Compare
cracked.guide vs CS50, and what to do after CS50
CS50x is Harvard's famous introduction to computer science, free online: Scratch, C, Python, SQL and web basics over about eleven weeks of lectures and problem sets, ending in a final project. cracked.guide starts roughly where CS50 ends. If you have not programmed much, do CS50 first. If you finished it and want to go deep, cracked.guide is a strong next step.
At a glance
| Compared | CS50x | cracked.guide |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Introductory | Intermediate to advanced |
| Content | Scratch, C, arrays, algorithms, memory, data structures, Python, SQL, web, a final project | A dated 145-week path: Crafting Interpreters, then TAOCP Vols 1 to 4B, with NeetCode 150 and a Play track of programming games |
| Cost | Free; a verified edX certificate costs extra | Free site; books and games extra (Crafting Interpreters is free online) |
| Format | Lectures, problem sets, final project | Books, reading guides, exercises, tests |
| Checks | Problem sets checked automatically | Book test suite on GitHub Actions, LeetCode profile, MIX programs graded in the browser |
Why CS50 then cracked.guide works
CS50 gives you C, memory and the basic data structures, which is exactly the background clox, the C half of Crafting Interpreters, needs. Weeks 1 to 28 of cracked.guide then turn that into two full interpreters, and the rest of the path takes the algorithms CS50 introduces and goes as deep as they go, with Knuth. Week 0 fills any gaps in Java, Git and the command line.
When to pick something else after CS50
If you want breadth next (operating systems, networking, databases), see OSSU or Teach Yourself CS. If you want a web development job soon, The Odin Project is the more direct route.
Questions
What should I do after CS50?
Build something substantial. Crafting Interpreters is a great next project because it uses CS50's C; then go broad (OSSU) or deep (cracked.guide).
Is CS50 enough to start cracked.guide?
Usually, yes. Do Week 0 for Java, Git and the command line, then start week 1.
Sources
A free, dated 145-week path: two interpreters, then all of Knuth.
Every week has a date and a reading guide, and the work is checked: the book's own tests, your LeetCode profile, MIX programs in the browser.