Re: (Semi-OT) CS refresher for a Unix sysadmin

Unix Worker wrote:

I have been working as Unix sysadmin and consultant for ~10 years, and
in the process I have forgotten a bunch of stuff from my University
days.

The theory stuff doesn't make its appearance every week
on the job, but when it does it really separates the boys
from the men. When facing something new the one who
knows theory can figure stuff out on the fly, the one does
not has to start at the beginning of the manual and lear
nfrom scratch. The difference in pickup and figure-out
time is large. It is a VERY good idea to learn the theory
stuff and/or to refresh it.

I was planning on getting some books to study at home, the idea is not
to go too deep into any subject but to get some info that will help me
become a more well-rounded professional.

Simple algorthym - Go to the local university's book store. Get
their catalog and look up the curiculum for their CS department.
Start at their first CS course, look at the textbooks, decide if
you want to buy it. Is it too beginner for you, or too advanced
for you? Move up or down the course list. Lather rinse repeat
until you have selected a text. Then read that one. Lather
rinse repeat for as many texts as you think appropriate for your
refresh efforts. I like to do a text like this most years.

The advantage of such a process is it tends to be more
current than any one person on the newsgroup. The
disadvantage is since you're on your own doing the book
study it's less in-depth than you'd need to finish the actual
credit bearing course. Arguably it's a great idea to treat the
process as if you are required to document CEUs to keep your
license current. Not that we needs licenses so you'd be
pretending to maintain a CEU transcript, but the discpline gives
structure.

1) Math in general -- I planned to get Knuth's Concrete Mathematics and
see if I can handle it. Any other recommendations?

I try to stay current by doing an occasional calculus or
algebra problem. Knuth should beat my strategy.

2) Computer architecture -- interrupts, DMA, all that stuff. Something
PC-oriented would be best.

Consider scanning the A+ certification material. Likely
too basic but if all you're doing is a refresh ...

3) Operating systems -- I guess I should get the Tanenbaum here, unless
somebody can recommenda a lighter, more Unix- and Windows-centric
alternative.

Tannenbaum rules.

4) Networking (that would be the ISO stack and TCP/IP -- I guess a
refresher of X.25 and SNA is no longer needed)

Did you ever get the volumes from Douglas Comer et al? If
so then consider the material for Cisco's CCNA and CCDP.
They are more pragmatic so it depends on your current goals.

That would be it for now. I guess things like algorithms, compilers,
DB's, computability theory, etc. will have to wait until I get the
basics back in place.

I'd like suggestions on a beginner book in DB theory. I know
enough database architecture to consult on Oracle migration
gigs and I can play a DBA on TV if it's limited to light duty
vacation coverage, but my database knowledge lacks theory.

Well I *might* go back and write a Yacc parser
just for kicks...

Do you have an actual application in mind rather than such an
academic excerise? Every so often I come across something
I'd like to code but never have time/priority for it. There they
usually more PC oriented widgets than good UNIX practice.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. Also, if this is not the
right newsgroup to post, please let me know of any alternative.

It's the right newsgroup IMO. Also maybe comp.unix.programmer
or wander around and find one where CS curicula are discussed.

.

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