid reason BUT I ENJOYED MYSELF >:/.

I suppose I am biased anyways, and I already tackled a lot of this in cs50x, so its not like id even need any more on this front. The stuff on git and ESPECIALLY the terminal commands was really exciting though, I love working with the OS SO MUCH and I can barely get a handle on why, you could chalk it up to me having the least knowledge on it compared to everything else which I still remembered or was already comfortable with but STILL, I WANT MORE >:).

Also, odd note but while working on the coursework for this, week I had gotten a lot of suggestions for microsoft copilot AS I was writing the code, like predictive text that basically wrote it for me.

AND. I. HAAAAAAATE ITTTTTTTTTT.

Look I get it, I get why its useful and im more than willing to concede that ill might turn it back on l8r down the line once ive gotten a good grasp on the language (as much as I hate it, I never want to say something so concrete as ill “never” do something), or maybe even sooner. But it just sucks the life out of the code, you know?

I still remember cs50x quite clearly, even though I took the course over a year ago at this point (holy shit) and even though I never rode it to completion. IT WAS HARD by the time id gotten to my last week, especially because it was the first time id really challenged myself to code, but other than one particularly mind bending road block that just puzzled me for too long for me to give it any love, I loved every aspect of that journey.

Even every other time id just stare at code without an answer felt exhilarating, because the answer is ALWAYS RIGHT THERE, IN MY HANDS. Not only that, but it never stops being worked on, theres always more to improve in code past the most basic of programs, and its nice to figure that out (even if it takes some searches or queries on the language).

But copilot sort of just spits in the face of that. Before id even used an iota of my brain’s own logic, the first three lines were already written for me. Dont get me wrong, all the coursework up to the point copilot wrote just wanted me to ask the user to input their names, greet them, and then ask for monthly spending, its embarrassingly easy, but it wrote it all for me. Not just the functions, but also what it said. Every word that it had wrote down wasnt mine, and it felt plain.

And even if it wasn’t, this IS just the beginning, isn’t it? How much worse will it get? If I keep it on, im sure id barely struggle but, come on , really? I’m just gonna run cruise control, from the start too?

I’m more than confident if I were to keep running copilot in this manner, I wouldn’t learn shit. So for now, its off, and I hope it stays off for the foreseeable future. I see no problem with asking copilot to help identify bugs, I personally wont be using it for that, I’ve enjoyed bug fixing and right now it’d be helpful for pure learning but I’ve been there. I don’t even see an issue with it checking an assignment before submitting, that’s practically what the auto-grader does (though an auto-grader is, of course, much better at its job).

Regardless, I’d sooner have you spit in my face directly than write my code for me. Every line of code in the program through the entirety of its creation since I’ve programmed was run through me, written by me, and enjoyed by me, and it means something. Enough to where I’m not having any aspect of that hampered for the foreseeable future by this tool.

So sincerely, copilot auto-predict, go fuck yourself.

Anyways, onto the 2nd module, architecture, its a close second in terms of my enjoyment of it. Learning about the old mainframe and minicomputers, the different RISC devices past just ARM as we know them today, and the fundamental components of your average x86 computer, even down to just memory cells and logic gates, has been great. The coursework was relatively straightforward too, just a quiz of what we’d gone through over the week (there’s probably more, but ill get around to it in the coming days and im sure it wont be any less fun to do :).

That quiz was made even easier with the notes id taken, which I think turned out really well in their own right. The programming is pretty hands on, so we dont really get to take notes there. The math isnt anywhere near as hands on, but isnt particularly as heavy on notes either, since the work being done by the tutor as you move along does benefit a lot from you getting to work on it yourself too, and so I mostly rely on the notes already written for us and will try to see if I can squeeze in a more hands on approach with my tablet next time im in class (I mostly relied on the laptop for this week). BUT THE ARCHITECTURE CLASS, ITS PERFECT.

Its just pure note taking, and in the way that I note things down, segmenting and writing down bullet points while keeping up with the lecturer’s pace, I find myself retaining a lot more of the information (even if its just short term since leaving the class and not touching the subject for a while just dissipates the knowledge just as quickly anyways). Importantly, it also kept me locked on the lecture, since I find it really easy to dose off even if a lecture is really entertaining (I like my class naps :p, old school habit), but this kept me way too fucking focused, it was great breezing past notes at the pace of the lecture.

Finally, the math. Its alright.

…

…….

I wish I could keep it at that.

Look, the tutor is great. Hell, parts of the class aren’t bad (the logic bits were cool), and I hate to be all down on it, but its just not as fun as coding or architecture, not to say that I HATE it (though I do hate that they made us manually go through algorithms in the coursework, its boring and isn’t even really math). Its just that the algorithm thing soured me on it. I mean seriously, its a hell of a drag and crazy big punch in the nut to start off the course, I was FIGHTING to stay focused on it it was so lame.

Still though, I get that that’s mostly a personal issue that needs addressing. I need to stay focused on it regardless of how boring it can be, because for one I don’t even hate it at all, its more a neutral disposition just skewed negatively cuz of how tedious the manual step by step approach we’re taking to the algorithms right now is.

And 2, as much as I hate to admit it, its important. You NEED to know how this algorithm functions, even if that’s starting from every core movement and tediously working from there. Im sure the training wheels will come off as soon as they’re ready though, so just gotta stick it out and focus on making sure I get things right, even now.

So yea, ill be more finicky in class and fuck around with the examples on my tab to keep things fun, hopefully it helps :).

And that’s basically all of the modules ill be taking for the year, aside from some side modules to help track progress and help out with student life overall (and perhaps clubs ill be joining :p???). Its shaping up to be a good time, and i’m happy. The classes are going well, the people are lovely, the atmosphere is great.

Learning a lot of this material, especially whats included i architecture and programming, gives me an odd sense of euphoria I haven’t felt in a while. Ive said this already in a previous post, but it feels right, and I’m happy with where I am.

Hope you may have enjoyed reading this yourself! Consider this a fun little overview of what my academic life might look like outside of self studying (which ill have to do A LOT of to pass) and how I’ve been handling things :).

Ill keep it at that for now, I’m l8 for bed and ought to go sleep right after this, but ill leave you with something short and sweet. No real context provided, but it speaks for itself.

https://youtu.be/7g5R8qCuIvE?si=33uYNV6LQlzg_1IT

Alright, have a great night everyone, goodnight <3.