CS371G Summer 2021: Matt Lang
Introduction
The wait is finally over. Welcome to the only Java programming guide that will raise any beginner to the top of the industry in three weeks. You can find my elusive masterclass seductively hiding behind a $400 paywall on my crappy website. Not only will you receive broken links to freecodecamp tutorials, but weekly videos filled with motivational tips I pulled out of my ass.
Now that I reeled you in, I have to admit that I lied in my introduction; I am just another student wanting to learn how to write better code.
About Me
My name is Matt. I was born in Louisiana where I spent my first two years learning how to make spit bubbles and cry when I pooped my pants. After successfully mastering these two skills, I moved to Texas thereafter and have happily lived here ever since. In other words, my family found work in Houston.
I had a very normal childhood. I went to school, rode my bike with friends and got addicted to Runescape. I have always been somebody who loves to tinker and figure out how things work. This energy was channeled into computers as I had some exposure as the kid of a software engineer. I would be lying if I said this led me to become captain of a robotics team or a Texas pipeline ransomware suspect. The extent of my knowledge was getting friends to open bash scripts that would make a million empty folders before shutting the computer off. Nevertheless, it naturally led to an interest in computer science.
This Class
Learning C++ appears to be elusive and difficult to do right, yet rewarding if you figure it out. If I have any recommendation from my limited knowledge, it is to read “Effective Modern C++” by Scott Meyers. Once you have fully read the book, you will have more questions prior to starting the first page. This paradox is my personal motivation for learning C++: although you are constantly learning more each day through practice, you realize more and more that you don’t know shit.
I don’t want to pretend I know everything, and I think Professor Downing’s cold-calling methodology will show that this is okay. Imposter syndrome affects all of us as computer science students. We should be embracing this as an opportunity to better ourselves instead of fuelling insecurity.
