The Computer Science Student Handbook is a book that every student in all levels of CS courses should have. This handbook was first released in 1990 and covers a variety of related topics such as software design, computer organization, and language semantics. It is written by Ray Narayan, who is one of the leading experts in the field. Since the Handbook does cover some very advanced topics, it is written in a very clear and concise style, making it an ideal textbook. The book is also popular because of its active exercises and quizzes.
My main complaints with the book were the number of quizzes and assignments. Although there are only a few quizzes, each one usually tests a new concept, and thus you’re required to learn a new subject. I felt that this forced my mind to really think about the subject matter. There were also a few assignments that I felt forced to do. I didn’t particularly enjoy these assignments, but I suppose that’s just because I didn’t feel like doing them. Other people may find these assignments interesting and enjoyable.
Another issue I had with the Handbook was that it did not go into depth enough in describing how various computer programs work. In other words, it only briefly touches on topics such as how a computer actually works. For a course like mine, which is centered on understanding how the inner workings of a computer work, having more detail is certainly recommended.
One problem with the Handbook is that it assumes you already know a lot about computer science. I believe this is why it is so short. If you have taken other computer science courses, you should probably read the entire Handbook, but if not, I would suggest reading only the first or second chapter. There are several interesting concepts that are explained in these chapters, and if you do not understand them now, when you finish reading the Handbook, you will most likely be surprised by what you learn.
A few things I noticed about the handbook is that it seems to assume that all computer science students are male. Although this is not mentioned in the handbook, I believe that this could be a large deterrent for many students who are considering taking this course. It seems to me that those who are not already involved in computer science are also less likely to be excited about learning more about computers. Additionally, the Handbook seems to leave out certain subjects completely. For example, there is no mention of scan-n-printing, a very common topic among computer science majors.
Despite my minor problems with the Handbook, I think that it is still an excellent resource for those taking classes in this field. Like any textbook, it does leave out some important topics and provides only a basic overview of the material covered in each class. However, it is a valuable source of information and can be used as a reference for students. As a freshman in college, I already knew a lot of information that I was not studying in class, and this book will help me as well.
For instance, it provides a glossary of terms that computer science majors may use during their course of study. This makes it much easier for students to learn these terms as they enter the course. Since most people who want to take this course are going to need access to the Internet anyway, having a quick reference is important.
Also, the handbook includes homework assignments. This is a great idea for someone who does not have a lot of time to devote to completing assignments. You can print the entire handbook and take it with you to class, or just bring it with you the next day. If you do not know how to complete assignments on your own, you should not have too much you can try these out difficulty finding someone to help you with them. The handbook also has a frequently asked questions page, which addresses some of the more common questions that you will be faced with throughout your course.