Programming and Computer Science Courses
I'm David Beazley, a breathing human and computer scientist with more than 30 years of teaching and programming experience. Here's some of my work from the Python world:
- Python Distilled (Addison-Wesley)
- Python Cookbook, 3rd Edition (O'Reilly Media)
- Discovering Python
- Python Concurrency From the Ground Up: Live!
What you'll find here are advanced programming and computer science courses designed to challenge your thinking and your skills.
Current Course Schedule
| Write a Compiler. Take on the challenge of writing a compiler for a new programming language. |
January 15-19, 2024 | ONLINE |
| Rafting Trip. The networks, concurrency, and distributed systems course that will test your wits as you struggle to implement a fault-tolerant service via the Raft distributed consensus protocol. |
January 22-26, 2024. | ONLINE |
| Advanced Programming with Python. Take your programming skills to the next level as you learn about problem solving, abstraction, and design. |
December 11-15, 2023 (Sold Out) December 18-22, 2023 | ONLINE |
| Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. The famous computer textbook comes to life as you learn the foundations of programming languages. |
January 8-12, 2024 | ONLINE |
| The One. The one. |
TBD, 2024 | TBD |
A Different Kind of Course
There are a lot of courses that teach advanced looking programming "features." However, features don't solve problems--problem solving solves problems.
The courses I offer here are about that! A lot of programming and design is focused on how to decompose problems into parts, thinking about how those parts might interact, and understanding the ramifications of different coding decisions. My courses bring these issues to the forefront in different ways. Grounded in core topics from computer science, these courses will push you outside your comfort zone and provide something of value for the long haul. They're the kind of courses you wish you could take in graduate school, but without all of the exams and psychological trauma.
Courses are usually taught in an intense week-long immersion format to a small group (limited to about 15 participants online or 6 participants in-person). The immersion format works to provide structure and to focus your engagement with the material. The small class size is unlike the typical experience you are likely to find online or at a university. People are there to learn and it's a friendly, hands-on environment that allows for meaningful questions and group discussion.
"David's training classes are a unique and not-to-be-missed experience. They are an immersive exploration and the format ensures you leave the class with new knowledge, new understanding, new skills, and new friends. David has a gift for explaining hard concepts and making things interesting. He is one of the best teachers I have ever met."
What Are Classes Like?
Courses run from 9:30-5:30pm in US Central Time/Chicago with an hour lunch break. Course time is divided between group discussion and working on hands-on projects with a strong emphasis on the latter. Most courses are taught loosely in the style of "mob programming" where we work together to try and figure out a problem solving strategy before moving on individual coding. Come ready to code, to question, and to discuss.
Hands-on circuit building in "Computer Science: The Good Parts"
Am I Ready to Take a Course?
Classes are attended by professionals with a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. You should have prior programming experience, but you definitely do NOT need to be an "expert" programmer, have a formal background in computer science, or deep knowledge of advanced programming language "features." That said, courses are still rigorous. Learning is the ultimate goal and some of the subject material (depending on topic), might be similar to what one would see in a graduate computer science course. You can read more about preparation here.
Courses are open to everyone. There is no screening process--if you want to take a course, sign up. I trust you to be the best judge of your abilities. However, feel free to contact me if you're not sure.
Just Courses
I have been offering CS courses for more than 17 years. What you see here is exactly what it is--courses. I personally teach all of these courses in a live setting to a small group. I pick topics that I think are cool, intellectually deep, and worthy of study. I have a "no questions asked" cancellation and refund policy. I hope that you learn as much taking a course as I do by teaching it.
More Information
For more information and general inquiries, please send email to dave@dabeaz.com. You can also consult the Frequently Asked Questions.