1.0 README | The Missing Semester

1. Preface

As the saying goes — "cultural workers must have culture", "a tech alliance must understand technology" — and CS students must be able to use computers.

It is true that most CS students in our country may never have touched a computer before college, and they may have entered this major for a variety of reasons. Yet most curricula assume that students already have basic computer operation skills, and they seldom include teaching of "modern content" such as environment setup, Git, Docker, and agentic programming.

Why is it called "The Missing Semester"?

If you noticed the title of this chapter, you might wonder: why "The Missing Semester"?

The inspiration originally came from an MIT course: The Missing Semester of Your CS Education. That course focuses on tools and practical skills that are rarely taught systematically in traditional classrooms, but that have a long-term impact on learning and development efficiency.

On top of that, we added some foundational abilities that CS students rarely encounter in college yet genuinely need, based on the actual situation of our environment.

Section	Goal
1.1 File Management	Understand paths and extensions; learn to organize, search, and compress files
1.2 Windows Settings	Configure display, storage, app management, and environment variables; keep the system updated
1.3 Browser	Master search techniques, bookmark and tab management, privacy and security, and developer tools
1.4 Common Tools and Software	Install common Windows software on demand: input methods, PDF, notes, screenshots, compression, etc.

Stage 2: Asking and Community

Section	Goal
1.5 How to Ask Questions	Learn to search before asking; master asking norms and templates
1.6 Community and Related Platforms	Learn how to use community platforms such as GitHub and Stack Overflow

Stage 3: Text Editing

Section	Goal
1.7 Text Editing	Understand character encoding, line endings, and editor selection
1.8 Markdown	Master basic syntax: headings, lists, code blocks, tables, and links
1.9 LaTeX	Master math formulas, document structure, cross-references, and the basic compilation workflow
1.10 Mermaid	Draw flowcharts, sequence diagrams, and Gantt charts with text

Stage 4: Systems and Shell

Section	Goal
1.11 Major Operating Systems	Understand the differences and use cases of Windows, Linux, and macOS
1.12 Shell Basics	Master core commands: file operations, pipes, redirection, and permissions
1.13 Text Editing in the Shell	Safely edit and verify files with `nano` and `Vim`

Stage 5: Environment Setup

Section	Goal
1.14 WSL Environment Setup	Install WSL and the Linux toolchain, configure VS Code Remote Development, SSH, and Docker
1.14 Windows Environment Setup	Use scoop to install Git, Node.js, Python, and the MSYS2 C/C++ toolchain

Stage 6: Version Control

Section	Goal
1.15 Version Control with Git	Understand the Git model; master branches, merging, undoing, and remote operations
1.16 Code Hosting Platforms	Complete the account, SSH, repository, and Fork + Pull Request collaboration workflow

Stage 7: Containerization and Orchestration

Section	Goal
1.17 Docker Basics	Use images, containers, Dockerfile, and Compose to manage reproducible environments
1.18 Kubernetes Basics	Understand cluster architecture and orchestration concepts: Pod, Deployment, Service

4. TODO Checklist

Skim the chapter overview to understand the covered content and the learning path
Complete Stage 1: File Management, Windows Settings, Browser, and Common Tools and Software
Complete Stage 2: How to Ask Questions and Community
Complete Stage 3: Text Editing, Markdown, LaTeX, and Mermaid
Complete Stage 4: Major Operating Systems, Shell Basics, and Text Editing in the Shell
Complete Stage 5: WSL Environment Setup and Windows Environment Setup
Complete Stage 6: Version Control with Git and Code Hosting Platforms
Complete Stage 7: Docker Basics and Kubernetes Basics

1.0 README | The Missing Semester

1. Preface

2. Chapter Map

3. Stage Goals

Stage 1: Windows and Everyday Tools