>I want to open some horizons to invention but first just become familiar with all of the ideas being researched<
Crapola. In a thread a few weeks ago you didn't see the distinction between something as simple as a list vs. a contiguous memory array. In order to sail over new horizons you've got to be able to use a compass.
>I don't want to do these things just through learning vendor tools, but I would like to be able to implement them myself or at least in hand with open source research. <
You don't have to learn anything through vendors. That's what your comp sci course is for. Buy a load of text books and perhaps make it through the first couple of chapters.
