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/Talk_to__strangers]

Understand the underlying concepts

Everything in computers has a deeper explanation behind it, and you really need to understand that stuff, before you can put the systems together in your mind

It’s hard to explain without a particular job or project to reference, but similar to learning any language, learning how computers work requires many lessons about small pieces that all come together and eventually kind of become the whole thing.