X-Git-Url: https://codewiz.org/gitweb?p=wiki.git;a=blobdiff_plain;f=PersonalEducation;h=0510f0dbff25a3b67dcf5cc0ba6722e40b09a7f6;hp=1054feee6334ef16a0a12d2d7db07fd55912c413;hb=7fb88efbb62fd0e04e6abf83e871c225fbce86ce;hpb=4f73774331ca881b7e784b4b3134246610234c14

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 === Formal studies ===
 
- * Undergraduate diploma in '''Mathematics and Computer Science''' with
- a rating of '''56 out of 60'''.  Obtained in 1993 at the Istituto Tecnico
- Commerciale "A.Volta", Firenze.  This course included a good amount of
- '''Electronic Engineering'''.
+ * [[http://www.extension.harvard.edu/ | Harvard Extension School]] -- Undergraduate courses of **Mathematics** and
+ **Educational Technologies**.
 
- * Attended one term of Software Engineering course at Unviersita' degli
- Studi di Firenze in 1994.  Computer Science exam '''30/30 cum laude'''.
+ * [[http://www.unifi.it/ | Unviersità degli Studi di Firenze]] -- I attended only one term of
+ **Software Engineering** (computer Science exam **30/30 cum laude**).
+ In 1995, I dropped out to work for a startup in the emerging field of
+ enterprise networking.
 
+ * [[http://www.itcvolta.it/it/default.asp | Istituto Tecnico-Commerciale Alessandro Volta]] -- High-school diploma
+ in **Mathematics and Computer Science** with a rating of **56 out of 60**. 
+ This course included a good amount of **Electronic Engineering**.
 
-=== Nonformal studies and self-teaching ===
+=== Non-formal studies and self-teaching ===
 
- * '''Compilers''', reading several textbooks such as CompilersPrinciplesTechniquesAndTools,
+Over the years, I compesated for lack of university-grade education by
+being a good customer of the local libraries:
+
+ * **Compilers**, reading several textbooks such as CompilersPrinciplesTechniquesAndTools,
  and many others.
 
- * '''Algorithms''' - textbooks such as DonaldKnuth's TheArtOfComputerProgramming,
- CambridgeUniversityPress's NumericalReceips and even NicholasWirth's ancient
- "Algorithms + Data Structures = Programs".
+ * **Algorithms** -- many, including classics such as DonaldKnuth's bible TheArtOfComputerProgramming,
+ CambridgeUniversityPress's NumericalRecipes and NicholasWirth's ancient, but still
+ brilliant, "Algorithms + Data Structures = Programs".
  
- * '''Operating Systems''' - Too many textbooks to mention here, most of
- which quite theoretical.  My favourite is of course AdvancedProgrammingInTheUnixEnvironment.
+ * **Operating Systems** -- Too many to mention here, most of which quite
+ theoretical and boring.  Of course, my favorite will always be AdvancedProgrammingInTheUnixEnvironment.
 
- * '''Networking''' - Many, many books, including TcpIpIllustrated.
+ * **Networking** -- Several books, including TcpIpIllustrated, several RFCs and
+ technical papers.
 
- * '''Programming Languages''' - Using the obvious textbooks such as BjarneStroustrup's
- SeePlusPlusProgrammingLanguage, and many others like SeeProgrammingLanguage,
- ThinkingInJava.
+ * **Programming Languages** -- All the obvious textbooks such as BjarneStroustrup's
+ SeePlusPlusProgrammingLanguage, and many others like the old SeeProgrammingLanguage,
+ ThinkingInJava, and dozens of C++ books.
 
- * '''Programming Techniques''' - Many.  Such as SeePlusPlusTemplateMetaprogramming.
+ * **Programming Techniques** -- Countless.  Such as SeePlusPlusTemplateMetaprogramming
+ and the controversial ModernSeePlusPlusDesign by AndreiAlexandrescu.
  My absolute favourite is BrianKernighan's and RobPike's ThePracticeOfProgramming.
 
- * '''Software Architecture and Design''' - Lots of titles such as GangOfFour's DesignPatterns,
- UmlDistilled and UmlDesignPatterns.
+ * **Software Architecture and Design** -- All the "must-read" classics such as
+ GangOfFour's DesignPatterns, UmlDistilled and UmlDesignPatterns.
 
- * '''Project Management''' - My favourite certainly is TheMythicalManMonth, but I've
+ * **Project Management** -- My favourite certainly is TheMythicalManMonth, but I've
  read a few others such as ExecutionPlainAndSimple.
 
- * '''Technical Writing''' - TheElementsOfStyle and TheTexBook are my favourite on
- the topics of stylish writing and typesetting.
+ * **Technical Writing** -- TheElementsOfStyle and DonaldKnuth's TheTexBook are my
+ favourites on the topics of stylish writing and typesetting.
+
+ * **Numerical Methods** -- I'm sorry to have quite a thin mathematical background.
+ Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading DonaldKnuth's ConcreteMathematics and
+ CambridgeUniversityPress' NumericalRecipes.
+
+ * **Database** -- Relational algebra, principles of schema normalization, SQL.