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In regards to the book's online version, I like how it has code examples that one can edit and run inline among the book's text. I often find myself, while read

In regards to the book's online version, I like how it has code examples that one can edit and run inline among the book's text. I often find myself, while reading a book on a particular language, opening up a new project in an IDE or a REPL in order to fiddle around with what the book it trying to teach. This makes it much more fluid. It was a pleasant surprise. It is a nice concept I have not previously seen done. (I'm sure someone can come up with examples of where it has previously been done before but this is the first I personally have seen it.)

isaacdl 12y ago
If you like Python, check out How To Think Like A Computer Scientist (http://interactivepython.org http://interactivepython.org). It's aimed at introductory CS classes, but the inline interactivity is pretty cool! (Shameless plug: a couple of my professors developed this, and I spent last summer contributing to it).
- fixnum42 12y ago
  For those who don't like Python, and want to think like a real computer scientist check out Interactive SICP (http://xuanji.appspot.com/isicp/ http://xuanji.appspot.com/isicp/) It is also aimed at introductory CS classes.
  - rfrey 12y ago
    Linked resource is first rate; tone of comment not so much.
  - dmarusic16 12y ago
    Holy Christ, I had no idea this existed. Awesome.
  - humpt 12y ago
    this is theses other forks which can be nicer on mobile: - html: http://sarabander.github.io/sicp/ http://sarabander.github.io/sicp/ - epub/pdf in the repo: https://github.com/sarabander/sicp https://github.com/sarabander/sicp
nkron 12y ago
That's neat, generally I like physical books better but that really shows the potential of ebooks. I've been working on something similar for the JavaScript/browser APIs (http://www.javascripture.com http://www.javascripture.com) since I learn a lot better when running code myself.
elwell 12y ago
I just wish we had hi-res, color, e-ink monitors with quick refresh rate. I can't bring myself to read an entire book online; even if it's free.
- UnfalseDesign 12y ago
  For me, it depends on the type of book. I find I can bare reading a technical book online. However, I have trouble reading it for very long, I find myself skipping prose to get to the meat of the content, and I find a quick glance at my email or F5 on my favorite news site is just a small click away. Still, I personally find reading technical books easier on the computer while reading a novel or biography far better with a cup of coffee, an easy chair, and an e-reader.
  - tragic 12y ago
    The other thing I find with reading technical books on a computer is that it's a different experience - I'm constantly flipping over to an editor/REPL to try things out, so it's not like I'm staring at a wall of text for hours on end.
- coldtea 12y ago
  Well, we do have retina ipads (and other tablets). e-ink I find just a gimmick -- there is no scientific research that shows it being any better than a typical monitor for the eyes (Amazon also retracted such statements IIRC). The only real benefit was resolution (which retina/hi-dpi solved) and reading in the sun (which e-ink retains as an advantage). Sure, one reflects light and the other has a light source embedded. But a photon is a photon in both cases (and you can blind yourself with a white paper too, if you hold it at the right angle to the sun) -- and you can set the tablet display at the desired, equivalent to reflectef light, brightness.
  - SeanDav 12y ago
    It may be gimmicky to you, but I cannot read an entire book in a sitting or two (as I often do) on any kind of non e-ink monitor and that includes tablets. I can easily do this on a Kindle or other e-ink device. So, for me, e-ink is no gimmick, it is an essential requirement for prolonged reading.

isaacdl 12y ago

If you like Python, check out How To Think Like A Computer Scientist (http://interactivepython.org http://interactivepython.org). It's aimed at introductory CS classes, but the inline interactivity is pretty cool! (Shameless plug: a couple of my professors developed this, and I spent last summer contributing to it).

fixnum42 12y ago
For those who don't like Python, and want to think like a real computer scientist check out Interactive SICP (http://xuanji.appspot.com/isicp/ http://xuanji.appspot.com/isicp/) It is also aimed at introductory CS classes.
- rfrey 12y ago
  Linked resource is first rate; tone of comment not so much.
- dmarusic16 12y ago
  Holy Christ, I had no idea this existed. Awesome.
- humpt 12y ago
  this is theses other forks which can be nicer on mobile: - html: http://sarabander.github.io/sicp/ http://sarabander.github.io/sicp/ - epub/pdf in the repo: https://github.com/sarabander/sicp https://github.com/sarabander/sicp

nkron 12y ago

That's neat, generally I like physical books better but that really shows the potential of ebooks. I've been working on something similar for the JavaScript/browser APIs (http://www.javascripture.com http://www.javascripture.com) since I learn a lot better when running code myself.

elwell 12y ago

I just wish we had hi-res, color, e-ink monitors with quick refresh rate. I can't bring myself to read an entire book online; even if it's free.

UnfalseDesign 12y ago
For me, it depends on the type of book. I find I can bare reading a technical book online. However, I have trouble reading it for very long, I find myself skipping prose to get to the meat of the content, and I find a quick glance at my email or F5 on my favorite news site is just a small click away. Still, I personally find reading technical books easier on the computer while reading a novel or biography far better with a cup of coffee, an easy chair, and an e-reader.
- tragic 12y ago
  The other thing I find with reading technical books on a computer is that it's a different experience - I'm constantly flipping over to an editor/REPL to try things out, so it's not like I'm staring at a wall of text for hours on end.
coldtea 12y ago
Well, we do have retina ipads (and other tablets). e-ink I find just a gimmick -- there is no scientific research that shows it being any better than a typical monitor for the eyes (Amazon also retracted such statements IIRC). The only real benefit was resolution (which retina/hi-dpi solved) and reading in the sun (which e-ink retains as an advantage). Sure, one reflects light and the other has a light source embedded. But a photon is a photon in both cases (and you can blind yourself with a white paper too, if you hold it at the right angle to the sun) -- and you can set the tablet display at the desired, equivalent to reflectef light, brightness.
- SeanDav 12y ago
  It may be gimmicky to you, but I cannot read an entire book in a sitting or two (as I often do) on any kind of non e-ink monitor and that includes tablets. I can easily do this on a Kindle or other e-ink device. So, for me, e-ink is no gimmick, it is an essential requirement for prolonged reading.