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Welcome to CompSci.ca/blog

Tony Targonski (compsci.ca/blog editor)

Tony Targonski has graduated from University of Waterloo, with a degree in Computer Science. He worked in a variety of technical roles at GigPark, Amazon, and currently at Walk Score. Tony also (together with Daniel Servos) administers CompSci.ca Forums and the DWITE programming contest.

Latest Posts

Travel Time API — Amazon vs. Microsoft public transit times

CompSci.ca/blog: Latest post

The awesome part about working at a startup is that I get to play with all the neat technology that the rest of the team puts together. One such example is the Travel Time API, which is used to calculate actual travel times (via multiple modes of transportation) from one origin to many destinations.

The resulting map of how far one can get via public transit and walking from the centers of Amazon (left) and Microsoft (right) tech headquarters within 25 minutes.


The difference between Computer Scientist and Computer Engineer [according to SMBC]

CompSci.ca/blog: Latest post

It's Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal! Though jokes aside, Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering is often a tough choice to make, but here are some ideas for figuring out the subtle differences between those programs.


UBB (metered internet) will restrict innovation

CompSci.ca/blog: Latest post

UBB (Usage Based Billing / “Metered Internet”) is a hot topic right now, with many Canadians angry over the failures of CRTC and the subsequent forced price hike of the internet, even when using small competing ISPs. Here, I’ll talk about how Usage Based Billing will disrupt (in a bad way) Computer Science education, innovation, and as a result, the software industry.


(Important) Computer Science jobs are not outsourced

CompSci.ca/blog: Latest post

I don't feel that intellectual outsourcing is about exploiting developing countries for cheap labour (as oppose to this being the case for physical labour; stereotypically for shoe factories). It's cheap pay for either low-skills at market rate, or cheap pay for poor quality "high-skills". There are high quality high-skill software developers in all of those countries -- they migrate to where the high paying jobs are (or start their own companies in their home countries). It doesn't seem like anyone is selling themselves short to get the jobs. It's just that in today's global economy, a failing company/department/project could make that final leap for the cheap options rather than folding right away. As I see it, those jobs would have been lost regardless of the outsource option being available or not.


Choosing between Computer Science and Computer Engineering

CompSci.ca/blog: Latest post

The subtle differences between various Computer related majors are confusing, especially at the age when one makes their University choices. 6 Degrees of Computer Science is a good place to start, but the choice is not always clear. Some delegate the choice of their program to luck -- apply to all, and see which one they are accepted at from the University of their choice. This does not necessary work if ones academic performance is well enough to earn multiple offers. Now what?


Venturing beyond the office, with Computer Science

CompSci.ca/blog: Latest post

There is this perception that a typical programming job involves being locked away in a grey cubicle at some LargeCorp Inc., buried in mediocre tasks, and rarely seeing the light of day. While this grim illustration is not exactly the case, there is some motive to such stereotype.

So we’ll be going on an adventure through on-site programming positions that are anything but typical.


Continue further back

Addictive Tower Defense with Martin Kess
Addictive Tower Defense with Martin Kess
November 7, 2009
Computer Science jobs for University Students
Computer Science jobs for University Students
September 30, 2009
Legalizing p2p scheme: legally borrow music from the internets
Legalizing p2p scheme: legally borrow music from the internets
April 27, 2009
Computer Science at the University of Toronto, in Video!
Computer Science at the University of Toronto, in Video!
April 22, 2009
ISP modifying .torrent file contents
ISP modifying .torrent file contents
April 19, 2009
Treating video games as software
Treating video games as software
April 5, 2009
Bullshit legal threats for online identity management
Bullshit legal threats for online identity management
February 22, 2009
The spirit of Software Engineering
The spirit of Software Engineering
February 3, 2009
Botnet communication over Twitter, Reddit, social web
Botnet communication over Twitter, Reddit, social web
December 10, 2008
Blocking students on school network is wrong
Blocking students on school network is wrong
October 26, 2008