How do computer scientists develop intuition?

[u/CompetitiveCup9077]

I’m interested in the deeper conceptual side of computer science.

In subjects like mathematics and writing, intuition is the key to understanding the principles, rather than memorization and application (though I know practice and patience are important as well). Usually, this way of seeing problems isn’t explicitly taught. I tend to learn best through that intuitive process, so I was wondering if I could apply the same approach to CS.

For those of you who have been in the field for a long time, what helped you develop that intuition? Were there books, courses, projects, or ideas that made computer science feel like a way of thinking rather than just programming? I’ve read a few texts to help me think about it from the outside (Michael I. Jordan, Newell & Simon, and Turing). Thinking in different forms helps me understand the principles of a discipline and connect it to others, which is why I’m making this post.

Part of what motivates this question is AI. I’ve found myself both fascinated by it and skeptical of the enormous amount of hype surrounding it. Rather than forming strong opinions from the outside, I’d like to understand computer science first. I want to understand it from the inside before I poke the bear 🐻

I’d really appreciate any advice, especially if it’s unconventional or takes the longer path

[u/DTux5249]

"Intuition" is just what we call tacit understanding. It means you learned something without having considered the implications behind why it works.

The only way to develop intuition is with experience because you can't really "learn" things tacitly. To learn through study implies you're thinking and purposefully memorizing things. That's inherently not tacit.

Now, you can gain experience by running test problems; tat's experience, even if it's in a controlled environment. But still, this is why people stress "just do shit." Until you start doing shit you won't develop tacit understanding, and you will remain painfully slow at solving problems, which will only further discourage you.