How can I build a solid foundation in computer science without feeling overwhelmed?

Love your mindset! Focusing on understanding under the hood is a major step in the right direction. Instead of trying to tackle all of computer science at once, narrow it down to one core area at a time—like operating systems or networking—and pair that with a small hands-on project. This is where the real learning happens, trust me! Remember, it’s about depth, not breadth. Build and study together to keep from feeling lost.

Here are some resources you might find helpful: 1) Nand2Tetris for building a computer from the ground up (it's free!), and 2) the book 'Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface'—though it's not free, it’s a great investment if you can get a hold of it! Also, CS50 is highly recommended as it emphasizes computational thinking. These could really help you solidify your understanding of CS concepts!

I’ve been down this path as a newbie too! A great book is 'Computer Science Illuminated' by Nell Dale. It covers everything from logic gates to high-level concepts. Understanding how programming languages work under the hood typically leads you to languages like C, assembly, and even binary—there's a ton of layers! You can even use AI to ask questions like, 'how does this work in terms of memory?' It can provide some pretty good explanations.

Start with a small project that you're genuinely interested in. As you hit technical walls while working on it, you can explore the underlying concepts needed to get through. This makes learning more relatable and tangible, rather than just a collection of abstract ideas. Also, focus on the patterns you notice instead of trying to learn everything at once; it helps make sense of the chaos!

Get ready to code, fail, troubleshoot, and debug a lot—seriously! You'll be spending time getting comfortable with different languages and reading tons of documentation, so the sooner you get into that habit, the better. I recommend checking out CS50 from Harvard. University courses are typically more theoretical, but this course is super practical. Don’t let the scale overwhelm you; just take it one small step at a time, and you’ll get there!

Check out a game called Turing Complete. It’s a logic gate game that helps you understand concepts like adders and calculators in a fun way. It introduces electrical engineering ideas that can be tricky to grasp just from textbooks. Plus, it’s a great way to get those foundational skills to actually visualize how computers work!

You don’t have to enroll in a university to learn; many offer their introductory lectures online for free. There are tons of resources available if you really want to dive deep!