0.1 How to Learn
Choose a reading style and learning path, and complete your first verifiable practice
1. What You Need Before You Start
Reading Chapter 0 and Chapter 1 requires no programming experience. You only need to be able to use a browser and be willing to carry out a few small operations on your own computer.
Different content starts from different prerequisites:
- Chapter 0: no technical prerequisites; it lets you choose a starting point and get familiar with this site.
- Chapter 1: starts from everyday operations and tool basics; you can learn it in order.
- Chapter 2: still under construction; the current algorithm content uses C++ examples, so you need basic C++ syntax before reading it.
2. Choose a Reading Style
| Reading style | Best for when you... | Suggested approach |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential learning | Are just getting started and are not sure what you are missing | Start with the Chapter 1 guide, learn stage by stage, and complete the tasks in each lesson |
| Goal-driven learning | Already have a clear goal and want to build a chain of abilities | Pick one of the curated paths below and go back to the relevant chapter when you meet an unfamiliar prerequisite |
| Problem-driven learning | Are working on a specific problem or error message | Search keywords first, read the most relevant section, and fill in the surrounding knowledge after verifying |
The three styles can be mixed. Sequential learning builds an overall picture; curated paths reduce detours that are irrelevant to your current goal; problem-driven learning connects knowledge to real-world scenarios.
3. AI: Three Curated Paths
Freshman Basics Track
For readers who have just started using a computer on their own to learn and develop, and want to first resolve "where are my files, how do I find resources, where do I run commands, and how do I set up my environment".
- 1.1 File Management
- 1.3 Browser
- 1.5 The Art of Asking Questions
- 1.12 Shell Basics
- 1.14 Windows Environment Setup and 1.14 WSL Environment Setup
Document Writing Track
For readers who need to write lab reports, project descriptions, technical notes, or diagrams.
- 1.7 Text Editing
- 1.8 Markdown
- Pick 1.9 LaTeX or 1.10 Mermaid as needed
Development and Collaboration Track
For readers who are preparing to set up a development environment, manage code, and collaborate with others.
- 1.12 Shell Basics
- 1.14 Windows Environment Setup and 1.14 WSL Environment Setup
- 1.15 Version Control and Git
- 1.16 Code Hosting Platform
- 1.17 Docker Basics
Curated paths are not complete courses, nor do they mean the skipped pages are unimportant. They are just shorter entry points picked from the current content; when a page mentions an unfamiliar concept, follow the links inside the site to fill in the prerequisites.
4. AI: How to Read a Page
When facing a longer document, you can read at the following pace:
- Check the summary and the goal first: judge whether this page solves your current problem.
- Understand the core concepts: know what problem a command or tool solves first; do not rush to memorize every parameter.
- Complete a hands-on operation: run it in your own environment, observe the result, and confirm whether the result matches expectations.
- Tick the task checklist: record progress with verifiable completion criteria instead of treating "seen it" as "learned it".
- Leave questions behind: record the environment, the operations, the output, and your questions; search or ask again when necessary.
Where is the progress saved?
The checked state of interactive tasks is stored in the current browser's local storage, separated by page. It does not sync to your account or other devices; after clearing site data, the progress may also disappear.
5. AI: Your First 15-Minute Practice
Complete one minimal learning loop right now. Do not try to solve everything at once; just confirm that you can find content, perform operations, and leave a result behind.
- Write down a specific problem you met recently, such as "how do I show file extensions" or "what does Git do"
- Use this site's search to find a related document; if you are not familiar with the operations, check 0.2 Using This Site
- Read the summary and the most relevant section to confirm whether it answers your question
- On your own computer, perform a small operation that will not damage any data, and observe the result
- Record the operation, the result, and the questions still unsolved, then tick this item
Once done, you have walked through a complete loop of "raise a question → find information → operate hands-on → verify the result → record questions". Next, you can continue on the current page, or go back to the Chapter 1 guide to choose the next lesson.
This document is still being written
We are still writing, testing, and smoothing out the rough edges. Head back to the previous page, or peek behind the barrier to see how far the work has come……Draft content may contain errors, and is not intended for official reference.