Tuesday, July 26, 2011

The Algorithms Are Brain Opener!!

Hi MSSS Aspirants,

From the last two days, the mathematical brush-up, of the big Oh notation, Asymptotic and Series , before I jump into the world of algorithms, has kept my brain running around like a drunkard in a dark alley. At the same time it has thrown open some rusted windows of the mind and fastened a few screws, here and there!!

Algorithms to me, is like my daily routine! All the things, I perform right from the time I wake up in the morning till I sleep at night is also an algorithm, highly dynamic at that!!

I hope, the MSSS folks are keeping their mind open, with this mind opener!

Best wishes!!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Tips To Maximize Study Time

Hi MSSS Aspirants!!

Greetings!!

As we all are aware that we have chosen the lucrative double edged Work Integrated Learning Program (WILP), Master of Science in Software Systems (MSSS), while being an active contributor to the IT industry. Also, at the same time, it is doubly difficult to remain diligent to the study plan and maintain a regular and slow & steady study routine, not being cocooned in the sacrosanct environs of a College and under constant guidance of the Professors and Peers.

So to keep up with the time, running like a bullet train and days converting into months, I have a few suggestions for the upkeep of a healthy study routine without disturbing the usual work routine.

1. Each semester includes 4 subjects. First and foremost, buy the books in the beginning of the the semester. Books provide mobility and enables take-out-and-study irrespective of locale and timings. Do not forget to keep a couple of blank pages in the middle of each of the books which can double as book-mark as well as notes. Carry a book each day while travelling to the work-place. Utilize the time spend in the local-train and bus to study and complete a couple of pages and if time permits (traffic-jams) a chapter all-together. While returning back, revise the same, as the mind will not be as fresh and agile as it was in the morning! Am I not right ;)

2. Buy/Download the PDF versions of the same books and keep a copy of the same in the office Laptop/Desktop! In the mornings and after Lunch hours, make a habit of working out a few problem-statements/Numericals at the back of the chapters! Also use these PDF versions while travelling to home-town or business-travel as it is not advisable to carry the hefty books to these locations!!

3. As it was said that when Arjun (Mahabharat) was told to shoot an arrow in the eye of the Birdie, he successfully did so only because he was focussed and all the other objects surrounding him were out of the context in his thinking. The same applies here too!! While making time for study, keep the objects of house-hold and work-place out of context.

4. Slow and steady wins the race! Be the tortoise and not the rabbit. Instead of planning to study only in the weekends, please make the work-days the warm-up sessions for the weekends!

5. Prioritise the syllabus over the entire content of the books and study-material. Prepare for the syllabus first and if then time permits, increase the knowledge-base by covering the rest of the topics, not in the syllabus!

Best Wishes!!

Email Access And VU Are Active

Hi MSSS Aspirants!

The BITS-Pilani, Sandesh e-mail account and the Virtual University is now active. Please check with your credentials! I hope studies are going good!

Best wishes!

Thursday, July 14, 2011

The Book List Is Out - First Semester

Hi Readers,

Who likes to study? Yeah, show me one who does and I will show thousands others who don't! But there comes a time, when one has to leave behind all the excuses and therefore all the options of answering the question, when are you going to start, exhausts! That time is when the course handouts are uploaded and the book lists are released. Then the ball is on the student's court. Now it is her/his responsibility to make a shot and therefore shoot towards the book-shops to grab a copy of the books in the book-list of the various subjects in the semester.

As I have mentioned in an earlier blog, that the subjects opted for -- in the first semester -- are Computer Networks (CN), Data Structures and Algorithm (DSA), Object Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD) and last but not the least, Software Engineering and Management (SEM).

And now the book-list is out and here it is!
  • CN -- Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet, Pearson Education, 3rd Edition, 2005 by Kurose James F and Keith W. Ross.
  • DSA -- Algorithm Design: Foundations, Analysis & Internet Examples, Wiley Student Edition, 2002 by Goodrich, Michael T & Roberto Tamassia.
  • OOAD -- Applying UML and Patterns: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Analysis and Design and Iterative Development, Pearson Education, 3rd Ed., 2004 by Larman, Craig.
  • SEM -- Software Engineering: A Practitioner's Approach, MGHISE, 7th Ed., 2010 by Pressman, R.S..
Now the ball is in our court, and what I wonder is that I have not even considered buying the racket yet!! Just Awesome!!

Best wishes!

Friday, June 24, 2011

7 Advantages of Work Integrated Learning Programmes

Hi Readers,

We have compiled a list of advantages one receives, while opting for a Work Integrated  Degree from an University instead of a Regular On-Campus Degree. But before that let me define, what is WILP.

WILP: Work Integrated Learning Programs are a set of Education Programmes which are targeted at Working Professionals irrespective of work field and industry. In India a few Universities provide a quality program worth considering. Also at present, Industries are at a ascending curve to recognise these programmes. But as it is undertaken while being at the work location under the direct supervision of the Mentor also at the work location it is well received by the industry and the Employee.

The Advantages:

1. The Work Experience just never stops:
The Person undertakes such endeavours (WILP) while working at full potential at the work place. So one is carrying a double edged Sword! Work Experience just keeps on adding! It just never stops! Learning goes hand in hand!

2. Super-Glued and Well-Connected to the course material:
As the person who takes such endeavours(WILP) is never separated from the industry and the work place, therefore, discovers and invents more number of stronger connections with the course material and implements the knowledge in the personal/academic work as well as at the work place!

3. No On-Campus Recruitment-Ruckus:
There is no denying the fact of On-Campus Professional courses that at least 25-50% of the course duration is spent speculating, dreaming, worrying, fretting, premonition, preparing and polishing oneself for the D-Week when the companies looking for the worthy, to be taken in their organisation, visit the campus. As the person who takes such endeavours(WILP) has never to bother about such frivolous matter as one is in the game already, one remains fully focused for the entirety of the duration of the course. Just Awesome Right Readers!

4. Synchronous Connection with the Industry:
The Person who undertakes such endeavours (WILP) finds more relevance to the Programme curriculum as a member of the Industry and as a functioning cog in the system, well greased and in motion. While it can be said that the On-Campus cohorts are in the shackles of the Campus and its rituals, waiting to be released again to the Industry. The connection whatsoever is faintly established through internships and industrial visits.

5. Living in Reality:
The Person who undertakes such endeavours (WILP) remains in the realms of the constant updation, being active in the industry and its latest trends. It forces the person to ponder upon the real-time cases around him rather than the case-studies only on paper.

6. Pangs of Entrepreneurship:
Ah! the pangs of entrepreneurship, the zest of being the CEO of one's own company! The Person who undertakes such endeavours (WILP) gets the perspective soon enough and may realize or even goes ahead to do so right away! One need not wait for the Campus rituals to come to an end to even step into that world.



7. Panoramic Perspective:
Having being involved in a small segment/domain of the industry and worked initially at the lower rung of the workplace, employees start losing perspective and therefore the danger of stagnation looms over their heads. The syllabus of a WILP brings back the perspective and focus on the industry as a whole rather than mere a job role or a particular technology.

Best Wishes!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Head First, the best series ever!!

Hi Readers,

The Head First series has always helped me keep my faith in books and learning through books. The informal conversation style and the simple languages attracts one into it and one starts to talk to it.

For OOAD also, I started to read the one Head First written on this subject. Needless to say it is awesome!!!


Keep Learning and your Brain will never complain and the life will too, where it is going.
Chao!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Starting with OOAD!!

Hi Readers,

My journey with Masters in Science, in Software Systems starts with a hope that this will bring new aspects in my thinking and broaden the horizon of technological understanding I have procured till date.

First Semester subjects include:

  1. Computer Network
  2. Object Oriented Analysis and Design
  3. Software Engineering & Management
  4. Data Structures &Algorithms
Starting today with Object Oriented Analysis and Design. Found some useful articles and books to start with!!

Links: here1, here2
Books:
  1. Object-Oriented Analysis and Design with Applications: Grady Booch (Got it, yeah)
  2. Head First Object-Oriented Analysis and Design: Brett D. McLaughlin, Gary Pollice and Dave West (Got it, yeah)
  3. Applying UML and Patterns: An Introduction to Object-Oriented Analysis and Design and Iterative Development: Craig Larman
  4. Object-Oriented Thought Process: Matt A. Weisfeld
  5. Object-Oriented Analysis and Design with the Unified Process: John W. Satzinger, Robert B. Jackson and Stephen D. Burd
  6. Principles of Object-Oriented Analysis and Design: James Martin and James J. Odell
  7. Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software: Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson and John M. Vlissides (Nov 10, 1994)Object Oriented Systems Analysis and Design by Noushin Ashrafi and Hessam Ashrafi



Best wishes!!
A disciplined mind can conquer even the unfathomable!