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I did something like that, but I never stopped. Software doesn't need a degree, and I realized I wasn't interested in the debt. We'll see how it turns out, but

I did something like that, but I never stopped. Software doesn't need a degree, and I realized I wasn't interested in the debt. We'll see how it turns out, but I'm enjoying making my own way so far.

ramraj07 5y ago
I would implore some form of higher studies though. Not all college is a waste, and even within software, putting your focus towards a topic and doing a PhD is life changing in terms of giving you more structure. The world needs smart people to guide it in all directions. Too many of them are now being wasted moving money around and showing ads.
- bopbeepboop 5y ago
  Your comment provides an interesting perspective on why: You lament people are doing X, and implore them to do Y to accomplish Z, but don’t analyze that perhaps X-not-Y is the rational way to accomplish Z from their perspective. My thinking is so many viewing college/graduate programs as a waste is a sign they’re offering a bad product.
- rpmisms 5y ago
  I focus heavily on continuing education, as schedule and energy allow.
woofie11 5y ago
Software, plumbing, and car mechanics don't need a degree. They are technician work. However, if you can have a much more fun life if you have a deep understanding of things like signal processing, image processing, differential equations, control systems, dynamics, etc. Those let you do things like building medical imaging systems, autonomous robots, or deep learning systems. They're much more intellectually fulfilling than just coding, which loses its charm after a bit. You're also not competing against low-cost coders, which isn't a problem in the current market, but economies are cyclical. When the next recession comes, having more specialized skills is more helpful. These do require mentorship, guidance, and some form of study. As much as coming into university straight out of high school is often a bad idea, so is skipping it altogether. The key problem is these aren't skills you can pick up incrementally. They take years of focused study. For example, you can't learn control systems without diff. eq. which in turn requires calculus. There's little immediate reward to learning calculus and diff eq, and little way to know what's important without expert guidance.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- rpmisms 5y ago
  You assume I have interest in those deeper aspects, which I don't. I enjoy my work, but it's just a job to me. I stay up-to-date and develop my skills, but I have a life outside of work, and generally stay away from writing code in my other endeavors.

I did something like that, but I never stopped. Software doesn't need a degree, and I realized I wasn't interested in the debt. We'll see how it turns out, but I'm enjoying making my own way so far.

ramraj07 5y ago

I would implore some form of higher studies though. Not all college is a waste, and even within software, putting your focus towards a topic and doing a PhD is life changing in terms of giving you more structure. The world needs smart people to guide it in all directions. Too many of them are now being wasted moving money around and showing ads.

bopbeepboop 5y ago
Your comment provides an interesting perspective on why: You lament people are doing X, and implore them to do Y to accomplish Z, but don’t analyze that perhaps X-not-Y is the rational way to accomplish Z from their perspective. My thinking is so many viewing college/graduate programs as a waste is a sign they’re offering a bad product.
rpmisms 5y ago
I focus heavily on continuing education, as schedule and energy allow.

woofie11 5y ago

Software, plumbing, and car mechanics don't need a degree. They are technician work. However, if you can have a much more fun life if you have a deep understanding of things like signal processing, image processing, differential equations, control systems, dynamics, etc. Those let you do things like building medical imaging systems, autonomous robots, or deep learning systems. They're much more intellectually fulfilling than just coding, which loses its charm after a bit. You're also not competing against low-cost coders, which isn't a problem in the current market, but economies are cyclical. When the next recession comes, having more specialized skills is more helpful. These do require mentorship, guidance, and some form of study. As much as coming into university straight out of high school is often a bad idea, so is skipping it altogether. The key problem is these aren't skills you can pick up incrementally. They take years of focused study. For example, you can't learn control systems without diff. eq. which in turn requires calculus. There's little immediate reward to learning calculus and diff eq, and little way to know what's important without expert guidance.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
rpmisms 5y ago
You assume I have interest in those deeper aspects, which I don't. I enjoy my work, but it's just a job to me. I stay up-to-date and develop my skills, but I have a life outside of work, and generally stay away from writing code in my other endeavors.