One nice thing about software is that you can self-teach to a significant degree. But you probably need some basic aptitude and you need a huge amount of self-motivation. And, as you say, you probably want to structure your learning in a way that works for you.
I will say, the formalism mainly helps to fight off imposter syndrome. I was the same programmer I was before and after my CS degree, the difference being with the degree I had a chip on my shoulder, and that helped significantly.
But you probably need some basic aptitude and you need a huge amount of self-motivation
Could not agree more. When I was 14 years old my friends would go out to the mall to hang out. I would sit at home working on the modem routines for my BBS program.
If I didn't get paid to work in IT, I would be doing it for free.
Or you can just keep making small projects. I got to 100k without a degree this way. I made these projects because I enjoy programming. I can't say any of my learning has been structured.
Even now I'll show off my projects during interviews. The rare times this backfires I know that company would have sucked anyway.
> But you probably need some basic aptitude and you need a huge amount of self-motivation.
You need this to be successful at anything. My cynical take is most people aren't, and see programing as some get rich quick scheme. If they did have these qualities they for the most part would already be successful
