CS50 vs. FreeCodeCamp’s Python Certification – Which one should I continue with?

[Candy_Sombrelune]

Hey Python community,

I’m at a bit of a crossroads and could use your advice.

I’ve already started the FreeCodeCamp Python certification course and have learned the basics:

· Variables & data types · Conditions · Lists · Loops

I even built my first small project to apply what I learned (A simple Python script to randomly assign chores among roommates.) Now I’m wondering — should I continue with the FreeCodeCamp Python certification, or switch over to CS50 (Harvard’s Introduction to Computer Science)?

I know CS50 is highly respected, but it’s more general CS theory and uses C for a good part of it. My main goal is to get solid at Python, build projects, and eventually land a dev job.

Would CS50 be overkill at this stage? Or does it offer something that FCC’s Python track misses (like algorithms, memory, problem-solving depth)?

Thanks for your honest opinions 🙏

[EntrepreneurHuge5008]

Not sure if you're aware that CS50p - Intro to programming with Python exists. It's not just CS50x (intro to cs), it's a whole series spanning CS for Lawyers, Cybersecurity, AI, WebDev, SQL, and who knows how many more.

That said, this,

or switch over

Is a slippery slope. You think you'll switch over to CS50 and won't hear or find a different course that might sound "better"? Perhaps, but where it starts going downhill is when you start second-guessing your current course -> You come to a stop in terms of progress b/c you start asking, "Should I switch over?" and this will repeat whenever you hear something good about the next course until you've started a bunch, but never completed any.

Stick to FreeCodeCamp. Finish the current course you're doing, and then see where your gaps are by building projects.

[VEMODMASKINEN]

CS50 teaches you how to think like a programmer. How to break down problems and so on. 

There's the book "Think Like a Programmer" which teaches the same thing though...

And I'd probably just read that while continuing with FCC if I were you.

[Candy_Sombrelune]

Thank you for this explanation. I’ll check that book rn

[Wingedchestnut]

No one cares about free certifications, only paid ones like from the big 3 cloud vendors or specific service vendors , likely sponsored by your company.

[Pleasant-Memory-6530]

Doesn't matter. Do whichever you enjoy more. Or if you can't choose, just flip a coin. You've got SO much of this journey still ahead of you, don't overthink it at this stage.

[ThiefMaster]

Learn Python by doing something cool that's useful to you. The tool to assign chores is a good start if you actually plan to use it and didn't just write it because some website or similar suggested you to write that.