[ALUG] Is a college degree required for computer programming?

[Richard Manyanza]

ZX-81! Classic! I've never used one but I love how they look :)

And yes, part art, part science.

Kudos for the maths! I think the coming the decades will belong to the
mathematical hacker as algorithms grow in importance (and risk?). And about
time I've always been a Dijkstra admirer :) A solid maths foundation is
something you can build almost anything on, from science to economics and
accounting.
Em 04/10/2014 22:27, "Tim Schofield via Linux" <linux at lists.habari.co.tz>
escreveu:

> I did my degree in Mathematics, and have never been in a formal computer
> class. But I have been programming for fun and profit for over 30 years.
> Like a lot of programmers of my generation I learned to program sat in
> front of my ZX-81 and z80 manual open in front of me. Programming is an art
> like carpentry and cooking as Richard said. You can teach a cook what
> ingredients to put in and how long to cook it for but they wont produce
> cordon bleu without that artistic ability.
>
> Just my 2p :-)
> Tim
>
> On 4 October 2014 20:07, Richard Manyanza via Linux <
> linux at lists.habari.co.tz> wrote:
>
>> Thank you for the interesting article. I agree with the general notion
>> that it's "harder than it looks." But I also detect a little sense of
>> pompousness in the article; yes programming is a trade, like carpentry is a
>> trade. Excellence in carpentry is just as demanding as excellence in
>> programming which is why it is rare to find, and very expensive when you do.
>>
>> I think it is very possible to be a very successful programmer without
>> going to university, in fact I would argue that going to university can
>> only give you some competency rarely excellence. People who are very good
>> at programming, or carpentry, or cooking are self driven and therein is the
>> secret. The people I saw get the most out of university were the self
>> driven ones while most students are hazy on even why they study what they
>> study. On the same token I have met very good programmers who have not been
>> to university but were highly self driven.
>>
>> I think if you do not go to university (whether on purpose or by
>> accident) the challenge is crafting a good study plan. I am happy to see
>> this becoming easier and easier with services like Khan Academy, Cousera
>> etc. Actually if this trend continues then going to university starts
>> looking less attractive while a well planed apprenticeship looks more
>> attractive on both substance and cost.
>>
>> I think learning should be an absolute joy. I think it was Bob Proctor I
>> heard say, and I paraphrase, "Little children would rather learn than do
>> anything else yet we think they just want to play!" If you are absolutely
>> determined to put rockets into orbit then learning about how to do that
>> will be a joy to you, whether at university or in your little workshop.
>> Your ability to learn how to put rockets into orbit is absolutely not
>> hindered by not going to university especially in today's open access world.
>>
>> On Fri, Oct 3, 2014 at 9:15 PM, Adili via Linux <linux at lists.habari.co.tz
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> More info on the link
>>>
>>>
>>> http://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/opinion/Is-a-college-degree-required-for-computer-programming?track=NL-1806&ad=896360&asrc=EM_NLN_34806575&uid=15327947&utm_medium=EM&utm_source=NLN&utm_campaign=20141003_Why+open+source+rules+legacy+modernization+tools_msargent
>>>
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>>
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>
>
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