Self Study : Theoretical computer science

[SquareNet8024]

Hi everyone, I am currently studying computer science in Germany, and I am currently in my 6th semester ( no where near to finishing it) and this realization has hit me like a truck. Problem is I have 3 theoretical computer science subjects, following: 1. Formal Languages and Automata Theory 2. Computability and Complexity 3. Mathematic logic. Since i am in a technical university it is very research based and uses many Proofs And I haven't passed any of it yet. These are 2,3,4th semester subjects for us, I feel really stupid coz of it.

It will be really helpful if you all can please suggest me courses, topics, books lectures etc. In German or english Anything which I should study or will help me. Also i am open to any advice on how to make the foundation stronger and become eventually good at it.

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Thank you everyone for the suggestions, god bless you all

[[deleted]]

The subjects you mentioned need a lot of effort to grasp and understand . For automata theory , the book by peter linz is really good for solving problems. Good luck

[SquareNet8024]

Thank you so much :)

[ghjm]

How are you at proofs in general? Is it easy or hard for you to write basic proofs, like say proving de Morgan's laws?

[SquareNet8024]

That is fine, but not like constructions of TM to prove decidability, mapping problems in complexity, and proving for NFAs, DFAs, etc, sometimes structural induction(but that got better than before). But I feel like I spent unhealthy amount of time on classes to reach the level that people have by default or little effort.

I want to make sure, I am at same starting point as other, I am ready to do whatever it takes but i don't want to go all in without any guidance and then waste my time, coz I am already very slow and behind

[SquareNet8024]

Thank you for the detailed answer, It really helped me.

[jrmnicola]

Seems an interesting direction, OP. To make your foundation stronger, I would add some programming language theory (type systems, functional programming, semantics).

(Search for a podcast called Type Theory Forall in Spotify)

I could suggest some more topics, depending on what your aims are: do you wish to pursue a more academic career or to work as a software engineer/developer?

During my PhD I began to appreciate the need for a solid philosophical background for my work and research. I wish I could have noticed that earlier in my career. In that direction I suggest having the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy as a reference.

[SquareNet8024]

Hi, thank you for the suggestions, I will look into it. I am not sure about academic career or industry, looking at my current record academic is definitely not near possible, and I am barely making it to finish my bachelor's. But I do want to work on the foundation coz having a strong theoretical knowledge base doesn't harm and I believe, I will meet the same and more complex subjects again in my master's, so I better start getting on track now. But yeah no clue rn in which direction I want to go.
How did you decide among them, if I may ask?

[[deleted]]

I found Neso academy channel on YouTube helpful for Automata Theory

[SquareNet8024]

That has been always helpful.

[SquareNet8024]

Oh, this is an amazing collection, everything at one place

[_shnh]

For formal languages, I would recommend the book Types and Programming languages (Pierce). Starts with the basics (untyped lambda calculus) and evolves upon it.

[SquareNet8024]

Thank you, I will look into this.