Algorithms 101

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What's an algorithm? Besides being the answer to most interview questions, an algorithm is a way to solve a particular problem in programming.

Google Maps uses an algorithm to calculate driving directions through 3 cities while avoiding highways. Amazon uses an algorithm to figure out exactly what product to recommend to you next so that you'll blindly one-click it.

In this workshop, we will discuss what an algorithm is, introduce the idea of algorithmic complexity (Big O notation), demonstrate sort and search algorithms (with a hands-on re-enactment), and finish with an overview of the many types of algorithms out there. This workshop is taught by Ashley Lowry, software engineer at Spanning Cloud Apps.

This workshop focuses on design-thinking for algorithms, which is a pre-requisite to expressing these ideas in code.

Prerequisites:

Although attendees would benefit from a basic understanding of a programming language (for example, having attended an Intro to Javascript class), previous programming experience is not required for this class.

Requirements:

• Your laptop, if you'd like to follow along with the slides.

Schedule:

10:00 - 10:45 Introduction
10:45 - 1:45 Defining an algorithm, time/space complexity, goal of algorithms
1:45 - 12:00 break
12:00 - 1:00 Sorting and bubble sort
1:00 - 2:00 lunch
2:00 - 3:15 More sorting, searching
3:15 - 3:45 break
3:45 - 4:45 More searching, primes
4:45 - 5:00 Conclusion

If you'd like to attend but cannot afford the cost, please request a GDI scholarship. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1fG1CubFzr0-bUVJFSRdDi5OIKOOR_qR6rDt9nFvLbVc/viewform)

Refund Policy:

Please note our refund policy: Your payment guarantees your seat in the course. If something changes after registration and you cannot attend the course, your seat is yours to sell or give to someone else - just please let us know who! As a rule we don't offer refunds, but let us know if you have extenuating circumstances.

Thanks to our sponsor, GE, for hosting!