"but there's even less time (and money) for me to go back and get a degree in CS."
It seems like many don't understand that not having pursued a CS degree is often a pragmatic one dealing with money, not because self-taught people are too lazy or unwilling to learn at a university level.
They have already obtained their degree and invested a lot of time and money. Or they're far enough along in life where they're giving up a lot more than a teenager or person in their early 20s if they take 4 years off to pursue a degree full-time.
I think these are articles are useful for people who are learning on their own, or who come from that direction. But if you're starting out at a self-taught person, from my experience, no one seems to care if you understand algorithms. You're better off building real things, and it doesn't seem close.
It seems like many don't understand that not having pursued a CS degree is often a pragmatic one dealing with money, not because self-taught people are too lazy or unwilling to learn at a university level.
They have already obtained their degree and invested a lot of time and money. Or they're far enough along in life where they're giving up a lot more than a teenager or person in their early 20s if they take 4 years off to pursue a degree full-time.
I think these are articles are useful for people who are learning on their own, or who come from that direction. But if you're starting out at a self-taught person, from my experience, no one seems to care if you understand algorithms. You're better off building real things, and it doesn't seem close.