Learning is always good, structured learning gets you (dubious) recognition, but comes at a significant price in money, time, and lost opportunity.

Computer Science programs vary wildly in quality and focus: some seem intent only on producing a batch of code monkeys every year, others actually teach the mathematical sub-discipline called "Computer Science" that deals with the nature and limits of computation. People from the former schools tend to be good coders (at least until the market shifts away from their preferred language---these days usually Java); people from the latter schools may or may not ever write working code in the "real world".

The coding community in general is highly tolerant of self-taught programmers; and the Perl community even more so. There is no need to get formal training in CompSci if mastery of Perl and attendant commercial success is your goal. On the other hand, a degree of some sort is definitely a significant factor in finding any gainful employment, and if you must get a degree, you might as well get one in CompSci.

I personally have very little formal CompSci training (I majored in Physics), but I've been moderately successful as a coder, and very successful as a sysadmin (hence Perl). I frankly like the fact that I work in an industry where accomplishment "out there" means more to hiring managers than what degree I pursued in school. But be aware there is a cost: I am expected to know the relevant bits of a CompSci degree to do my job: I have a lot of money sunk into books, and have taken a lot of time and personal energy to learn my field. That has also included coaching from those who know it better than I.

In reply to Re: Structured Learning of Perl, Important or Not? by mpeever
in thread Structured Learning of Perl, Important or Not? by koolgirl

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