Is CS50x a Good Fit for Someone with Basic Coding Knowledge?

CS50 could actually be a good choice! It starts with C, which is excellent for teaching memory management—something you'll really benefit from. Just be prepared that it's not a quick-fix course; it requires a good time commitment. But it lays a solid foundation which can help you before diving into more complex topics or languages. Plus, the structured approach can help connect all those dots that you're currently missing.

CS50 is meant for introducing basic concepts, which might help identify what you don't yet understand. However, if you're looking to really get into software design and complex projects, you might need to focus more on hands-on coding practice rather than just theoretical learning.

I checked out an older version of CS50, and while it’s great for beginners, I’m not sure it’s perfect for someone with your background. You might breeze through a lot of it, especially the parts on HTML and CSS which seem irrelevant to you. But it's free, so you could speed through the stuff you already know. I'd suggest looking into a more specialized data structures and algorithms course instead—much more foundational for what you're aiming to do.

Don't be too hard on yourself! If you can build functional programs, you're already doing well as a programmer. It’s just about picking up some syntax and concepts that might be new to you. CS50 will definitely cover some fundamentals, but if the goal is to actually build things, you might need to branch out into practical projects alongside your learning. You’re further ahead than many who start programming without a clue!