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Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-education. What should I buy?

There is a yearly bonus (600$) my employer provides for self-education. Usually, we spend it to attend some conference, but this is pretty difficult time, you know :) Also we have monthly bonus on books and access to online resources: O'Reilly Media and Udemy.

I am a Full-stack/Cloud software engineer so it should be related to my position, but not strictly. Let's say it can be iOS/Android/Web development, Back-end development, Machine Learning, Cloud Architectures, Theoretical Computer Science, Cybersecurity, etc.

After some research, I have found most of the resources are already free. I have had an idea to buy several classical CS texts (specifically related to Math Logic and Complexity) or purchase some online courses, but I can miss something valuable. Maybe it can be useful for somebody to suggest decent resources I can spend this bonus.

( 14 comments | 3 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by ksaj on Tuesday July 28, 2020 @02:02PM (#23978772)
A lot of resources are free, but I still find plenty of value in the printed word.

For example, I bought Practical Common Lisp despite it also being available electronically for free, because I tend to write a lot of margin notes and highlight things that I know I'll want to see again. It is so much quicker for me to pick that book up and get to the info I want than it is for me to scroll through a PDF for the same info (besides lacking my personal notes). I have multiple random electronic copies I don't bother looking at, and one printed one that I refer back to quite often.

If you want to take some courses in complexity, check out complexityexplorer.org. They are run by the Santa Fe institute, so you know they're top of the line. You can generally take the courses for free since they are offered through grants, but of course you can donate and/or buy some schwag to support more of their (incredible) course and tutorial offerings. I just finished a course with them today, actually, and am working on completing a third from them.

Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by enaqxx on Wednesday July 29, 2020 @07:22AM (#23985477)
Thank you, very valuable answer.
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by TheCryptoTengu on Tuesday July 28, 2020 @06:24PM (#23981325)
On the question. Is this something you need to show a receipt for? Or is this just given. If just given id use it to found my own self study or to do a project where i could learn something along with maybe gain wealth or ease of life.
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by enaqxx on Wednesday July 29, 2020 @07:22AM (#23985475)
Yeah we need approve for the given resource.
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by asicsp on Wednesday July 29, 2020 @09:50AM (#23986613)
>Also we have monthly bonus on books and access to online resources: O'Reilly Media and Udemy.

Is it restricted to only those? And there's plenty of self-published books on leanpub/gumroad (usually with sample chapters provided).

Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by tucaz on Tuesday July 28, 2020 @02:35PM (#23979175)
If you already got all you need maybe you can save the company some money :)
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by codepenguin on Tuesday July 28, 2020 @05:19PM (#23980813)
Why should (s)he care about saving the company some money?
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by AnimalMuppet on Tuesday July 28, 2020 @07:41PM (#23981871)
Because their paycheck doesn't come from fairies. It comes from the money the company earns (that is, income minus expenses). If they don't need it, why spend it? Why not leave the company a few more dollars?
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by enaqxx on Wednesday July 29, 2020 @07:21AM (#23985467)
They do not come from fairies, but from mostly creative people like developers and designers. They provide this education bonus because they see value in highly motivated and educated personnel.
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by aynyc on Tuesday July 28, 2020 @08:25PM (#23982180)
Where do you think those extra dollars go to? C-suite or stock buy back if public.
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by rboyd on Tuesday July 28, 2020 @01:27PM (#23978326)
buddy up with a teammate and buy each other's self-published courses
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by ksaj on Tuesday July 28, 2020 @02:04PM (#23978807)
This works. I used to teach penetration testing at a particular big blue TLA, and instead of reinventing the wheel, I teamed up with someone who had made a "General" version of the "Advanced" course I was teaching. We did a pretty good job of keeping each other's classes full.
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by Jeremy1026 on Tuesday July 28, 2020 @02:23PM (#23979027)
I think the person you're replying to was suggesting OP embezzle their self-education budget into their pocket.
Re:Ask HN: My company provides yearly bonus for self-educati... by ksaj on Wednesday July 29, 2020 @03:25PM (#23990617)
Upon re-reading, I think you're right. Pretty obvious the second time around.