Live data from Hacker News

OSSU: Path to a free, self-taught education in computer science

github.com

141–150 of 159 posts

Re: OSSU: Path to a free, self-taught education in computer science

#141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, that was not, in fact, the question I asked. I asked whether they were " particularly privacy averse." And, to me, it seems like they are not any more privacy averse than any other messaging service, given that they don't claim to offer any more privacy than any other service. In fact, the only real difference I see between Discord and an IRC server is that Discord forces you to create an account and associates y…

"and nobody complains about needing a Github account to contribute to FOSS projects." Did you really just say that on hacker news? I literally read somebody complaining about that THIS MORNING.

Oh, really? And I suppose it over privacy concerns? Context, please.

Re: OSSU: Path to a free, self-taught education in computer science

#142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> As a Canadian, the most educated nation in the world > we do pretty much give diplomas to anything with a pulse What's the metric for being the most educated nation? 'Cause ya know if it's "most diplomas per capita" or something and you freely give them out... we might want to rethink that lol. Just something to think about I guess

> What's the metric for being the most educated nation? The metric OECD uses.

What’s that metric?

Re: OSSU: Path to a free, self-taught education in computer science

#143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, that was not, in fact, the question I asked. I asked whether they were " particularly privacy averse." And, to me, it seems like they are not any more privacy averse than any other messaging service, given that they don't claim to offer any more privacy than any other service. In fact, the only real difference I see between Discord and an IRC server is that Discord forces you to create an account and associates y…

"it seems like they are not any more privacy averse than any other messaging service, given that they don't claim to offer any more privacy than any other service." Pro tip, using sweeping words like "any" will almost always make you wrong. Nearly every popular messaging service these days offers end-to-end encryption. I have no idea what you're talking about when you say they "are not any more privacy averse than an…

I'm not claiming Discord is the most privacy-focused messenger out there by any means. That's what you seem to be arguing. I'm arguing that they have no particular aversion to user privacy (i.e. they are not particularly "privacy averse"). Literally nothing you've said constitutes a counterargument against that.

Again, if you want to revise your claim to say that they're not particularly privacy-focused, then, sure, I agree with that. But, to argue that they're privacy averse (meaning they hate user privacy and don't want anybody to have it), I don't see it, and it's not been proven here.

Pro tip: try arguing the point you're actually trying to make.

Re: OSSU: Path to a free, self-taught education in computer science

#144
post #49
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I didn’t go to college, and I don’t include an education section on my resume. In 23 years in the industry, I’ve never been asked.

With 23 years in industry, you were joining back when CS degrees were less common. This is like the "boomer handshake" meme. Nowadays you need a degree.

I started in the industry 7 years ago without a degree and am doing well.

Re: OSSU: Path to a free, self-taught education in computer science

#145
post #73
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With 23 years in industry, you were joining back when CS degrees were less common. This is like the "boomer handshake" meme. Nowadays you need a degree.

do you think it's possible to work at companies like amazon and google without a degree at all?

Yes, I know a number of people who have

Re: OSSU: Path to a free, self-taught education in computer science

#146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"and nobody complains about needing a Github account to contribute to FOSS projects." Did you really just say that on hacker news? I literally read somebody complaining about that THIS MORNING.

Oh, really? And I suppose it over privacy concerns? Context, please.

I'll leave the googling to you my friend.

Re: OSSU: Path to a free, self-taught education in computer science

#147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"it seems like they are not any more privacy averse than any other messaging service, given that they don't claim to offer any more privacy than any other service." Pro tip, using sweeping words like "any" will almost always make you wrong. Nearly every popular messaging service these days offers end-to-end encryption. I have no idea what you're talking about when you say they "are not any more privacy averse than an…

I'm not claiming Discord is the most privacy-focused messenger out there by any means. That's what you seem to be arguing. I'm arguing that they have no particular aversion to user privacy ( i.e. they are not particularly "privacy averse"). Literally nothing you've said constitutes a counterargument against that. Again, if you want to revise your claim to say that they're not particularly privacy-focused, then, sure,…

Scanning user content for hate speech demonstrates feature that could not be performed with e2e.

So one of their advertised selling points is privacy violating. Also they don't have privacy features that many of their competitors do.

Those two data points seem to show privacy aversion to me.

Re: OSSU: Path to a free, self-taught education in computer science

#148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does that matter? Think of this from the perspective of a bootcamp grad working in tech, for example. That person might want to complement their practical skills with theoretical knowledge and deeper understanding. That understanding can help them hone their skills and develop professionally as an engineer. There are lots of people for whom this content is very valuable. Many of those people don't necessarily car…

What is in CS that makes it a field that can be self taught? Can you become a self taught physicist? I think you can't. Then what is the difference between studies in CS and physics?

I don't think anything would stop someone from publishing a great paper in physics or computer science on their own in 2021.

Albert-Laszlo Barabasi's book The Formula is kind of about this. While nothing would stop an individual from publishing such a paper, outside a major company or university setting an individual wouldn't have the network to notice the paper basically.

Re: OSSU: Path to a free, self-taught education in computer science

#149

Why can't this exist for traditional engineering? Chemical, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, etc.

It kind of does, but what would be the purpose?

In many countries you can’t work as a traditional engineer without the license. To get the license you need to complete the degree, and then do the apprenticeship and exams.

Yes, some exceptions exist, but those are the minority, and they still require formal schooling. For example, [0] outlines requirements for a bridging pilot program in BC, Canada. To be eligible you are required to have a diploma of technology as the minimum level of education. That’s 2 years of study in BC. You’ll still need to learn the remaining 2 years of the engineering curriculum on your own and you’ll need to demonstrate equivalent mastery.

MIT OCW has a lot of material available for the traditional engineering curricula with guides [1].

The licensing body in your region may publish curricula that include example textbooks to acquire the material from. See [2], for example.

However, there are some limitations to what you can learn without having access to the labs. You can learn the mechanics, physics, programming, math calculation as an individual, but that’s not the only thing being taught.

With maker spaces it might be possible to learn some of the manufacturing process courses on your own.

Much of traditional engineering involves looking up details in the specifications and standards documents and “connecting the plumbing” so to speak. There are engineers who are “catalogue engineers” and others who are “spreadsheet engineers”. There is very little “rolling your own” like in software.

But again, why? If it’s for personal education, then the material is out there as I hope I’ve been able to show. But if it’s for professional practice, then going through a formal program of some kind is probably required.

[0] https://www.egbc.ca/Registration/Individual-Registrants/How-...

[1] https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mit-curriculum-guide/

[2] https://www.egbc.ca/Registration/Individual-Registrants/How-...

Re: OSSU: Path to a free, self-taught education in computer science

#150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With less than 5 years of experience it's definitely a factor. If your straight Cs and B- and only have 3 years in some junior role, you're really not prio 1 interview material.

Then all my interviews (and coworkers) imply a radically different experience. Education is just one or optional lines on a resume that nobody looks at. You don't need a CS degree (or any degree at all) to be a developer.

I think it depends on your speciality . If you're something like a web dev where there's probably 100 other people applying for the same job, then it makes it easier for other CVs to be considered over yours.

Something more specialist, they might give more time to consider your application

Post reply on HN