Physics Interested in physics but *Hate* computers....

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In a biophysics lab, a volunteer expresses frustration over the need for computer programming skills, particularly in MATLAB, despite having no formal training. The discussion emphasizes that while it's possible to navigate physics with minimal coding knowledge, strong programming skills are increasingly essential for success in the field. Participants highlight that coding abilities develop through practice and problem-solving, and suggest that the individual should actively work to improve their programming skills, even if it feels overwhelming. Advice includes breaking down programming tasks into manageable parts, seeking help from others, and utilizing online resources or community college courses for learning. The conversation also notes that the demand for computational skills in both physics and biology is growing, making it beneficial to embrace programming as a valuable tool for research and data analysis. Ultimately, the consensus is that developing these skills will enhance career opportunities and research contributions.
  • #31
You mention in your first post you need to learn MATLAB. The good news is MATLAB is much easier to learn and get up to speed than many other lower-level languages like FORTRAN or C. MATLAB is high-level (i.e. further away from the computer). The tradeoff is many MATLAB applications does not run as quickly as the lower level languages. This slowness is likely not going to affect your work because the computer is plenty fast, unless you are doing very number intensive calculations.

MATLAB is quite intuitive if you are familiar with matrix theory.
 
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  • #32
Delong said:
Yea but I came from a biology and chemistry background so my background in computer programming is literally zero. I guess I'll just have to accept that i like learning about physics but not enough where I am able to do research in it especially if it involves a lot of programming and computer work blegh...
The space to do biology/chemistry without knowledge of computers hasn't shrunk as much as it has in physics, but it's shrinking incredibly fast too.

The necessity of computer skills is just sort of a symptom of the times.
 

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