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by davidhollander 5594 days ago
>Eventually I plan on going back to a real University and getting a CS degree, but I'm unable to do so at the moment

Come up with your own curriculum then. Invent homework assignments like the following:

1. Install a linux distribution: http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

2. Install the languages you mentioned: sudo apt-get install sbcl ruby

3. Type 'irb', 'python','sbcl' to open interpreters for Ruby, Python, or Lisp

4. List the names of all the data structures and algorithms you've heard of and their operations. Be sure to include hashtables and b+ trees.

5. List the worst\best\average case runtimes for each operation.

6. Describe a practical use case for each.

7. Implement each by typing directly into one of the above interpreters.

You'll learn much faster, always get A's, and not have to spend any money.

1 comments

OP, if you make it down here: the overwhelming majority of my programming ability comes from doing variations of what the above post says.

I didn't get much education from university, except for the occasional nagging feeling of "I think I covered this in a class once". That usually turns into a Google spree, where I re-teach myself whatever concept I almost-remembered.