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Writer's pictureBlake Wilson

Programming for Beginners - Harvard CS50 Class 1



Just like any other self-paced endeavor, I’m good at staying motivated through the first couple of sessions, but I start to fade as soon as more effort is required. The novelty of a new endeavor is quickly overwhelmed by discomfort that comes with change. But, not to fret! Most people deal with the Idontwannas when learning something new, and I just have to push past that by focusing on where these skills will take me. I know that once I get a few classes under my belt and I get some feeling of accomplishment, I will have wind in my sails to carry me into the next lesson, and the momentum will continue to build.


The trick to writing code, as well as writing notes about how to write code, is understanding how the format and commands work together. I realize AI is already well on its way to doing this for us, but remember, the purpose of taking this class (for me, anyway) is simply to de-mystify how computer systems operate and talk to each other. The end goal is to have a base-layer of understanding about these technologies as they become a part of everyday life. New applications such as IoT (the Internet of Things), augmented reality, and digital networks will require at least an elementary understanding of computer communications to manage them. Humans will always be required to evaluate new technologies and analyze how they can work together, and it will be important for people in every industry to judge how they will be affected. 


Now, to the class – technically this is Class 1, and I think that's because it's when we really have to start paying attention. The third and fourth hours get deeper into the nitty gritty of writing code, and it no longer feels like we’re just here for fun. I had to stop and rewind plenty of times to review some of these concepts. Watching the video on your own is really the only way to absorb the material, but I’ve provided my notes below as a guide, and it’s a Word document so you can add details of your own. The class shows how to run different commands and see patterns of how the functions and variables are organized in the code. Prof. Malan does mention that this lecture is only meant to introduce the general topics, and the labs are where students will practice writing code to get the hang of it. Since we don’t attend Harvard, we don’t have that luxury. But I’m planning to look around for different practice problems I could do on my own, and maybe find some that are proptech or automation specific. I’ll be sure to post them here when I do. For now, take a look at let me know what you think!



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