About
I think that it’s extraordinarily important that we in computer science keep fun in computing. When it started out, it was an awful lot of fun. Of course, the paying customers got shafted every now and then, and after a while we began to take their complaints seriously. We began to feel as if we really were responsible for the successful, error-free perfect use of these machines. I don’t think we are. I think we’re responsible for stretching them, setting them off in new directions, and keeping fun in the house. I hope the field of computer science never loses its sense of fun. Above all, I hope we don’t become missionaries. Don’t feel as if you’re Bible salesmen. The world has too many of those already. What you know about computing other people will learn. Don’t feel as if the key to successful computing is only in your hands. What’s in your hands, I think and hope, is intelligence: the ability to see the machine as more than when you were first led up to it, that you can make it more.”
The ByteBaker is an attempt to keep fun in computing while at the same time learning more about how computer technology can have a real impact in our daily lives. These pages are the collections of the ongoing experiences of a student in Computer Science and Engineering. Computers are many things to many people in todays world: tools, toys, infrastructure, so on and so forth. Fundamentally, they are devices for augmenting and enhancing our thoughts and communications and improving the lives we lead.
This site talks about technology and learning and how to best combine the two. It’s geared towards people who are interested in using computer technology not because they have to, but because they understand how it can make their lives better. Computers can be difficult and scary at times, but they can also be powerful allies. Just as baking or cooking requires a certain amount of care and dedication to produce good food, using computer technology requires a certain amount of patience and inquisitiveness to get the most of it.
Where to start?
As of June 2009 this website has over 200 articles relating to various aspects of computer technology. That’s enough to fill a small book, but don’t let that overwhelm you. The articles cover a good variety of computer related topics, though there are some themes that stand out more than others.
- Writing and communication: Everyone should start (and continue) a website or blog. Everyone has a story to tell and the Internet is a great place to project your personality, if you can do it right.
- Computer Programming: It’s hard to have a website computer technology without talking about how to program them. It’s something that combines passion with engineering rigor and good old scientific research.
- Education: No matter what field or topic is in question, education is very important. And it’s important to question what is being taught, how it’s being taught and whether it’s time for a change.
Keep fun in computing!
Who are you?
My name is Shrutarshi Basu and I’m a student of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at Lafayette College. I’m graduating in 2011 and going to graduate school after that in a field related to programming languages. I’ve previously worked at the PROLANGS@VT group at Virginia Tech under Dr. Barbara Ryder analyzing framework oriented Java programs. I’m currently writing papers for my research at Lafayette, working on a honors thesis and looking at graduate schools.
My first ever programming experience was with a bit of BASIC in 2001, but I didn’t really do anything serious until 2003 when I started with Java (yes, I know, I started late). Actually I did do some Logo before that, but that doesn’t really count. Since then I’ve taught myself Python and some amount of Lisp and learned more Java, C, C++ and assembler. I’ve realized that I like working on both a highly abstract conceptual level, but also on a down-and-dirty, close-to-the metal level. I’ve also developed a dislike of user-interface related work, thought I do like designing a web page every now and then.
Why ‘The ByteBaker’?
Because computer science is a lot like cooking. You need the right ingredients and utensils, the proper recipes and experience and a certain amount of daring and imagination to make things work right. In both cases you can create things which are fine, beautiful works of art which make the world a better place or horrible convoluted messes which really shouldn’t be allowed to exist. I really can’t cook, so I thought I might as well write about computer technology, what it is, how it’s evolving, how to make it better and how we can use it. Plus this was the most interesting domain name I could come up with that was available.
What’s with the cupcakes?
In Spring 2009 I took a software engineering class where I was lucky to be part of a very good team and we had a really good time together. We started calling ourselves Cupcake Creations after one of us drew a cupcake in Microsoft Paint one day when we should have been working. The cupcake icon I use for the site is in honor of them and to remind me of all the things I learned in that class.
The image is of frosted chocolate cupcakes and is taken from Wikipedia. It is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.
How do I contact you?
Please see the Contact page for contact information.
