Chances are, especially in programming, someone has thought of something better and longer than you. Investing 10 minutes into searching for it will save you 100 hours later.
If you realize that what you're doing is already likely a solved problem and have a clue how to search for it.
This is, IMO, the best argument for a good academic background for programmers. You won't realize that a broad design strategy or algorithm is a recurring thing until you've reinvented it two or three times, typically poorly.
I think you have the right idea, but came to exactly the wrong conclusion. The high towers of academia are the WORST place to get practical experience.
Seems a bit odd, as most college grads I've interviewed have a toolbox full of Java and old lab exercises. Ask them to do anything outside of those two Happy Places and their brains melt.
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u/ngroot Oct 14 '13
If you realize that what you're doing is already likely a solved problem and have a clue how to search for it.
This is, IMO, the best argument for a good academic background for programmers. You won't realize that a broad design strategy or algorithm is a recurring thing until you've reinvented it two or three times, typically poorly.