Hey everyone! I'm 17 and I'm totally new to programming. I have plans to study Computer Systems and Networks soon, which is a vocational degree, and I want to kickstart my learning on my own. I've heard great things about Harvard's CS50 course, but I'm curious: is it suitable for someone who is starting from scratch, or would it be better for me to begin with something simpler, like the CS50 Introduction to Python course? I'm eager to get into programming and build a solid foundation. Thanks for your advice!
2 Answers
I dove into CS50 as a complete beginner and it was quite a ride! Be prepared for a steep learning curve. David Malan's lectures are excellent, and he uses great examples, but just remember, it can get overwhelming fast. It’s a fantastic course, but you should be ready for it to ramp up quickly.
If you're starting completely from scratch, I’d actually recommend checking out the MOOC "Python Programming 2025" from the University of Helsinki. It’s designed for absolute beginners and is really practice-oriented, providing a solid foundation for programming. You can start without needing to install anything at first, which is super helpful! Once you feel comfortable, you can definitely jump into CS50 afterward.
Can you link the specific video series you followed? I heard some of the newer versions have different TAs now.