Computer Science and Programming - Version 4.0

Please read the FAQ and note that there are Tier Project Ideas to help you select projects.

Note: Prior guides have been deprecated but are still available here

Table of Contents

Junior developer

If you want to develop the skills necessary to be 'job ready' for a junior developer position - complete tier X, 0, and 1.

• tier X - Math Prep
• tier X - Programming Prep Prep
• tier 0 - Programming Prep
• tier 1 - Getting Started

Intermediate developer

If you want to develop the skills necessary to move beyond junior to intermediate developer - once you've finished tiers X, 0 and 1, proceed to complete tiers 2 and 3.

• tier 2 - Develop More Expertise
• tier 3 - Add More Rigor

Advanced developer

If you want to develop the skills necessary to move beyond intermediate to advanced developer - once you've finished tiers X, 0, 1, 2, and 3, proceed to complete tiers 4 and 5.

• tier 4 - Polish the Rough Edges
• tier 5 - Specialize

Specializations

Each tier has a 'specialization' based capstone which involves further study and extensive practice in an area of your choosing. Web Development - Fullstack Bootcamp - App Academy Open is highly recommended (but not required) as the first specialization. Beyond that, feel free to complete a different specialization each tier, or dive deeply into a specialization by selecting it during multiple tiers to explore it in greater detail and further develop your specialized profile.

• Web Development - Fullstack Bootcamp - App Academy Open (recommended, but not required, first specialization)
• Web Development - Deep Dive Into Modern Web Development - Full Stack Open 2020
• Web Development - Fullstack Bootcamp - The Odin Project - Full Stack Ruby on Rails
• Web Development - Fullstack Bootcamp - The Odin Project - Full Stack JavaScript
• Web Development - Frontend
• Web Development - Backend
• Mobile App Development
• Game Development
• Open Source Contributions

Advanced Specializations

The following specializations rely on knowledge gained in earlier tiers. Additionally, they are typically 'more difficult' or will require more work than those listed above.

• Computer Science - Algorithms -Suggested for Tier 2 or later
• Computer Science - Advanced Algorithms - Computer Science - Algorithms is a pre-requisite
• Computer Science - Intensive - Suggested for Tier 4 or later
• Data Science I - Suggested for Tier 2 or later
• Data Science II - Data Science I is a pre-requisite

Tier Programming Projects

Both tiers and specializations will require 'Tier Programming Projects', you are free to select any programming project you want. To help combat the 'but I don't know what I want' roadblock, Tier Programming Project Ideas lists a variety of ideas.

Note: In specializations, the Tier Programming Projects might have extra criteria (such as 'if you're doing a mobile app development specialization your projects must be mobile apps')

Junior developer

Tier X - Math Prep

Math will be relevant throughout the guide. Begin it as you start the guide, and incrementally work through it alongside the guide. (You need not finish this before moving to tier 0, or tier 1, but be actively working on it alongside them.)

Tier X - Programming Prep Prep

A very gentle introduction, complete if feel you would benefit from it, skip if you'd rather dive right into tier 0

Tier 0 - Web Development - Fullstack Bootcamp - App Academy Open

Complete the App Academy Open free online Fullstack Bootcamp. See FAQ for alternatives.

Tier 1 - Getting Started

Deepen understanding of Web Development and begin learning Computer Science topics.

If you didn't do App Academy Open in Tier 0, please consider doing it as your Specialization in this Tier.

Intermediate Developer

Tier 2 - Develop More Expertise

Dive deeper into the Computer Science topics which will prove useful throughout all programming

Tier 3 - Add More Rigor

Dive deeper yet, exploring algorithms and different programming paradigms

Advanced Developer

Tier 4 - Polish the Rough Edges

Wrap up by taking a look at some specific areas of computing to complete a breadth of knowledge that can be leveraged regardless of specialty

Tier 5 - Specialize

Wrap up by diving more deeply into your specialization(s). If you haven't already done an Advanced Specialization, strongly consider including it in this tier. Beyond that, feel free to laser focus on one specialization, practicing more in that area, or branch out and develop expertise across multiple specializations.