Читать книгу The Self-Taught Computer Scientist - Cory Althoff - Страница 9

So I've convinced you that self-taught programmers can program professionally and that you need to study computer science, especially data structures and algorithms. But does that mean you can't read this book unless you are learning to program outside of school? Of course not! Everyone is welcome in the self-taught community! My first book was surprisingly popular with college students. A few college professors even contacted me and told me they were teaching their programming classes using my book.

College students studying computer science often ask me if they should drop out. My goal is to inspire as many people to learn to program as possible. That means letting people know it is possible to program professionally without a degree in computer science. If you are already in school studying computer science, that works too, and no, you should not drop out. Stay in school, kids! Even if you are in school, you can still be part of the self-taught community by applying our “always be learning” mindset to your schoolwork and going above and beyond to learn even more than your professors teach you.

So how do you know if you are ready to study computer science? Easy. If you already know how to program, you are ready! I wrote this book for anyone who wants to learn more about computer science. Whether you are reading this book to fill in the gaps in your knowledge, prepare for a technical interview, feel knowledgeable at your job, or become a better programmer, I wrote this book for you.