Re: Accessor Methods
"Knute Johnson" <nospam@rabbitbrush.frazmtn.com> wrote in message
news:IM4dg.15025$RK4.11256@newsfe11.phx...
I remember specifically when I asked about how wait/notify worked and
asked for a functional example I was told to buy a book. That left a bad
taste for a long time. I really don't mind people not answering a
question but I you are going to answer it be constructive.
Admittedly, I don't like spending money to get what I want (I don't
think anyone does). However sometimes buying a specific book really is the
most efficient way to learn one particular aspect of computer science
(assuming you are in an appropriate financial situation, e.g. perhaps not a
student from a third world country who owns absolutely zero books and
instead borrows from the school library).
On the topic of theoretical aspect of computation (e.g. the comparing
the computational power of DFAs, NFAs, regular expressions and Turing
Machines), I think Michael Sipser's book (ISBN 0534950973) is *THE* book on
the subject. Similarly for compiler construction and "The Dragon Book", or
design patterns and the GoF book, etc.
If a friend of mine asked me to teach him about NFAs, I'd lend him my
copy of the Sipser book. If a stranger asked me to teach him about NFAs, I'd
tell him to buy the Sipser book (or if he really wanted, he could pay *me*
to tutor him, but it'd probably be cheaper for him and just as effective if
he bought the book instead).
- Oliver