Ugh I've spent a lot of this week trying to flesh out CS fundamentals and my head hurts & I've got some imposter syndrome going on. What /is/ state, really? How do you define an API? What does routing mean in the context of SPA? ... Any reading / resource recommendations?
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It's a bit of a crazy mish-mash of ideas right now. Lots of folks with different ideas on what is a good idea and what isn't… completely understandable to be dizzied by it!
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Could you define what you mean when you say 'CS fundamentals'?
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Oh great question. I'll explain IRL because it's easier but fundamentally I'm trying to better understand React abstractions and as I learn more I keep bumping into CS terms I discover I only understand in a shallow way
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To me 'CS fundamentals' is an understanding of discrete math and proofs, the basic theory of computation (ie. lambda calculus, combinatory logic, turing machines), and some knowledge of data structures and algorithms. But even many universities fail to teach even that these days.
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You don't need to know all of that to be a working programmer, but it can be learned outside of university on a by-need basis. Having an overview can unlock a bunch of deeper connections between things though.
The fact that you're bumping into the is an awesome sign, because it shows you are going deep and have the chance to make some really interesting connections. It's an exciting time!
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But as somebody who spends their day in a constant state of being annoyed at my own lack of understanding of CS stuff, I can definitely sympathise with the feeling of frustration. And there's always something deeper to learn after to master the thing right in front of you.