Learning computer science is difficult. Things are even tougher if you’re learning by yourself. This book is trying to change that.

When I started my first real programming job, fresh from a bootcamp, I was crushingly aware of how little I knew. Worse than that, I was constantly reminded of how much I didn’t even realise that I didn’t know. Well-meaning colleagues would casually mention some concept or convention that I’d simply never heard of.

The obvious thing to do is to study computer science. But how do you study computer science if a four year degree isn’t an option? Where should you start? How do you chart your way through the whole of computer science, studying topics in the right order? Which of the many classic textbooks should you read?

After years of study, I’ve written a book that will make computer science easy. Ten concise chapters covering each of the major areas will give you a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals and guide you towards the best resources for further study. We’ll cover everything you need to be an effective developer. You’ll understand how everything fits together, be confident of what you know and, even more importantly, be aware of what you don’t know. Each chapter functions as both a standalone introduction and a primer for further, independent study.