Hey guys, any thoughts on Cmpt 379 with Tom Shermer? I hear it's much harder with Tom Shermer. Is it actually that bad? Is it worth waiting for another prof?
Tom Shermer is by far the best person to take CMPT 379 with.
His class isn't hard because he is a bad prof. It is hard because his assignments are a lot of work. Over the duration of the course you literally write a compiler. It is amazing how much you learn from the experience, and I felt I was a much better developer after taking his version of the course.
If a compiler class does not involve writing an actual compiler, you are missing out. If programming is not one of your strengths then maybe you would prefer to take one of the other offerings of the course that focus primarily on theory. If you want to improve your programming skills though, definitely take 379 with Shermer.
Okay thanks @ryan! One more thing, would you have any recommendation for how many courses to take 379 with? When you say it's a lot more work, would you recommend I take it when I have a lighter workload during the term then? I will probably have at least 4 other courses next term (not 100% sure which ones as of yet).
It depends what you are taking. When I took 379 I was enrolled in four courses and it was manageable. 379 was the only really heavy programming course though. It has four big programming assignments that build upon one another. I took it at the same time as CMPT 365, CMPT 322w and ECON 102. CMPT 365 had some programming, but not that much.
So I think you can take as many courses as you want with it, but I would probably only take it with one other programming course, unless you know the programming requirements for the other courses are light. For instance I do not think I would take 379 at the same time as a course like 373 or 431.
Man you're the all-knowing (and possibly the only other) sosy major on talksfu haha. Thanks again! I will be taking cmpt 213, 322w and 474 for sure next term, since they are all required courses. I haven't decided on my other courses for sure yet (maybe electives), but from the looks of it, it seems that 213 and 474 both have a lot of programming. So, if 379 does require a lot of time, i guess it might be too much.
Are you entering spring of your second year? Or are you just taking 213 a little late?
322w is a course a lot of people take later, but I suppose getting it out of the way earlier than that is fine, especially if you are in third year. 474 sounds like a cool course.
I agree that 379 along with those other three would be a bit much. As an aside I think CMPT 213 and 373 are both awesome courses that make CMPT 379 a bit easier. I would recommend taking them first. This should be easy for you. You can take 213 next semester, then 373 will be offered in the fall, then you can do 379 next spring.
I'm just taking 213 late. I'm taking 373 right now. I will be taking either cmpt 454 or cmpt 379 and maybe an elective as well. But, if cmpt 379 does requires so much commitment, I don't mind waiting till next spring since I'm not really close to graduation yet. So far I signed up for both courses to just hold a spot.
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