learncpp.online
University-level computer science education freely accessible to independent learners worldwide
Overview
learncpp.online makes the CS 128 curriculum freely accessible to independent learners worldwide. The platform delivers a structured 15-week C++ programming curriculum originally developed for CS 128 at the University of Illinois, with contributions from the CS 128 course staff.
The curriculum introduces fundamental programming concepts (i.e., language syntax, objects and types, functions, and control structures) before advancing to data structures (vectors, maps, linked lists, binary search trees), object-oriented programming with classes and inheritance, and modern C++ techniques including templates, smart pointers, and design patterns. Practical development skills are covered alongside these topics: command line navigation, debugging, version control with Git, build systems, and testing with the Catch2 framework.
Currently, the platform provides lesson videos and activities in read-only format, along with development environment setup guides and coding exercises. The platform does not yet offer the autograded programming assignments available to enrolled CS 128 students; adding autograded exercises is a priority, as immediate feedback is one of the most effective components of our pedagogy. We intend to implement this once we secure the resources necessary for development and integration.