Nervous about the "real" world
- by Randy
I am currently majoring in Computer Science and minoring in mathematics (the minor is embedded in the major). The program has a strong C++ curriculum. We have done some UNIX and assembly language (not fun) and there is C and Java on the way in future classes that I must take. The program I am in did not use the STL, but rather a STL-ish design that was created from the ground up for the program. From what I have read on, the STL and what I have taken are very similar but what I used seemed more user friendly.
Some of the programs that I had to write in C++ for assignments include:
a password server that utilized
hashing of the passwords for security
purposes,
a router simulator that used a hash
table and maps,
a maze solver that used depth first
search,
a tree traveler program that
traversed a tree using levelorder,
postorder, inorder, selection sort,
insertion sort, bit sort, radix sort,
merge sort, heap sort, quick sort,
topological sort, stacks, queues,
priority queues,
and my least favorite, red-black
trees.
All of this was done in three semesters which was just enough time to code them up and turn them in. That being said, if I was told to use a stack to convert an equation to infix notation or something, I would be lost for a few hours.
My main concern in writing this is when I graduate and land an interview, what are some of the questions posed to assess my skills? What are some of the most important areas of computer science that are prevalent in the field? I am currently trying to get some ideas of programs I can write in C++ that interest and challenge me to keep learning the language. A sodoku solver came to mind but am lost as to where to start. I apologize for the rant, but I'm just a wee bit nervous about the future. Any tips are appreciated.
