Ciência da Computação vs OSSU
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A free, self-paced path through computer science study materials, in Portuguese.
Open source · MIT
A free, self-paced computer science curriculum built from online university courses.
The short answer
Choose Ciência da Computação if you need…
- Brazilian Portuguese speakers who want a structured self-study computer science curriculum
- Self-motivated learners who can study mostly on their own
- People who want to build a foundation in core computing concepts rather than a specific job skill
- Learners who want community support through Telegram and GitHub issues
Choose OSSU if you need…
- Self-motivated adults who want a structured path through CS fundamentals
- People already educated in another field who want CS knowledge without a degree
- Learners who can commit roughly 20 hours a week over about two years, per the README's estimate
- People who want an ordered list of courses instead of choosing their own
Side-by-side
| Ciência da Computação | OSSU | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Learning resource | Learning resource |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 21k | 211k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Advanced |
| How you get it | Read it online | Read it online |
| Main language | — | HTML |
| Last code update | 6 months ago | 4 months ago |
What each one is
Ciência da Computação
This is a curated curriculum for teaching yourself computer science, written in Brazilian Portuguese. It selects courses, mostly from open content published by Brazilian universities and institutes, and arranges them in a suggested order with recommended readings. It is a guide to learning, not a program you install.
OSSU
OSSU (Open Source Society University) is a curated, ordered list of free online courses and books that together aim to cover a computer science degree. It is meant for people who want a well-rounded CS education on their own, with help from a community of other learners. The README says it is organized into Intro CS, Core CS, Advanced CS, and a final project.
Best for
Ciência da Computação
- Brazilian Portuguese speakers who want a structured self-study computer science curriculum
- Self-motivated learners who can study mostly on their own
- People who want to build a foundation in core computing concepts rather than a specific job skill
- Learners who want community support through Telegram and GitHub issues
OSSU
- Self-motivated adults who want a structured path through CS fundamentals
- People already educated in another field who want CS knowledge without a degree
- Learners who can commit roughly 20 hours a week over about two years, per the README's estimate
- People who want an ordered list of courses instead of choosing their own
- Students who value a community of peers through Discord and GitHub issues
Strengths
Ciência da Computação
- Organizes free, openly available courses into a structured sequence
- Written in Portuguese and aimed at Brazilian learners
- Includes study-skills and Git/GitHub preparation material
OSSU
- Free or nearly free: the README says all or nearly all course material is free, though some courses may charge for graded work
- Courses are drawn from well-known universities and are chosen against stated criteria such as being open for enrollment and matching CS 2013 guidelines
- Clear ordering, prerequisites, and time estimates for each course
Not ideal for
Ciência da Computação
- People who want training in a specific technology or framework, because the README says the course focuses on fundamentals rather than market skills
- Learners who need a formal degree or certificate from this project, since the course is self-directed
- Readers who need English-language materials, since the course is in Portuguese
- Learners who need close instructor guidance, since the README describes the study as mostly independent
OSSU
- People who need a recognized degree or credential, since the README says it is not merely for career training and does not describe any accreditation
- Learners who want a guided course with instructors and deadlines, since the path is self-directed
- Anyone with no time for a multi-year commitment, as the README suggests about two years at about 20 hours a week
- Beginners without high school math, since Core CS assumes algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus
Trade-offs
Ciência da Computação
- The README notes that many recommended books are not free
- Some courses may have optional paid certificates or activities
- Relies on self-discipline; the README says it is not designed for guided instruction
OSSU
- Individual courses may charge for graded assignments, tests, or projects, so the total cost can vary
- The README warns that the spreadsheet and some third-party materials may be out of date, so the official site or repo should be checked
- No instructors or credentials are described in the README; progress depends on your own discipline
Getting started
Ciência da Computação
Clone the repository to read it locally
git clone https://github.com/Universidade-Livre/ciencia-da-computacaoOSSU
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ossu/computer-scienceFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Ciência da Computação and OSSU?
Ciência da Computação: A free, self-paced path through computer science study materials, in Portuguese. OSSU: A free, self-paced computer science curriculum built from online university courses. Ciência da Computação suits brazilian portuguese speakers who want a structured self-study computer science curriculum, while OSSU suits self-motivated adults who want a structured path through cs fundamentals.
Are Ciência da Computação and OSSU free?
Ciência da Computação: Free and open source. OSSU: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Ciência da Computação or OSSU?
Ciência da Computação is easier to get started with (rated beginner); OSSU is rated advanced and usually needs more setup.
Is Ciência da Computação or OSSU more popular?
OSSU has more GitHub stars (211k) than Ciência da Computação (21k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.