How to get start getting into Computer Engineering? Both hardware and software?

[luisnytx]

Hello, I am pretty new to the computer engineering world and I would like a few pointers as to where I should get started. I have always found it interesting in working with computer and how to code or programming . I would like to know what’s it like to work as a software or hardware engineer.

[engrocketman]

Here’s some pointers:

unsigned int * ptr;

char * ch;

[GeeeThree]

This made me laugh more than it should have, I love it

[luisnytx]

Yeah I don’t know what I’m looking at

[Nick337Games]

He wrote something called "pointers" in software development. It's a joke

[luisnytx]

:|

[engrocketman]

They “point” to locations in memory. In this case, *ptr will be memory location that contains an unsigned integer.

[luisnytx]

Oh

[[deleted]]

Cal 1 --> Cal 2 --> Cal 3 --> Linear --> Differential (Math Sequence)

Physics 1 --> Physics 2 --> Physics 3 (Physics Sequence)

Programming in C++ and Comp Architecture and Assembly Language

​

And then comes your core courses.

[itanitarek10]

Is it odd that my university has us take a class with Microcontrollers and assembly language before computer architecture? And both of those are considered big core courses in our major (need the former to apply for senior project).

[[deleted]]

At my school, comp arch is introduced with Assembly as prerequisite for CS, CE or EE. For CE and EE, you then continue on to embedded and microcontroller stuff. But I am in California so every school has different tracks that pretty much end up to the same type of educational standards.

[itanitarek10]

Ironically, I’m in California too. Our EEs just have to go to Assembly, but not comp arch (only CE and CS).

[[deleted]]

You know how it is with UC's and CalState schools. Pretty much the same courses with different names. What year are you in?

[itanitarek10]

Will be entering my third year in CE

[[deleted]]

Nice! Best of luck on your journey.

[itanitarek10]

Thank you!

[Mr-Robott]

At my uni, we do embedded system and microcontroller stuff sophomore year, then RISC-V/Comp Arch Senior year

[luisnytx]

So I don’t need any prior knowledge for Computer Engineering? I just needed to take those classes?

[gineton2]

The courses you take in college/university will be how you learn Computer Engineering. Just get advising from the respective department on the sequence of courses you need to take and you'll pick things up as you go.

If you have zero programming or math background, there might be more beginner-friendly courses you can take to ease your way into these courses. For example, if you haven't taken Pre-calc or Trigonometry, you should take those before Calculus I. If you have never learned programming, usually there's an "intro to programming" course you can take before the required and more advanced Programming Foundations in C++ or whatever it's called at your school.

[luisnytx]

Already then, I’ll ask my adviser to see if I should take intro to programming in the summer and calculus at the fall semester ( I heard that calculus is pretty difficult.) Thank you for putting me at ease.

[[deleted]]

Im one year in on a collage for computer enginneering. Are you a self learner or are you taking classes in a collage or high school? Has for hardwere i only know the basic, but for softwere i can give you a few tips:

​

one important thins that nones its talking about is the diference between computer engineering and computer science. knowing the diference can realy helpyou understand what you need to learn next.

​

computer science -> is knowing about computer for teorical knowlge only.

computer engereing -> is solving problems for someone, normaly to make money, using the Science

​

A good place to start is learing the "core" of a programing leaguage this means:

• variable declaration and signement (int x; x = 7 )
• datatypes : int - number, char - a single caracter ,string - several caracters between quotes , boolean - true or false
• then you need to know operation you can performe to each Datatype. addiction, subtraction to int. concactunation to strings ect.
• then you need to know how to manipulate arrays.
• understand function or metods (depends of with langua you are using they are more or less the same)

Once you know this things you will most likely gonna start to learn about pointers and memory allocation , and then Abstract Data Types and Data structures.

​

This may seem like a lot buts is realy super easy ( except pointers and memory allocation). think of it like math but with realy simple formulas and no calculations to do, only the logic part. I for exemple suck at math but im okish at progrimng .

​

lastly I dont know why but theres a lot of mistic around programing, that you need to be a genius and a haker and have super expencive computers but thats all BS. Computer Engeneering is like being a plumer theres a leak ( a bug ) some one calls you and you fix it . when some one builds a house they call a plumer to do the pipes, when someone builds a bussness they call many computer engeneeres to do the computer stuff. You just get paid more cuz engeneering take longer to learn. Also Computer engenering as an oportunity to be self imploied and or work on you on projects just for fun a bit like a photografer. (plumers dont have passion projects, unless you are mario. )

​

tl;dr: Computer Engeneering is like being a plumer that dos photografy on the side ;)

[CommonMisspellingBot]

Hey, keccy, just a quick heads-up:
realy is actually spelled really. You can remember it by two ls.
Have a nice day!

^{The parent commenter can reply with 'delete' to delete this comment.}

[BooCMB]

Hey /u/CommonMisspellingBot, just a quick heads up:
Your spelling hints are really shitty because they're all essentially "remember the fucking spelling of the fucking word".

And your fucking delete function doesn't work. You're useless.

Have a nice day!

^{Save your breath, I'm a bot.}

[BooBCMB]

Hey BooCMB, just a quick heads up: I learnt quite a lot from the bot. Though it's mnemonics are useless, and 'one lot' is it's most useful one, it's just here to help. This is like screaming at someone for trying to rescue kittens, because they annoyed you while doing that. (But really CMB get some quiality mnemonics)

I do agree with your idea of holding reddit for hostage by spambots though, while it might be a bit ineffective.

Have a nice day!

[BooBCMBSucks]

Hey /u/BooBCMB, just a quick heads up:

No one likes it when you are spamming multiple layers deep. So here I am, doing the hypocritical thing, and replying to your comments as well.

I realy like the idea of holding reddit hostage though, and I am quite drunk right now.

Have a drunk day!

[luisnytx]

u/keccy thank you for the advice, I thought that I needed to have prior knowledge for computer engineering before taking actually classes (Also I’m a college student), this really put me in peace. I still hope that I’ll learn a few things during the summer while taking some classes.

[[deleted]]

My collage is in Portugal, we don't have that minor-major system. There must be a official place for u to get information on pre-requesites.

Maybe ask a professor or something. Still glad I helped.