Programming Languages Class - Build a Web Browser (Free Class) | Hacker News Reader

Programming Languages Class - Build a Web Browser (Free Class)

udacity.com

72 pointscarlsednaoui8 comments

Isn't building a browser a bit wired for a class thats called "Programming languages"? I'm main sure when you write a browser you have to write a parser and at least an interpreter but these are not things I would put into a PL Class.

But it seams to be a Udacity policy to have a "What could i do with this if I new alot about it". Instead of "AI for Robotics" the call it "Programming a selfdriving car", instead of "Fundamentals of CS" they call it "Building a search engine".

I'm sure this speaks to a fairly large segment of the potential audience.

For some people (I might even say most - especially newbies), it's much more thrilling to dive right in to a project. Even if the content was the same as a class with a more "classical" name, at least these names would put an idea of what can be done in to the students mind.

you should check the syllabus ....looks pretty complete to me :

"""Description: This class will give you an introduction to fundamentals of programming languages. In seven weeks, you will build your own simple web browser complete with the ability to parse and understand HTML and JavaScript. You will learn key concepts such as how to specify and process valid strings, sentences and program structures. Then, you will design and build an interpreter - a program that simulates other programs.""

Yes, but the steps from "understand HTML and JavaScript" to display that somehow formatted & execute the JS are big & somewhat important for a web browser.

I've worked with Wes (the PL class instructor), and he gives excellent lectures. It's great to see Udacity recruiting such high-quality professors.

Thats great to hear

I didnt find exact info about that but are they using Python for programming the browser?

hmm, not sure. The CS 101 class (Build a Search Engine) does use Python.

The class description only say the following: "Learn about programming languages while building a web browser! You will understand JavaScript and HTML from the inside-out in this exciting class."

Reply on news.ycombinator.com