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Computer Science Handbook, Second Edition

by: Allen B. Tucker
en

158488360x  9781584883609  

 


Computer Science Handbook, Second Edition
By Allen B. Tucker


 


Product Description:

The second edition of this elemental handbook reviews the current state of theory and practice in the field while emphasizing a more practical/applied approach to IT topics such as information management, net-centric computing, and human computer interaction. With a complete revision of its sections on software engineering, architecture, and operating systems, this now thoroughly up-to-date manual is as cutting-edge in the new millennium as it was in the nineties. The Computer Science Handbook, Second Edition includes new information on Web-based software, speech recognition, data mining, cryptography, and distributed objects computing as well as references and sources for further information.



Summary: Awesome
Rating: 5

This book was a surprise to me. I was expected something less than what I have received. Now I can look further into the theorethical foundations of turing machines, and data structures. Just the 2 first chapters are very interesting. I hope to found more in the remaining chapters.



Summary: An excellent and complete reference
Rating: 5

This book provides a single substantive and comprehensive reference for practicing engineers and computer scientists, as well to other professional with strong computer experience and interest.

The handbook cover all mayor fields of CS&E, including algorithms and data structures, architecture, artificial intelligence and robotics, computational science, database and information retrieval, graphics, human-computer interaction, operating systems and networks, programming languages and software engineering.



Summary: An exceptional review of core CS material
Rating: 5

I'm using this book to relearn core CS material in preparation for the CS GRE after several years in the industry. I can't recommend it highly enough.

This is not a book from which to learn concepts for the first time. If you've never heard of (e.g.) "undecidability", don't get this book intending to learn about it. However, if you know enough to know what you don't know, this book will efficiently fill in the gaps.

The book consists of over 100 chapters covering material across nearly major area of computer science. Each chapter is 20-30 pages long and is geared to someone who has seen the material before but is in need of a review and summary of core terminology and historical context. Someone experienced in one field who wants to be able to read current technical material in another field will also find it useful.

Most of the authors are academics; the remainder are members of major research labs. Some of their chapters, like James Feldman's piece on Digital Logic, are truly extraordinary. Most others range from solid to exceptional. The material isn't just that of concern to traditional academic CS; I was pleasantly surprised to see an entire section (8 chapters worth) on practical software engineering topics (development process and lifecycle models, requirements and specification, design, validation, tools, testing, project management, etc). The material was authored around 1995 or 1996, and nearly all of it is still relevant and as up-to-date as is appropriate for this sort of collection.

One minor weakness is there's no cross-chapter index or glossary. The book is organized as a collection of papers, and each paper includes its own index, bibliography, and glossary. To find material about the web, for instance, you have to hunt through the (excellent) 20-page table of contents for the relevant subsections scattered throughout. This weakness is far from fatal, however. Should the next edition add an index, it will only add value to an already exceptional collection, by making it easier to locate references to material that spans subfields.

Again, highly recommended for targeted learning.



Summary: Alot of info.....A little unreadable
Rating: 3

There is a wealth of information in this book. Many engineers will enjoy having this reference. However, if you are not in the industry, or still a little low on the mathmatics totem pole. This book will appear to you as though it is written in Greek! It practically is with all of the differential notation. When I am finished with my CSE degree, I will try to read it again. Until then, it will stay on the shelf. Definitely NOT light reading!