If you’re new to the tech industry, didn’t come from a traditional computer science background, or just feel like there are weird little gaps in your knowledge that everyone else seems to know, let me introduce you to MIT’s “The Missing Semester”.
It’s a free course (yes, FREE) and it covers all the foundational tools and practices that somehow never make it into most computer science curricula: shell basics, version control, dotfiles, scripting, debugging, and more. In short, all the stuff you’ll actually use every day on the job.
The instructors are sharp, clear, and not remotely condescending. The lessons are detailed without being esoteric, and they do a fantastic job explaining not just what to do but why things work the way they do.
Personally, I had to learn most of this through trial and error during my first few years in the industry. I graduated from a programming-focused Information Sciences program 10 years ago, and when I decided to pursue coding and infrastructure instead of a more strategic or organizational role like business analyst or project manager, I had some catching up to do.
Fortunately, I worked with several incredibly supportive teams who encouraged me, recognized my strengths, and helped me skill up quickly. It wasn’t glamorous, it wasn’t efficient, and it probably fed into the imposter syndrome I felt as a woman in tech. If I’d had access to something like this back then, I could have saved myself a lot of late nights and existential worry.
Anyway, that’s my take on this material. If you’re just starting your career and your company encourages training as part of your goals, this one is well worth your time. Even if you’re more experienced, it’s a solid refresher, especially if it’s been a while since you opened a terminal or wrote a shell script. Highly recommend.
Check it out: missing.csail.mit.edu
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