Computer science and your opinion.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around opinions on pursuing a career in computer science, particularly concerning the value of a Ph.D., the impact of outsourcing, and the role of online education in accessibility to the field. Participants explore various aspects of computer science, including career prospects, educational pathways, and the distinctions between computer scientists, software engineers, and programmers.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that a Ph.D. in computer science is valuable for research roles, while others suggest it may not be necessary for programming or software engineering careers.
  • There is a viewpoint that programming jobs are currently plentiful and that the demand for skilled programmers exceeds the supply, despite concerns about outsourcing.
  • One participant notes that the distinction between computer scientists and programmers is not always clear, with varying levels of skill and focus on theoretical versus applied work.
  • Concerns about the accessibility of online education and its potential impact on the field are raised, with some suggesting it may lead to oversaturation.
  • Participants express differing opinions on the importance of formal education versus practical skills in securing a successful career in computer science.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the necessity of a Ph.D. for success in computer science, nor on the implications of outsourcing and online education. Multiple competing views remain regarding the value of different educational paths and the current job market dynamics.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect personal experiences and opinions, which may not be universally applicable. The discussion includes assumptions about job security and the nature of various roles within the field, which may depend on specific contexts or definitions.

Blackwinter
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What do you think about computer science? Do you think outsourcing could be a reason not to pursue this career? Online education is perhaps making it too accessible?

Thanks.
 
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If you're talking about Ph.D. level Computer Science (not the same thing as programming or software engineering) I think it is an excellent, exciting career with as good or better prospects for the future as most other areas. Nothing is safe from outsourcing (or insourcing).

For the time being programming jobs are plentiful and some of them well paid (this is not universal across the USA or across industries). However, the amount of programming work is growing faster than outsourcing is growing (and outsourcing isn't as popular as it used to be for various reasons) so if you're a good programmer I think you are reasonably secure.

As for online education, materials have been available on the web for almost 20 years now. Demand for highly skilled people still (for now) outstrips supply.

The only sure thing these days is a trust fund.
 
analogdesign said:
The only sure thing these days is a trust fund.

Even that might not be a sure thing if the trust fund is not managed well.
 
Hmm, is it most appropriate to gain a Ph.D. if one is pursuing computer science?

Thank you for your insightful answer!
 
Blackwinter said:
Hmm, is it most appropriate to gain a Ph.D. if one is pursuing computer science?

Thank you for your insightful answer!

If you want to do Computer Science, then yes a Ph.D. is the way to go.

If you want to be a programmer or a software engineer, a Ph.D. won't help you much technically and it isn't really respected in industry (in my personal experience).

A BS is usually enough if you're good but an MS will probably improve your capabilities (especially in more technical areas like embedded systems or real-time software).

It boils down to your interests and what you want to do with your life.
 
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What do PhD computer scientists do exactly?
 
I would say a computer scientist does research (or applied research) on the theory of computation or one of various applications. For example, a computer scientist may research methods of solving differential equations, or optimal ways for a message to traverse a network, or improved image processing algorithms or the like. A software engineer will use engineering and computer science principles to develop large, highly reliable and effective software systems. A programmer (in my opinion) may not have developed engineering skills but can successfully develop and maintain computer programs. There is a lot of grey area between this somewhat arbitrary definitions.

In my experience, the average computer scientist is not a stellar programmer (there are exceptions of course) and typically doesn't have the wide range of tool/stack/api knowledge a lot of programmers do. It's more of an applied math field than anything.
 
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analogdesign said:
The only sure thing these days is a trust fund.

Wrong. The only sure thing these days is managing a trust fund, then managing another one when that one goes under.
 

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