Non-CS/EE hackers?
gphil: My degree was in Philosophy, and I'm able use that "domain knowledge" in any situation, but that knowledge is generally more useful to me in a much more abstract/indirect way than my software engineering knowledge.I think that the most important factors for being a successful programmer in the long run have more to do with personality traits, though: work ethic, curiosity, resourcefulness, inventiveness, etc. than with educational background.