What is Reddit's opinion of Introduction to Computing Systems: From Bits & Gates to C & Beyond?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/12/from-prison-to-silicon-valley/603406/ Wanted to share this for the naysayers asking how will they run the programs. Don't disagree it will be ridiculously hard. And I can't imagine programming in the same environment. I had read another article where the prisoner gave his brother the scribbled up program in paper and they would run and debug the program during visiting hours. It is sad that we are making things hardest for the people that need it the most.

Algorithms, data structures and databases are all good. But the first step is just helping people thing like a programmer. Which is taking a problem and breaking it down systematically. To keep it easily comsumable you'll need to keep the code size small. The book from the course that I learned about computers is good although it isn't as practical but it does create a very good understanding of how computers work. https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Computing-Systems-Gates-Beyond-ebook/dp/B07VWKMJBX/ . Learning about algorithms and data structures after this would be useful too. Only caveat is they will have a very solid foundation and understanding of how computers work at a fundamental level but not many hands on skills in many of the things you need to know to be hired as a programmer in a modern web world.

If you're doing it as a class don't underestimate the value of code review. There is r/reviewmycode but it is fairly dead but maybe getting some partners here will help. I was there just yesterday and if you can create a regular cadence you may be able to get them good code reviews for paper code.

I know a part of the problem is ridiculous policies but are there any limited locked down devices that can be used? What are the policies governing this? Could we limit them ourselves? A Raspberry Pi is a full fledged computer but it won't seem like a computer to most people. Is the problem a funding issue? What would be the funding you'd need to make a difference?

There might be a little bit of misrepresentation here. I learned to program under the curriculum for this book: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Computing-Systems-Gates-Beyond-ebook/dp/B07VWKMJBX/

Both the authors of this book are excellent teachers. The course will give you a grounded hardware first understanding of computers. Starts with Boolean Logic and gates. Has you write a program in machine code. Then in assembly, and finally C. Some universities do split the C and move it to a different class but if this is what OP means by four languages the course is done very well.

Also a 300 line program in a 2 semester course is completely reasonable in an intro class.

I actually learned from assembly up. The key is to not learn a real assembly language.

Here's the book they used in my school: https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Computing-Systems-Gates-Beyond-ebook/dp/B07VWKMJBX/

The advantage of going from the bottom up is it will demystify computers to you.