Customer Reviews

The Minimum You Need to Know About Logic to Work in IT

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you are an IT college student, you are likely being gypped. Logic is no longer taught and it really is something you need. According to Roland Hughes, in his book, The Minimum You Need to Know About Logic to Work in IT, "Logic is the fundamental tool of IT."

This book has nothing to do with Leonard Nimoy and Spock's form of Logic, but I'll bet that character would have had knowledge of it! This is where you will be taught what you should still be getting from college professors. So, what's it all about? Yes, there are the basics of flowcharting and pseudocode, and there are chapters on fundamental data types, searching and sorting, decision order (with multiple exercises to work on), and even more on linked lists, hash, and relational databases. And what happens during a major disaster? "Surviving the Fire" is a must read chapter.

Hughes' familiar style permeates the book. His wit and humor make for interesting reading of what could be bone dry material. His decades of experience shine through, leaving readers thankful and wishing he were a college professor at their local university. If this is your first introduction to Roland Hughes, be sure to check out his other works, such as The Minimum You Need to Know to be an OpenVMS Application Developer and The Minimum You Need to Know About Java on OpenVMS. If you are going into the IT field, Roland Hughes should, and will, become a familiar name to you.

Reviewed by Regan Windsor for Reader Views (8/07)


Roland Hughes' passion for the IT Industry is obvious. If you have read the first two books in "The Minimum You Need to Know" series, "The Minimum You Need to Know to Be an OpenVMS Developer" and "The Minimum You Need to Know about Java on OpenVMS," you will figure that out very quickly. So imagine his horror when he found out that Logic, the very foundation of application and system design, had been tossed out of college curriculum. To remedy this he has provided the market and, with high hopes, the classroom a short, concise guide to "The Minimum You Need to Know about Logic to Work in IT."

Hughes begins with what he loves best - an analysis of the IT industry and what perils have resulted from abandoning the teaching of logic. I found this chapter extremely interesting as it outlines a trend that is impacting a wide span of industries. While explaining that the basic tools of logic, such as flowcharts and pseudocode, may not be seen in the workplace as something that is done by seasoned IT professionals, nor is it a deliverable of a project, Hughes highlights that it is the ability to use this logic when developing applications and systems that makes an IT professional successful. Therefore, it is key that students, and those starting out in the industry, be trained in the ability to think through projects in this way -- and for more complex problems realize the advantages of mapping it out using logical tools. This training should be the foundation of college educations, however since these classes do not produce marketable skills (in the way that training in languages does) the pressure to replace them with classes that do has broken down the holistic approach to education.

Along with the basics of flowcharting and pseudocode, "The Minimum You Need to Know about Logic to Work in IT" provides a basic understanding of fundamental data types, common sorts and searches, the importance of decision order, linked lists, using a hash, and the basics of relational databases. It's chapter on `Knowing What Questions to Ask' provides a glimpse into the situations IT professionals may encounter and the importance of asking questions, understanding what the user requires, and most importantly ensuring that what they are asking for is legal!

While Hughes has moved more toward a textbook format in regards to the delivery of questions and case studies, his writing style and advice still mimic that of a mentor who has much knowledge to offer those just entering the field of IT. As with his other books in this series, "The Minimum You Need to Know about Logic to Work in IT" provides the reader with essential information, knowledge transfer in the form of tips and tricks, and much to ponder about the IT industry and its many challenges!

Book received free of charge.