CS50 vs Angela Yu 100 Days of Code: Which Python Course Should You Choose?

Mar 13, 2026

I’ve seen this question pop up constantly in r/learnpython: should I take Harvard’s CS50P or Angela Yu’s 100 Days of Code? After digging through the discussions and looking at what actual learners say, I found a clear pattern that can help you decide.

The Real Question

You’re starting Python and want the best learning path. Two courses get recommended everywhere: Harvard’s free CS50P and Angela Yu’s $15 Udemy course (on sale). Both have thousands of positive reviews. Both claim to teach you Python from scratch. But they take completely different approaches.

The wrong choice can lead to frustration, wasted time, or quitting entirely. So which one fits your learning style?

What Each Course Actually Does

CS50P: The Academic Route

Harvard’s CS50P (CS50’s Introduction to Programming with Python) teaches computer science concepts through Python. Professor David Malan delivers polished lectures that explain why things work, not just how to write code.

The course follows a traditional academic structure: watch a lecture, read notes, then tackle problem sets. These problem sets are hard. They make you think. They force you to understand the underlying concepts.

What you get:

Deep understanding of programming fundamentals
Computer science concepts that transfer to other languages
Rigorous problem-solving practice
Free access to all materials

The catch: It requires discipline. No one holds your hand. Some problem sets take hours.

Angela Yu’s 100 Days of Code: The Project Route

Angela Yu’s course takes a completely different approach. Each day, you build something. Day 1 might be a band name generator. Day 15 could be a coffee machine simulator. Day 100 brings everything together in a full application.

The structure appeals to people who want quick wins. You see results immediately. Each project teaches new concepts through doing.

What you get:

100 different projects
Daily habit building
Immediate visual results
More hand-holding and guidance

The catch: You might understand less deeply. It’s easy to copy code without truly grasping why it works.

What Reddit Users Actually Say

I looked at the upvoted recommendations from r/learnpython:

Nomapos (12 upvotes): “Do CS50 first 3 lessons. After that do CS50P, the Python specific course. Again, make sure you do the exercises. Including the hard ones.”

This suggests starting with CS50P and committing to the exercises.

Mishmish4884 (3 upvotes): “Angela Yu 100 days of code and zero to hero by perian data. These two worked for me. Zero to hero was solid for the basic and then Angela reinforced the basics but it does projects along the way.”

This user combined approaches—a fundamentals course followed by Angela Yu’s project practice.

ArpanMondal270 (2 upvotes): “cs50p by david malan is a good place to start”

Straightforward endorsement for CS50P as a starting point.

The Comparison That Matters

Aspect	CS50P	Angela Yu
Duration	~6 weeks	100 days
Format	Lectures + Problem Sets	Videos + Projects
Depth	High (CS concepts)	Medium (practical)
Cost	Free	~$15 (Udemy sale)
Best For	CS foundation	Habit building
Projects	Few, rigorous	Many, varied
Hand-holding	Minimal	Moderate
Teaching Style	Academic	Conversational

Code Examples Show the Difference

Here’s how each course approaches the same concept differently.

CS50P Style (Understanding the Concept):

# Problem: Implement a fuel gauge
# Teaches: Input validation, error handling, string formatting, recursion

def main():
    fraction = input("Fraction: ")
    try:
        x, y = map(int, fraction.split('/'))
        if x > y:
            raise ValueError
        percentage = round(x / y * 100)
        if percentage <= 1:
            print("E")
        elif percentage >= 99:
            print("F")
        else:
            print(f"{percentage}%")
    except (ValueError, ZeroDivisionError):
        main()  # Recursion for retry

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

This problem forces you to think about edge cases, error handling, and proper program structure. You learn why validation matters.

Angela Yu Style (Building Something Fun):

# Day 15: Coffee Machine Project
# Teaches: Functions, loops, dictionaries, user input through a real project

MENU = {
    "espresso": {
        "ingredients": {"water": 50, "coffee": 18},
        "cost": 1.5
    },
    "latte": {
        "ingredients": {"water": 200, "milk": 150, "coffee": 24},
        "cost": 2.5
    },
    "cappuccino": {
        "ingredients": {"water": 250, "milk": 100, "coffee": 24},
        "cost": 3.0
    }
}

resources = {
    "water": 300,
    "milk": 200,
    "coffee": 100,
    "money": 0
}

def is_resource_sufficient(order_ingredients):
    for item in order_ingredients:
        if order_ingredients[item] > resources[item]:
            print(f"Sorry there is not enough {item}.")
            return False
    return True

def make_coffee(drink_name, order_ingredients):
    for item in order_ingredients:
        resources[item] -= order_ingredients[item]
    print(f"Here is your {drink_name} ☕️. Enjoy!")

# User interaction, payment processing, resource management...

This feels like a real application. You’re motivated because you’re building something recognizable.

Which One Fits You?

Choose CS50P if you:

Want to understand why things work, not just copy code
Plan to learn other programming languages later
Enjoy academic-style lectures and deep problem-solving
Have patience for challenging problem sets
Want a strong foundation that transfers everywhere

Choose Angela Yu if you:

Learn best by building things immediately
Want quick wins and visible results every day
Prefer shorter, daily sessions over longer study blocks
Like variety (100 different projects keeps it fresh)
Need more guidance and structure

The Mistake I See Often

The biggest mistake isn’t picking the wrong course. It’s picking both simultaneously.

I’ve seen people try to do both courses at the same time. They get overwhelmed. The approaches are too different. CS50P demands deep focus on problem sets. Angela Yu wants daily project completion. Doing both means doing neither well.

Another mistake: skipping the hard exercises. In CS50P, if you skip the challenging problem sets, you miss the entire point. In Angela Yu’s course, if you just copy the code without understanding it, you build nothing.

If I had to choose one path:

Start with CS50P if you want to really learn programming. Do all the exercises, including the hard ones. Take 6-8 weeks. Build that foundation.
Then reinforce with Angela Yu if you want more practice. After CS50P, Angela Yu’s projects will feel easier, and you’ll understand why the code works instead of just copying it.

If you can only do one:

Pick CS50P if you’re serious about becoming a software developer
Pick Angela Yu if you want to have fun building things and see if programming clicks for you

My Take

I think CS50P builds better programmers. The hard problem sets force you to think. That struggle is where learning happens. But not everyone wants that struggle—and that’s okay.

If your goal is to become a professional developer, CS50P’s rigor will serve you better. If your goal is to explore Python and see if you enjoy coding, Angela Yu’s projects make the journey more fun.

Either choice beats not starting at all.

Final Words + More Resources

My intention with this article was to help others share my knowledge and experience. If you want to contact me, you can contact by email: Email me

Here are also the most important links from this article along with some further resources that will help you in this scope:

👨‍💻 Reddit Discussion

Oh, and if you found these resources useful, don’t forget to support me by starring the repo on GitHub!