Guide · Open source
How to use cs-self-learning: a Chinese self-study path for computer science
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
cs-self-learning (CS 自学指南) is a Chinese-language book and website that collects free, open computer science courses from universities and other sources and explains how to work through them on your own. This guide is for beginners who read Chinese and want a structured order to study in, rather than a loose list of bookmarks. By the end you will know where to read the material, how to get a local copy, and how to take part in the project.
CS 自学指南PKUFlyingPig/cs-self-learning · ★ 76.5k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Decide if this fits you. Check that you read Chinese and want a structured self-study path rather than a software tool or a formal credential.
- 2Open the guide. Go to https://csdiy.wiki to read the book online for free.
- 3Open the course plan. Read the CS 学习规划 section to see the recommended module order.
- 4Pick a first course. Choose one course from the plan and commit to finishing it before starting another.
- 5Clone the repository if you want local files. Run git clone https://github.com/PKUFlyingPig/cs-self-learning on a machine with git installed.
- 6Join or start a study group. Leave a comment on the course page stating your goal and how to join your group, or join one already started in the issues.
What cs-self-learning is and who it is for
cs-self-learning is a set of written learning materials, not a software program. Its README describes the goal as helping a beginner use open-source community resources to build a broad foundation in computer science, covering topics such as algorithms, operating systems, networks, databases and machine learning.
It suits Chinese-speaking beginners who want a planned path, and learners who already have many saved courses but no plan for using them. It is not a tool, and the README describes the English version as a separate, secondary site.
Read the guide online at csdiy.wiki
The simplest way to use cs-self-learning is to read it in a browser. The README links to the homepage https://csdiy.wiki, where you can read the book for free online. The English version is at https://csdiy.wiki/en/.
The README does not list any prerequisites for reading, so no installation is required for this route.
Get a local copy with git clone
If you want the source files on your own computer, the README gives one command to clone the repository. Git must be installed first; the README does not say how to install it.
The repository is built with mkdocs, and the README mentions mkdocs.yml as the file that defines the site navigation. The README does not describe how to build or preview the site locally, so check the repository for those steps.
git clone https://github.com/PKUFlyingPig/cs-self-learningFind your way through the course plan
The guide includes a study plan in docs/CS学习规划.md, which the README refers to when it talks about adding course introductions. Work through the modules in the order the plan gives, rather than jumping between courses at random.
The README says the book also includes a recommended book list (好书推荐) and notes that the site supports page comments. You can use these comments to state your study goal and find a study group.
- Open the course plan first to see the module order.
- Pick one course and work through it fully before starting the next.
- Use the course page comments to look for others studying the same course.
Contribute a course or a correction
The README invites contributions through pull requests. To add a new course, it suggests copying the template.md file in the repository and adding its navigation entry to mkdocs.yml. You can also add a short introduction to the matching module in docs/CS学习规划.md.
Contributed content must include an English translation, according to the README. It also asks for Chinese mixed-layout conventions to be followed, and it accepts reports of typos or conceptual errors as issues.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Copy template.md for a new course, and register it in mkdocs.yml.
- Provide an English translation for new content.
- Report errors in the issues tracker.
What people use it for
- A first-year student who wants a planned route through free computer science courses.
- A self-taught learner with many bookmarked courses who needs an order to study them in.
- A Chinese reader who wants guidance on which open courses to take first.
- A learner who wants to find a study partner by commenting on a course page.
- A volunteer who wants to add a missing course or fix a mistake in the text.
Frequently asked questions
Is cs-self-learning free?
The README says you can read the book online for free at csdiy.wiki. The project is licensed under MIT for the contributor-written parts, while other material such as course resources, books and videos follows the rules of their original authors.
What are the requirements to use cs-self-learning?
The source lists no prerequisites. Reading the online version needs only a web browser. Cloning the repository requires git, and the README does not list any other requirements.
How do I install cs-self-learning?
You do not need to install it to read it online. To get a local copy, run git clone https://github.com/PKUFlyingPig/cs-self-learning. The README does not describe further setup steps.
Is cs-self-learning available in English?
The README says there is an English version at https://csdiy.wiki/en/, but describes it as a separate, secondary site. The main content is in Chinese.
Does cs-self-learning give a degree or certificate?
No. The README does not mention any credential or accreditation. It is a set of self-study materials and should not be treated as a formal qualification.
How does cs-self-learning compare to MIT OpenCourseWare, freeCodeCamp or The Odin Project?
The source only names these as comparable projects and does not compare them in detail. cs-self-learning is a Chinese-language guide that organizes free university courses into a planned path, so choose based on language and the kind of structure you need.
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Our verdict
Use cs-self-learning if you read Chinese, are new to computer science, and want a structured order for free open courses. Pick something else if you need an English-first resource, a software tool, or a recognised certificate.
Install options & downloads