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A 37-year-old wanting to learn computer science

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Re: A 37-year-old wanting to learn computer science

#41

Post by chbkall »

klipo wrote: post #32

Good luck! I’m going through a similar journey. I’m in my late thirties and only started software engineering professionally 5 years ago, without a formal CS degree, but with a hobby-level affinity for computers. It seems like you have an intrinsic interest in the subject. I think this is THE key, because you will grow the most by figuring things out in a play-like fashion, this will solidify your understanding and b…

> just keep digging deeper to find out how the thing you’re struggling with works on a more fundamental level.

Thank you. I will keep these in mind.

Your journey is a source of motivation as well.

Re: A 37-year-old wanting to learn computer science

#42

Post by chbkall »

WillAdams wrote: post #35

I've been re-learning CS (programmed as a kid, then missed getting a minor in CS in college after the service by one 300-level course which wasn't being re-offered when I needed it) and then just did (La)TeX and AppleScript for my day job, but am now trying to create a tool for CNC which is quite different from those which have existed previously, and one thing which has helped a lot is MIT OCW: - the Python courses…

Thank you for sharing these valuable resources. I am already on to the OCW Python course and SICP textbook.

How did you start on these resources? Did you start reading them because you needed them in your current project Or did you read them because you thought they will be useful for your project?

Re: A 37-year-old wanting to learn computer science

#44

Post by chbkall »

notepad0x90 wrote: post #33
matt3210 wrote: post #4

Find a series of small irritations on your computer and write scripts to solve them.

Solid advice. I would just add to write C. There is a thing about finding a problem that really annoys you that focuses and tunnelvision's you.

I tried learning C a while back. I would like to review it again and build / solve some problems using C.

Re: A 37-year-old wanting to learn computer science

#46

Post by chbkall »

mattlondon wrote: post #13

Good luck. I'd recommend finding a MOOC course that covers some of the fundamentals of computer science to make sure you have a really solid grasp of the fundamentals - the whys and how's etc. Data structures, algorithms, networking, databases, design paradigms (so Object orientated Vs functional Vs whatever), testing etc. If they use multiple programming languages in different classes then all the better as I think…

Thank you for your kind suggestions and advice. Concentrating on 'practical skills' and 'shiny frameworks' is exactly something I want to avoid and focus on aspects (data structures, algorithms, networking etc) which you talked about.

I will keep your advise on AI in mind.

Re: A 37-year-old wanting to learn computer science

#47

Post by chbkall »

supermatt wrote: post #34

> I really want to learn how to… (misc domain stuff) From your objectives, I don’t think you want to learn computer science, you want to learn how to be a full stack software developer. Learning certain aspects of computer science may certainly help you, but it’s by no means a prerequisite - and won’t help you to actually build things. Learn the things you aim towards by doing and reading domain specific knowledge.

The objectives I mentioned are somewhat guided by what I know at the moment. I really would like to understand computers and computing at a more fundamental level. When that happens, I am hoping my objectives will also change / evolve.

Re: A 37-year-old wanting to learn computer science

#49

Post by surgical_fire »

chbkall wrote: post #43
matt3210 wrote: post #4

Find a series of small irritations on your computer and write scripts to solve them.

Would you give me a small example of the kind of small irritations you are talking about here?

For example - I wrote a script that automatically rsyncs a bunch of folders I care about to one external HD, and then replicates the backup to a different external HD for backup purposes.

That sort of thing that would require you to run a bunch of commands and that you have to do from time to time. Automating it to a single script is cool.

I have a friend that wrote a bot to track the prices of stuff that he wants to buy and messages him on Telegram the current price and the min/max since it started running. Another fun little project.

Re: A 37-year-old wanting to learn computer science

#50

Post by ilamont »

noelwelsh wrote: post #15

In a good economy, one year is more than enough time to get a job (considering most bootcamps are 12 weeks, and I know a lot of bootcamp graduates who are employed as developers.) Learning on the job can be beneficial as you usually have others to learn with, and learning is contextualized. Good luck with it!

Are boot camps still a thing? I thought the bloom was off, as documented here many times in recent years.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15095805

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