Computer science is among the most lucrative careers in the modern-day world. Computer scientists are among the most valued professionals because of their contribution to the advancement of technology.
Disclosure: This is a guest post and the author’s views here do not necessarily reflect those of the blog owner.
For this reason, taking the first step by joining this career is one of the wisest decisions you can make. If you are new to the computer science sphere, you need to know what tools work best for beginners.
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Here are the top five tools for computer science beginners:
5 Tools for Computer Science beginners
1. Great course
The first step towards becoming a great computer scientist is the course you choose, which is the most vital tool. Always ensure that you go for a course that gives you a chance to apply what you have studied and further explore the same knowledge to understand important aspects of your training, like coding.
How interactive a course is, greatly determines how much you will gain from it. A course like intro to C++ and many other great courses offers beginners a great learning experience. As a prospective computer scientist, a course that provides a code editor is always a wise choice because this is one of the ways you will realize various computer responses to specific codes.
2. Great code editor
If you choose an excellent course, you won’t have to worry about the quality of your code editor. An excellent course and a great code editor go hand in hand. There is a wide range to choose from when it comes to code editors. Always do your research on what could work best for you.
The research can even involve trying out various code editors with the aim of finding one that works best for you. A code editor that gives you an easy time when using its commands should at all times be your number one choice.
3. Read-Eval-Print-Loop program
One of the things you already know as a beginner in computer science is that part of your learning process shall include learning various computer languages. The Read-Eval-Print-Loop, commonly known as the REPL program, is a must-have tool for every beginner as this is one of the tools that will always come in handy when you want to establish how codes operate in a particular language.
However, the best thing is that each language has a specific REPL hence making it easy for you to understand the specific language.
4. Excellent browser
One of the things you can’t afford to compromise on as a beginner in computer science is the browser you use. Part of your learning process includes programming, and to become excellent at what you do, get the best browser you can find.
There is nothing as mind-blowing as using a browser that gives you the most by allowing you to build extensions. Don’t battle with yourself on how to do this, renowned search engines have enough documentation to guide you in developing the extensions you want.
It is advisable that you settle for a popular browser with the people within your profession.
5. Rubber duck
According to many computer scientists, a rubber duck is one of the tools that will help from asking unnecessary questions in your career journey. With a rubber duck, you are better placed to have clarity and understanding of the code you are trying to understand.
As much as your mentor will be best placed to help you understand other aspects of your computer science career, a rubber duck will help you break down your code in a step-by-step manner as you explain your work and its intentions without any plausible feedback from this inanimate object.
The idea is that after verbally walking through your code and any problems that have surfaced, you’ll be able to make more sense of your work and reach a solution.
Most beginners are dependent on their mentors when they need to understand certain codes, but with a rubber duck at hand, you will realize that your mentor’s work is mainly to guide and motivate you to grow in your career.
Final thoughts
Suppose you have chosen computer science as your career of choice. You have for sure made a life-changing decision. With the above tools and others that you shall discover as you progress in your path, you are best placed to become excellent in what you do. The field of computer science has several tools that you can choose from.
However, your excellence in your career depends on how keenly you utilize your tools. To discover other excellent tools, always do your research online, ask your mentor or even peers, and you will be good to go.
This is a guest post by Samantha Higgins.
Samantha Higgins is a professional writer with a passion for research, observation, and innovation. She is nurturing a growing family of twin boys in Portland, Oregon with her husband. She loves kayaking and reading creative non-fiction.