I'm a complete beginner and I want to know which course would be better for me to start with: CS50x or CS50P? I've seen a lot of positive feedback about both, but I'm curious about people's actual experiences. How should I approach these courses in terms of order? Would starting with one over the other benefit me as a total novice? Thanks for any advice you can share!
5 Answers
Definitely go for CS50P first! It teaches you the fundamentals and makes coding feel less intimidating. I tried CS50x right away and found it too hard because it expects some prior knowledge. Starting with Python really helps to build your confidence before tackling the complexities of C later.
If you have a decent amount of time and you don't mind some challenges, you could start with CS50x. It covers a lot of ground and is a good way to grasp programming concepts. But if you want an easier entry point, CS50P is likely the way to go. It’s all about your comfort level!
I would suggest starting with CS50P, especially since you're a total newbie. CS50x can be quite challenging and fast-paced; it might be overwhelming if you're not already familiar with coding. CS50P gives you a gentler introduction to programming concepts without diving straight into complex topics like memory and pointers. Once you've got a good handle on Python with CS50P, jumping into CS50x will feel a lot more manageable!
As a complete beginner, I found CS50x to be a bit of a struggle after doing a month or so of Python. It's a great resource, but definitely a leap in difficulty. CS50P would have set a better foundation for me.
From what I understand, CS50P is just a full course in Python, and Python is easier for most beginners to grasp compared to C. If you want a simpler start, definitely choose the Python course first. Plus, Prof. Malan is an excellent teacher, which makes a huge difference!

Interesting. Thanks for sharing your opinion!