The Ultimate Roadmap to Mastering CS50: From Beginner to Job-Ready

In this article, I'm going to show you the exact roadmap that was taken when learning to code with Harvard's CS50. It's important to point out the obvious: choosing the correct path for doing CS50 might mean the difference between successfully finishing all the materials and learning how to code, versus getting frustrated and giving up.

Why CS50 is a Great Choice

If you've just found out about CS50, you probably already know that it's a very good course. In my opinion, it's the best course available. If you take all the CS50 programs and are able to complete all the projects, not only will you have learned how to code correctly without losing time in tutorial hell using fairly up-to-date technologies, but you will also come out with a fairly robust portfolio. You will be able to put many of your assignments, which are really projects, on your personal page and link to it on your resume. You could really use that to apply for jobs in the future.

The Recommended Starting Point: Python

The first thing you need to do is go to edx.org or simply search on Google for 'cs50 edx'. This will take you to the main page for computer science courses and programs from Harvard. They have numerous options. When the course was first taken, they had the main course plus three follow-up courses: web development, AI, and game development. Nowadays, they have another course that's only on Python, which is highly recommended as a starting point.

A personal experience involved taking the main course, and by week seven, when Python was introduced, it became overwhelming. The assignments were difficult to complete after the lecture. This led to a detour of taking the entire Python course before returning to and finishing the main course. This process took about a month, which was okay because the goal wasn't to finish as quickly as possible, but to learn. The objective was to code for two hours per day, and as long as that was happening and progress was being made, it was only a matter of time before all the courses were finished.

The recommended way to take these courses is to start with the Python course. Why? Because the Python course is, in my opinion, much slower-paced and significantly more beginner-friendly. The pace of the main course is intense, matching that of the students at Harvard. If you've never coded before and have a busy life, you might get thrown off, frustrated, and potentially quit if you start with the main course and find it too difficult.

Instead, you should go ahead and start with baby steps. Start with the Python course. The first few lectures and weeks are fairly easy. Even after having completed over 5+ weeks of the main course and knowing how to code, it was noticeable throughout the Python course what a great option it is for beginners. So, if you're looking at CS50, go ahead and start with 'CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python'.

Getting Started: Enrollment and Setup

You'll want to enroll on edX. Follow the on-screen instructions to make an account. They might also ask you to create a GitHub account. GitHub, in a nutshell, is the virtual environment where you will code all your assignments. It's also used for grading. It's an all-in-one platform to store, update, and submit your code. They do a very good job of explaining all the steps to create your edX and GitHub accounts.

Note: Do not pay for anything. It will be explained how you can get a certificate from Harvard for free.

Once you've signed up for everything, you will be redirected to the actual course page, which is separate from edX. edX is only used for keeping track of your grades. The course page will have the lectures listed on the left. You can watch the lecture, and here's a pro tip: don't feel frustrated if you have to watch a lecture multiple times. If you don't understand something, just watch it again. After the lecture, you'll have your problem set with detailed instructions for the assignments and submission.

You don't really deal with edX much, except perhaps at the end to submit your final project. But again, you don't have to pay for anything. On the left side of the course page, you'll see a link for the 'CS50 Certificate'. This certificate is issued by Harvard and is separate from edX. Once you complete the course, you can follow the instructions to get a free certificate with your name on it from Harvard University. This is why it's not worth getting the separate edX certificate; you would be paying for something you already get for free.

The Main Course: CS50x

Once you finish 'Programming with Python', you should definitely take the main course, 'CS50x'. You'll see it's slightly longer, at 10 weeks. Again, just follow all the instructions, and once you finish all your assignments, you'll be able to get your certificate. There is a gradebook where you can see your grades. For example, after completing all assignments, a green notification will appear with instructions on how to get your free CS50 certificate.

The final project for the main course is to build a full-stack application using Flask and Jinja. With this knowledge, you could even write your own app to sell. However, Flask is a relatively simple framework. For more complicated applications, you might want a more robust framework that makes database work easier, perhaps even abstracting away SQL and writing all the backend and database code in Python. For that, you'll need to take the next course.

Leveling Up: Web Programming with Python and JavaScript

The next course to take is 'CS50's Web Programming with Python and JavaScript'. In this course, you'll go deeper into Python, learning about classes, abstracting SQL, and working directly with models using Django. You'll also learn about React and JavaScript. While the main course is broad, covering many areas of computer science, the web programming course goes deeper into web-specific programming with Python.

After you finish all your assignments, you'll get a certificate for this as well. At this point, you'll have a very nice portfolio. It's highly recommended to create a CV and a portfolio website and start applying for jobs. You should be able to get a junior developer job, preferably at a local company where there might be fewer applicants. It will be easier to sell yourself as someone who can get the job done and learn on the job.

Further Learning: AI and Algorithms

You can either stop here and work on your own projects or get a junior developer job. However, it's recommended to take a couple more courses.

One of them is the Artificial Intelligence course. The procedure is the same: sign up, follow the instructions, and complete the course. What you'll gain from this course is greater proficiency in object-oriented programming and algorithms, which will enhance your general knowledge and make you more proficient in Python. It's often said that you need to write around 10,000 lines of code to become truly proficient, and this course will help you add to that count.

On top of all these courses, it's also recommended to take a dedicated algorithms course, such as the one from Princeton. This course is available on Coursera, which is a premium platform requiring a membership. The cost is relatively low, perhaps around $50 a month, but it could be less. This course will strengthen your understanding of data structures and algorithms, and it's taught in Java, a language not covered in CS50.

Even after getting a job, it's important to never stop learning. Continuous learning is key. It's recommended that even if you're working on a profitable project or have a job, you still dedicate a couple of hours a day to coding when you have free time. It's possible. An algorithms course in Java will add to your skillset. It doesn't mean you have to become a Java developer, but learning an additional language has numerous benefits. Even if you don't use algorithms and data structures all the time, it's good to have a fundamental understanding of how to write efficient code and solve computing problems effectively.

A Final Word of Advice

A final point to emphasize is that once you start this learning path, you should not deviate from it. Don't start one course, then jump to another, and try to come back later. That will only complicate things. If you don't understand something, persevere until you find the solution. Don't let frustration lead you to start a new course.