Self-education.

[Initscri]

100%, I learnt programming from the age of 14, just starting reading with books, demo-ing out the code, and then building virtually any program/site I wanted to, even if it was just for fun.

Now I'm actually a professional developer with 9 years experience.

I think the Internet is the best tool for free knowledge, and has fundamentally changed the requirement for many careers.

For sure it was harder before when you are starting.

There are forums and other websites that you can now rely and depend to what they are teaching to know more about programming.

Oh I completely agree. Like I started programming when it was okay (not bad, not great). You still had to rely on docs, and books for a lot of the knowledge.

Now-a-days there are so many different classes/services online, the learning curve has significantly shot way down.

[1715305290]

1715305290

[darklus123]

100%, I learnt programming from the age of 14, just starting reading with books, demo-ing out the code, and then building virtually any program/site I wanted to, even if it was just for fun.

Now I'm actually a professional developer with 9 years experience.

I think the Internet is the best tool for free knowledge, and has fundamentally changed the requirement for many careers.

For sure it was harder before when you are starting.

There are forums and other websites that you can now rely and depend to what they are teaching to know more about programming.

Oh I completely agree. Like I started programming when it was okay (not bad, not great). You still had to rely on docs, and books for a lot of the knowledge.

Now-a-days there are so many different classes/services online, the learning curve has significantly shot way down.

If you do talk about programming yes the internet really is a good platform to learn. But on the other fields especially history or medicines there are alot of lies.

Tho when it comes to programming since that is a trial and error we can really play with the codes. Plus good thing is that there are good forums that talks about it like stockoverflow.

[Initscri]

100%, I learnt programming from the age of 14, just starting reading with books, demo-ing out the code, and then building virtually any program/site I wanted to, even if it was just for fun.

Now I'm actually a professional developer with 9 years experience.

I think the Internet is the best tool for free knowledge, and has fundamentally changed the requirement for many careers.

For sure it was harder before when you are starting.

There are forums and other websites that you can now rely and depend to what they are teaching to know more about programming.

Oh I completely agree. Like I started programming when it was okay (not bad, not great). You still had to rely on docs, and books for a lot of the knowledge.

Now-a-days there are so many different classes/services online, the learning curve has significantly shot way down.

If you do talk about programming yes the internet really is a good platform to learn. But on the other fields especially history or medicines there are alot of lies.

Tho when it comes to programming since that is a trial and error we can really play with the codes. Plus good thing is that there are good forums that talks about it like stockoverflow.

Yeah exactly. If you're a doctor, please go to a univesity/college & learn from trusted professionals. But at the end of the day, the risk in messing something up at a junior level in programming is very minimal.

My only concern about online programming courses is when people come out of them thinking they know a lot, and they don't know their limitations, which is huge. They begin to apply for contracts which require massive security considerations. They end up being way over their head at first (and I'm sure the same applies to other situations), and then they can actually produce harm to a corporation.

Trial/error all the way, just not in something mission critical as that.

[boyptc]

100%, I learnt programming from the age of 14, just starting reading with books, demo-ing out the code, and then building virtually any program/site I wanted to, even if it was just for fun.

Now I'm actually a professional developer with 9 years experience.

I think the Internet is the best tool for free knowledge, and has fundamentally changed the requirement for many careers.

For sure it was harder before when you are starting.

There are forums and other websites that you can now rely and depend to what they are teaching to know more about programming.

Oh I completely agree. Like I started programming when it was okay (not bad, not great). You still had to rely on docs, and books for a lot of the knowledge.

Now-a-days there are so many different classes/services online, the learning curve has significantly shot way down.

One of my professor told me that he kept on buying programming books so he can just master something that he didn't know before.

Studying before was harder than today, no forum to ask, no tutorials online and you'll have to study very well which is really the meaning of studying hard before.

[Krsps]

Self Education is a very individualized skill. Some people can take the bull by the horns and dive right in, and become very accomplished with whatever is available to learn.

Others need help, such as guidance and direction.

The most important factor is motivation. If we get inspired internally, directly from our soul's need, then we can accomplish a lot through our self-education. This includes looking to others to guide and direct us when the motive is coming from our internal drive and soul's desire.

[Initscri]

Self Education is a very individualized skill. Some people can take the bull by the horns and dive right in, and become very accomplished with whatever is available to learn.

Others need help, such as guidance and direction.

The most important factor is motivation. If we get inspired internally, directly from our soul's need, then we can accomplish a lot through our self-education. This includes looking to others to guide and direct us when the motive is coming from our internal drive and soul's desire.

Exactly, & the people who need guidance and direction are probably more suited for a formal education like through college/university.

But I always recommend people TRY self education before spending thousands on a degree. I see too many people going into formal education with complaints such as "I don't really get a lot from the professor" or "I end up Googling it and figuring it out without their help". I think highschool students should be taught the perks of self education compared to a formal education, instead of just brain-washed that formal education post highschool is the only way to go.

[The_Tick]

It's definitely possible to become a specialist with going to an educational institution. There are so many resources available these days! It's getting easier and easier. The internet has change the world and it continues to do so. There are many completely free courses available from some of the best universities professors in the world. There are wonderful forums like this one where you can ask people questions and get answers from people who know what their talking about. Of course, you have to keep in mind that the world may require some kind of official certification depending on what you're interested in. If you want to become a doctor, you're probably have to go to medical school if you ever want to practice it, but you could be a very knowledgeable specialist without it.