I fear -as far as I can tell- that most undergraduate degrees in computer science these days are basically Java vocational training. I've heard complaints from even mighty Stanford University with its illustrious faculty that basically the undergraduate computer science program is little more than Java certification.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Many computer science programs focus too narrowly on specific language training rather than fundamental principles.
- In plain terms
- Computer science degrees often teach specific languages instead of core concepts.
- What can you take from it?
- Prioritize fundamentals over specific language training.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What should CS education prioritize?
- How do you learn beyond language syntax?
Another view
Industry demand often drives curriculum toward specific tools.
More from Alan Kay
If the pros at Sun had had a chance to fix Java, the world would be a much more pleasant place. This is not secret knowledge. It's just secret to this pop cult…
Permalink to quote #12 Most creativity is a transition from one context into another where things are more surprising. There's an element of surprise, and especially in science, ther…
Permalink to quote #14 Sun Microsystems had the right people to make Java into a first-class language, and I believe it was the Sun marketing people who rushed the thing out before i…
Permalink to quote #11
Related quotes
We are not so absurd as to propose that the teacher should not set forth his own opinions as the true ones and exert his utmost powers to exhibit their truth i…
John Stuart MillJohn Stuart Mill quote #2 Computing spread out much, much faster than educating unsophisticated people can happen. In the last 25 years or so, we actually got something like a pop cultu…
Alan KayAlan Kay quote #10 On COBOL: 'But Grace, then anyone will be able to write programs!'
Grace HopperGrace Hopper quote #14