i think formal education is the best, because it teaches good practices and all the whys of programming. it requires a lot of discipline and effort, but actually sitting down and studying theory is good for us

Where have you been studying?
This seems to be different from what I have experienced in Germany.

I learn so much better if I understand why something is the way it is, but a large portion of my formal education hasn't gone into that.

If I'm just told "Don't worry, you just need to know that x = y" then it's going to do barely anything for me.

Not at Surrey, but good for you.

@DamoMac The bar is so low because degrees are a common baseline job requirement so the courses are designed to guarantee a baseline of knowledge rather than anything interesting, difficult, or things you couldn't understand better by perusing Wikipedia.

@lorentz Makes sense. My formal education doesn't extend too far and certainly not in programming or CS, so what little I've picked up has been on the job or fusing together the many tutorials I've sat through over the years.

It's got me this far, but what I wouldn't give for a proper, detailed, interesting course.

@Lensflare i study at a federal institute in Brazil. they are known to be really good compared to private universities

You forgot the big 'ole /s on the end... I HOPE.

I think schools are doing a really bad jobs at what they are supposed to be doing. Teaching practices are still stuck somewhere in 1980s, the teachers are underpaid and I suspect that leads to good chunk of them just not caring so they also suck at teaching.

But I do agree with the statement that "but actually sitting down and studying theory is good for us". I with it was done better and that people in general would be more encouraged to do this on their own, rather than forced into it and hating it.

Lol According to formal education, it's a good practice to use one letter variable names. First 3 months of job for a junior is unlearning the ancient nonsense they were though during formal education

@PAKA none of my professors ever said anything other than "use meaningful names for variables, classes and functions"

so dope

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