I think a grasp of the different data structures is necessary, along with Algorithmic Complexity; it'll help you determine and avoid slow/ressource-demanding al

I think a grasp of the different data structures is necessary, along with Algorithmic Complexity; it'll help you determine and avoid slow/ressource-demanding algorithms. A combination of online courses ( Coursera, Standford CS courses ...) and a community that's eager to help ( Stackoverflow or even HN) is enough to get you going.