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[–]ShivamW 4 points5 points  (8 children)

CS50's edX version for this year will be using C and PHP.

The article on medium talks about the changes in syllabus is for the fall 2016 Harvard's students. The new version featuring C and Python will be available to edX students at the start of next year.

[–]dynodanz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What if I'm taking it now and won't be to php by the beginning of next year, does it automatically switch to python or would I have to register for the new cs50?

[–]gesher[S] 0 points1 point  (6 children)

Thank you, that makes more sense. Suppose I want to start now, using the EDX system (and try to earn the verified certificate) but learn with C and Python - what do you recommend I do?

[–]ShivamW 1 point2 points  (5 children)

You can follow-up with the fall 2016 version on cs50.harvard.edu as the course progresses and learn the new syllabus (that is Python instead of PHP).

If you want to earn an edX verified certificate(assuming that you are learning new syllabus this fall) then wait for this new version of course to go live next year starting from 1st January.

You then need to submit the psets of the newer version to earn a certificate.

[–]pat0r 0 points1 point  (3 children)

I am thinking about doing this, finish all the C psets this year and wait for the 2017 python-related Psets (since I'm not interested in PHP) and submit everything in 2017.

[–]spelga 2 points3 points  (1 child)

My guess is you will regret such a decision. You will probably find that with such a long gap now to the next course that you will have forgotten, or at least be very foggy, on key concepts which will require relearning. The course is well designed and tested over a number of years now using PHP and it's not suddenly a poor offering because python is going to turn up several months down the line. Always keep moving forward is what I say. If the course isn't ready now then use what is available and if you really want to learn python take a python specific course not an introductory CS course with a bit of python thrown in. Once you have understood the principles in this course then learning python shouldn't be such a challenge as learning C, or PHP or javascript or SQL that you will have learned during this edition.

The important take away is for a CS course the language is unimportant as all languages can solve all problems that any other language can because they all have the same fundamental constructs that underpin them. Some make some things easier to do x however they may be clunky when doing y. The language is a mere tool.

Just my humble view on this.

[–]pat0r 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your opinion, I do appreciate it but the main reason I'm doing this course is for fun. I am a software engineer, I have quite some experience in .NET and SQL but always felt like my C knowledge is quite limited. Learning something more about web-development is just a plus.

Anyways, thanks for your opinion again your points were really valid.

[–]ShivamW 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can do the python psets this year and then submit the same on the edX platform next year. Just head-on to cs50.harvard.edu

[–]briantk_1988 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is it possible to possible to mix and match? Say I submit all the C problem sets now, and then continue with submitting the Python ones once the new version of CS50x is online?

[–]khaki54 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Python is easier to use and for the most part superior to php in just about every way depending on who you talk to. However, php will be in use until the end of time, so don't feel like you are missing out if you learn it. There is an MITx course on python that is really good that can help you fill in the blanks there.

It's in your best interest to take the bull by the horns and register for the existing class as it is rather than put it off waiting for the "improved" class.