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Ask HN: I will teach myself computer science in 2018. Who wants to join?

53 points by dlet ↗ HN
I am a freelance web dev, bootcamp graduate. I often feel like a fraud when I build my projects as I often miss the correct computer science foundations to understand deeply the topics I am dealing with. This is why I will dedicate my 2018 year to teaching myself CS. I will follow the Teach Yourself CS curriculum (https://teachyourselfcs.com/) and will try to go through it in 1 year.

Who would like to join me in the challenge? Maybe we could create a community?

Here is a blog post where I explain my approach: https://dlet.me/stopping-my-imposter-syndrome-by-teaching-myself-computer-science-9ec1e0474060

52 comments

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edimaudo
I would love to join but I already set different goals for 2018. Maybe I'll take it up in 2019.
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lhuser123
I really wish had the time to do that. So please, take the time to appreciate the opportunity that you have right now, and commit yourself to finish it. Sooner or later something is going to come up and try to make you postpone your plans... be prepared.
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thistimeitsme
Hello dlet, I really feel like joining you. I have been interested in this for a long time and have completed some related courses but this seems like a well structured approach. Lets do this!
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rich-ie
Hi dlet, Glad to see someone else on the same train of thought. I am a product designer and have made the same commitment to myself. I didn't want to dive deeper into programming without also learning the underlying CS at the same time.
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owebmaster
I'm going to do the same in 2018. It'd be great to do it in a group.
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feocco
I would like in on this. Could we create a discord server to use :P
rye-neat
Yes, a Slack or Discord channel would be nice.
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cweagans
I don't use discord, but Slack, I could keep open all day because I have to do so anyway for work!
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sincerelysleepy
I would be down for sure. Self taught .NET dev but lacking a CS background so it's hard to transition out of consulting and IT. Looking for people actually driven to do this!
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Kagerjay
I would be down for this, pm me
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BoysenberryPi
I'd be down for this.
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O_H_E
Also check Peter Norvig's course on Udacity he is repeatedly suggested in HN

I will try to join with 10H/week

Thanks for the link BTW

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fourtens
yes it would be great to do this in a group - I would love to join as well!
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inimino
A few years ago several of us went through SICP in the same spirit. We met only online. It was a great experience and I highly recommend it.
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ejanus
Add me to your list. I am humbled by this offer.
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djubreel
I'm interested
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krbotmario
yes, I'm interested !
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heisnotanalien
Why? What's your goal? In all honesty, you'd be better off just working on a significantly large project that pushes your skills forward and learning as you go.
tyingq
It appears OP is looking for some solid foundational skills to help them make decisions. I don't see any issues with that.

You could do that, as you suggest, on someone else's dime/risk profile, but they want to bear it themselves. Why not?

ethftw
Good question. I wonder I'd its better to read up on how to be a better coder (code complete etc.) and also learn about architecting systems. None of this is usually taught in CS.
ihale
What are some good resources to learn about these subjects than?
zerr
The thing is, the real world development is not as fun as Computer Science, some parts at least. Think of it as a recreational activity, similarly to reading belletristic or listening to music.
pizza
It might be more effective if you find a master computer scientist, and follow in apprenticeship. Someone who nudges you without using words. Makes you realize you, too, can do it.

Knuth's tomes might be a good start.

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drakonka
I would love to join! I am self taught working as an SE; while I feel reasonably competent at my job I do still run into concepts that are unfamiliar to me, which I know I likely would've learned sooner if I had taken a more structured learning path. This sounds like a great idea.
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strongai
Yes please. Just the motivation I need.
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LearnerHerzog
I am interested as well!
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bold_monkey
I would evaluate it...add me to your list (see profile for email).
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exikyut
In case anybody sees this comment: I am having a bad brain day today. I clicked OP's link a few days ago, saw a wall of text in a font that's really big on my 1024x768 screen, and never saw the discord link buried near the bottom of the wall of text.

Since nobody copied the discord link to this thread I never realized it existed, so I created a discord server of my own and then spammed the thread with replies pointing to it. I have now deleted all 20 of them.

I've decided /not/ to delete the discord server I made though, because now I realize the "official" discord that was created has over 500 people in it I am most definitely not touching that. That's an overload I know my brain won't deal well with - my upper limit for realtime chat is around 20 or so new chat messages per day.

So here's the invite code to my low-traffic server: https://discord.gg/ffDd8uW

And the moral of this story is, I guess, good web design that works for everyone. Medium is great on new computers... old ones, not so much.

dlet
Hi everybody,

Sorry for the unresponsiveness. The responses have been crazy on Reddit and I forgot a bit this thread. My bad :/

We created a Discord to help each other. We are already 500 their and the vibes are great. Join us: https://jointeachyourselfcs.carrd.co/