Algorithms 101

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 focuses on design-thinking for algorithms, which is a pre-requisite to expressing these ideas in code. It will be taught by Esther Weon, Full-Stack Software Engineer and Sara Gudeman, Software Engineer at Zillow Group.

A great follow-up workshop to this one is our Whiteboarding Interview Prep (https://www.meetup.com/Girl-Develop-It-San-Francisco/events/241870690/) on Saturday, November 4th!

Topics covered

• Defining an Algorithm

• Data Structures

• Time/space complexity

• Several Sorting Algorithms

• Binary Search

• Algorithms in Real Life

Slides

http://www.teaching-materials.org/algorithms/

Prerequisites

Attendees would benefit from a basic understanding of a programming language, like from JS 101 (https://www.meetup.com/Girl-Develop-It-San-Francisco/events/241869997/), but that is not required.

Tech requirements

Your laptop with a charger and modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari)

If you do not have a laptop, please contact the instructor. We have a limited number of Chromebooks for students to borrow.

Payment

Payment is required to attend. If you'd like to attend but cannot afford the cost, click here to request a scholarship (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiUBN4yve3L7iociXzcqNgEtrljsn_7mCgZ3eUtvAEr3bcQg/viewform). Due to a number of applications, only the scholarship recipients will receive an email a few days before the workshop. Thank you for your understanding!

There will be an hour break at noon. Lunch will not be provided.