Ask HN: Letters of rec for grad school apps

I'm a few years out of college and still at my first job, but am thinking of changing it up. I've thought about applying to grad school in computer science many times in the past, but each time I'm deterred by the letters of recommendation. I didn't really establish any connections with professors during my undergrad years.

What are my options for getting letters of recommendation?

I've thought about trying to contact some professors at a nearby university to see if I can help with research projects in my free time, but haven't investigated very much. I have several industry sources to get recommendations from, but it seems that industry recommendations aren't weighed nearly as much as academic/research recommendations.

Any ideas?