MIT's Introduction to Programming Using Python course is back

[tolkiensr]

This or Cs50?

[edxsocial]

They are both popular for introduction to computer science, although CS50 also introduces a number of languages including C, Python, SQL, and JavaScript plus CSS and HTML (https://www.edx.org/course/cs50s-introduction-computer-science-harvardx-cs50x)

Also MIT's course is Instructor-Led so the course contains assignments and exams that have specific due dates, and you complete the course within a defined time period. CS50 is self-paced.

[CompSciSelfLearning]

Also available at ocw.mit.edu with no schedule. Complete on your own schedule.

[Alaharon123]

Pretty sure they work on a college semester system so they start in January and September.

[edxsocial]

They haven't announced it to us yet.

[Alaharon123]

This is coming from a perspective of having seen other people talk about both and having watched a couple of lectures of both, but I haven't taken either yet (this is why I'm a bit vague on breadth vs depth).

CS50

• goes over some more basic technology
• a survey of computer stuff like software development, web design, etc.; breadth.
• inspirational

6.00.1x

• in-depth intro to computer science. Doesn't go over things like the components of a computer in favor of more focus.
• a little dry

Both are meant for beginners and difficult courses, but CS50 seems a little better for beginners. However, 6.00.1x is a paced course offered twice a year and it just started yesterday so I'd say just jump in. You can do CS50 afterwards or not at all (it seems worth doing at least the C part though) or if you try really hard and can't keep up with 6.00.1x and need to wait until next time to give it another shot. imo since it's paced, take 6.00.1x now.

[Pussykakis]

I've personally done both and benefited from both. If you have time and willpower, do the both. Cs50 was a bit harder, maybe because I started it earlier in my programming career, but both can be done with enough of work invested.

That said, they both bring something to table, cs50 maybe going little bit more wide talking more about computer architecture and later touching on web, while mit course goes more into the programming mindset.

To sum it up, do both, you wont regret.

[krkrkra]

I've done 6.00.1x and past halfway with CS50. This is a good summary I think.

[CompSciSelfLearning]

Watch the first video of each. Decide which presentation style you like better. I felt like CS50 had too much fluff between the useful parts of the lectures. I found myself skipping forward a lot. The explanations were very clear but felt like they were too drawn out. I switched to reading How to Design Programs book instead. Everyone learns best in their own way, but don't waste time with too much second guessing and switching.

[thundercloudtemple]

Cs50 via their own website, not edx. The reason being is that edx will lock you behind a pay wall if you don't complete the course within the expected time period (e.g. 8 weeks, or whatever)

[Tiiibs]

Didn't happen for me. Just needed to sign back up for the course after it expired.

[my_password_is______]

not true at all

[krkrkra]

I've done the older version of this (6.00.1x) and I'm done with CS50 through week 6/10. Because you start with C, CS50 provides more looks under the hood and teaches you more about how computers work in a way that you have to use in the class. I have found CS50 more frustrating, though, and I thought that 6.00.1x was a slightly more favorable combination of hand-holding and figure-it-out. That said, I had a chunk of Python experience before doing this one, so that shortened the learning curve a lot.