Learn while doing?

This has been done plenty, and the educational execise apps are a really good way to get started.

Find a language that feels right with your way of thinking, and perhaps one that will also be applicable for your sysadmin duties (if that is still relevant).

I have been coding for about 12 years now. I do not have a CS degree. I am working on building startups. My major emphasis has been buiding 3-tier web sites with .NET, mostly because .NET is what you find in large corporate environments. I belong to a mailing list in Seattle that has to do with tech entrepreneurs. One of our recent discussion has been on what "stack" you use to build out your website. There are basically 2 schools, the first is the LAMP stack (linux, apache, MySQL and PHP) and the second is .NET/SQL Server. You just need to pick one and go for it.

If you are using csh is sounds like you're already in the linux camp, so I would recommend the LAMP stack. One thing that is quite popular right now amongst tech startups is Ruby on Rails. That would be a good thing to learn. Not only to build your startup but if you get good you can contract yourself out to others. Here are a good set of tutorials to learn RoR.

http://www.digitalmediaminute.com/article/1816/top-ruby-on-r...

hope this helps Nick

Create something you care about and have fun doing it...you never know where it will go.

And don't worry too much about having the "right" background. The great thing about the web, and technology in general, is that it enables people without the right background or pedigree to turn the world upside down.

Just go do it.

As a suggestion, based on your background, pointed out by qhoxie, and provided your Javascript history, I think Perl would be a great language to do your sysadmin, educational and general fun apps. I think you'll find it very fun and highly useful. Hypothetically, it should transition well into those paying apps you touch upon.

I haven't gone through the startup process you speak of, but I can tell you it's not just limited to the CS grads.

Best of luck to you!

As Fred Brooks says, "build one to throw away."

Speaking as someone with a CS degree, I can say that the Computer Science is not the hard part of making a good application. Rather, it is the domain knowledge. Build something you and others will want from the start.

The programming will come -- the biggest challenge is creating something people want.

In a lot of cases, learn by doing == Startup.

startups are for anyone, and some people learn best while doing.

if you have the time and a good idea, go for it

a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

its never too late to start, just look at Grandma Moses.