I guess it depends on what you mean by "learn to program". Are you just script hacking, and trying to get something working for a personal project? Are you delivering code that people have to depend on? Are you trying to sell your skills?<p>I am doing App Academy, and I think it will be very worth it. It gives you a great network of people in the industry, solid skills and accepted practices, and most likely a job (if you want). It's tough to do all of this on your own in the same amount of time.