I just wrapped up CS50x and I'm eager to advance my studies without landing in another beginner course. I'm looking at MIT's 6.S081 (Operating Systems Engineering) and have some key questions:
- Can someone who's not enrolled at MIT still realistically finish this course on their own?
- How tough are the labs compared to the challenges in CS50?
- Do many folks manage to complete it independently, or do most tend to bail midway?
- How critical is it to have a solid background in Unix/Linux before diving in?
- Will this course genuinely reinforce my software engineering fundamentals, or might it be too much at this stage?
For context, I've completed CS50x, I'm comfortable with C at that level, have limited Unix/Linux exposure, and I'm really keen on strengthening my core computer science skills. I want to steer clear of beginner courses and badge-collecting, but I also don't want to dive into something unrealistic for self-study.
3 Answers
Check out the GitHub page OSSU Computer Science. The core CS curriculum looks like a solid follow-up if you want to build a robust foundation. It could really help with your CS studies.
But seriously, think about your marketability. AI is taking over a lot in the tech field. Make sure your learning path is aligned with what’s needed out there.
Before diving into 6.S081, it’s good to clarify your aims. Are you doing this for the love of CS or aiming for a career? If the latter, I think the course is helpful in building a solid foundation.
I want to establish a strong foundation in CS. I’ve heard that 6.S081 is a good stepping stone for that.