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A comment on Ask HN: How does a self-taught programmer get as skilled as a CS graduate?.

Re:Ask HN: How does a self-taught programmer get as skilled ... by kiloreux on Thursday November 26, 2015 @02:40PM (#10634391)
I am an electrical engineering student, so i might have some good background in low level things like 68k Assembly and the rest, but since the market for electrical engineers is dead, i learnt programming alone, i picked a language first (C in my case), tried to learn it well, and made some toy programs with it (nothing serious), and then i started exploring other languages, hoping to fall in love with one of them (didn't happen :( ), and then started with Algorithms and Data structures (Skiena's Book and lectures)[1], as it teaches you things that are really essential in CS, beside that you need to learn about OSs, Databases ... etc, to have a good foundation in CS, I personally know a lot of people who did great job as programmers, and didn't do any of this, but that's my perspective on how things should go , best of luck

[1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFjhkohHdAA&list=PLOtl7M3yp-...)

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Re:Ask HN: How does a self-taught programmer get as skilled ... by tnecniv on Thursday November 26, 2015 @09:34PM (#10635569)
Is embedded systems stuff dead as well, or just the hardcore IC/analog stuff
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Re:Ask HN: How does a self-taught programmer get as skilled ... by HeyLaughingBoy on Friday November 27, 2015 @02:04PM (#10638420)
None of it is dead. At my last job we were having trouble finding good entry level EE's. At my current job we just hired one after a long search.

Like finding software developers: just cuz they have a degree doesn't mean they learned anything.

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Re:Ask HN: How does a self-taught programmer get as skilled ... by lordCarbonFiber on Monday November 30, 2015 @03:42PM (#10651589)
I guarantee you, the reason you were having trouble isn't because the grads "don't know anything" it's because you weren't paying enough. From my experience the job market for most flavors of EE is "dead". I think 25% of my class last year actually went into engineering. The rest went to CS grad school, software dev, consulting, or finance.

When you are offering lackluster responsibility, and bottom feeder pay, don't be surprised when you can't find talent.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Ask HN: How does a self-taught programmer get as skilled ... by HeyLaughingBoy on Monday November 30, 2015 @09:11PM (#10653270)
Thank you for that completely uninformed rant!
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Re:Ask HN: How does a self-taught programmer get as skilled ... by planteen on Friday November 27, 2015 @11:17AM (#10637812)
Electrical is never going to be "dead," especially analog, RF, and power. There are no substitutes for it.
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Re:Ask HN: How does a self-taught programmer get as skilled ... by lordCarbonFiber on Monday November 30, 2015 @03:47PM (#10651613)
There's a difference between "dead" as in non existent, and "dead" as in no job opportunities for grads. Advancements in software have eaten most of the entry level jobs in analogue and RF given simulation tech allows teams to consolidate in design. Anything cutting edge is regulated to the PHd level. As for power, politics and lack of funding assures power (in the US at anyrate) will remain trapped in the 70s and consequently won't be drawing any talent.
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