Computer Science: Bits to society

Computer science is the study of what can be computed, by what means, and at what cost.

Abstraction layers

Transistors gate bits, instructions compose into programs, programs into systems, systems into society. Each layer hides complexity and exposes a clean interface.

Limits are theorems

Some problems are undecidable, others NP-hard. Knowing the boundary is as much a CS skill as knowing algorithms.

What this course teaches

Nine units: what computing is, data representation, computer organization, networks, operating systems, algorithms, programming languages, data and databases, and ethics and security.

Flashcard

2^n

States per n bits

n bits represent 2^n distinct patterns. Why binary wins: two reliable voltage states beat four unreliable ones.

Check your understanding

8 bits store values from: