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Ask HN: Should I buy "The Art of Computer Programming"?

4 points by jff ↗ HN
I'm a computer engineering grad student. Right now, it looks like I'll be working in OS and parallel computing research after school. With that in mind (i.e. I am not a startup type, nor do I write web pages), is TAOCP something I should buy?

5 comments

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marshallp
No, it's more like a decoration piece then anything. Read research papers online of the areas you're interested in.
chipsy
Only if you are in the market for comprehensive reference. Reading through TAOCP is a good project for the eager-to-learn beginner, but you probably already know the essentials of the material from your coursework. It's a compendium of the "proven useful" stuff, which tends to be older material. Research papers will have more/newer information. TAOCP will have more examples.
varaon
If you're still a student, check it out from the library and see if it suits you.
jff
I just checked and all three volumes are checked out for at least a month.
anamax
Yes.

Not because it's a research resource, although it is, but because knowing that stuff is likely to be relevant to your success in said research.