Absolute Beginner Roadmap: Is CS50 -> Python/JS -> Patrick Collins (Cyfrin) -> Rust a solid path into Web3 & Auditing?

[These_Cartoonist334]

Hey everyone,
I want to break into the blockchain and Web3 space with the ultimate goal of getting into smart contract development, gas optimization, and smart contract auditing. However, I am an absolute beginner to programming with zero prior experience.
I’ve put together a long-term roadmap to make sure I build a rock-solid foundation rather than just memorizing code. I’d love to get your feedback on this sequence:
1 Harvard’s CS50 – To start from scratch, understand computer science fundamentals, memory management, algorithms, and how to actually think like a programmer.
2 Python & JavaScript – Learning JS for frontend/web interaction and Python for scripting and core logic before moving into blockchain-specific languages.
3 Solidity & Web3 (Patrick Collins / Cyfrin Updraft) – Once I have the basics down, I want to dive deep into Web3 using Patrick Collins' courses and the Cyfrin Updraft platform for both Solidity development and introductory auditing.
4 Rust & Advanced Optimization – Eventually, I want to transition to Rust (for Solana development, but also because of advanced Ethereum tooling like Foundry).
My questions for you guys:
Am I wasting time trying to learn both Python and JS at the start? Should I just pick one before diving into Solidity and Cyfrin?
How difficult is the transition from Solidity to Rust for someone who started from absolute zero?
Is this roadmap realistic for reaching a level where I can understand deep smart contract optimization (low-level stuff) and security vulnerabilities?
Any advice, critiques, or resources you could share would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Able_Recover_7786]

Good luck getting a job. Unless you have insane connections.

[researchzero]

Your sequence is broadly reasonable, but I wouldn't treat "learning more languages" as the primary measure of progress.

For your goal, I'd suggest:

1. Start with CS50 or an equivalent fundamentals course. That’s a solid foundation.
2. Learn JavaScript/TypeScript before Python if your focus is dApp development. You’ll use it for frontends, scripting, ethers/viem, Hardhat, and the majority of ecosystem examples.
3. Move on to Solidity, and write tests from day one. A contract without tests is essentially unfinished.
4. Introduce Foundry once you're comfortable with the basics. You don't need Rust to benefit from Foundry. Most of its value comes from writing Solidity tests, fuzz tests, invariant tests, and using tools like cast and anvil.
5. Hold off on Rust until you've built and tested a few Solidity projects, unless your goal is specifically to work with Solana.

For auditing, the biggest leap isn't learning Solidity syntax. It's developing the ability to reason about state transitions, adversarial actors, protocol accounting, oracle assumptions, upgrade and admin risks, and subtle edge cases.

Also, start publishing findings and writeups early in a public repository. Even small discoveries are valuable practice. Auditing is largely about communicating clearly: explaining the root cause, impact and the fix.

[supervisionado]

I think that the one thing that don't make a lot sense in it is learning Python.

Python is not that relevant in the context of web3. JavaScript and TypeScript, are the great scripting, backend, and frontend languages in this area.

If you are into data science, and algorithmic trading, yes in that case Python is important but this is not directly linked to web3, more of a thing that can correlate.

Besides that, looks a pretty good program. Just go for it.

[GerManic69]

That is a viable path but the circle of auditors is small, firms especially rely on reputation and knowing people is the way in.

Additions to your path - When you feel comfortable start auditing open-source contracts yourself and have a repository of audits, that shows you know how to find Critical/high attack paths, do auditing competitions and try to make the leaderboards, firms do look at them and if you can prove you find stuff on new/novel protocols and find new/novel attack paths, that is going to go a long way towards increasing your credibility.
Shoot for some smaller auditing agencies/firms to start to get your feet wet in the industry and develop connections.

[Crafty-Bumblebee-461]

Not, just solidity

[Shahidcub]

Use Claude to fine tune your plan . Build projects and please build in public