Ask HN: How can I learn more about algorithms?

5 pointskloncks6 comments

I'm a 20 year old that's been programming for 9 years now, primarily in PHP and Python.

Have I already been exposed to algorithms? Should I have? How can I learn more about them?

Buy and read: http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Algorithms-Third-Thomas-C...

Once you've gotten through that, consider borrowing TaoCP from your local library.

Here's a really good blog post series using that book and the related MIT lectures: http://catonmat.net/category/introduction-to-algorithms

Is that actually the best book on basic algorithms or just a book that is virally recommended?

It's the best general-purpose algorithms textbook I've seen. There are lots of other books which go more in-depth into specific areas, but you need to cover the basics first.

It is used in MIT's Intro Algorithms class. That said, it's very rigorous and requires use of discrete mathematics. It might be worth looking into some lighter reading first to see if algorithms are interesting enough to you personally to warrant working through a full textbook.

You can learn about http://en.csharp-online.net/CSharp_Design_Patterns_Made_Simp...

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