Pre-Semester: Launchpad
Year: Pre-Engineering | Phase 00 | Weeks 1-3 | 3 weeks
This pre-semester establishes the foundational study discipline, development environment, and essential tooling needed for the entire curriculum.
Pre-Semester is populated as a complete launchpad block, preparing learners for Semester 0 with proper habits, tools, and Git workflow mastery.
Goal
Build study discipline, development environment mastery, and Git fundamentals so that Semester 0 can focus on CS concepts instead of tooling struggles.
Prerequisites
Entry point. No prior experience required. This is designed as the absolute beginning of the curriculum.
Prerequisites: Basic computer literacy, willingness to work consistently, ability to follow written instructions.
Phase Completion Contract
- Explain: goals vs systems, one habit loop in plain language, basic terminal commands, Git workflow, and editor fundamentals.
- Build: properly configured development environment with dotfiles, working study system, and basic Git proficiency.
- Evidence: habit tracker, configured dotfiles repo, Git commit history, and completion of all module exercises.
- Do not advance if: you cannot sustain a simple study routine, lack a proper development environment, or cannot perform basic Git operations from memory.
Modules
| # | Module | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Module 1: Study Systems & Habit Formation | Atomic Habits - identity, systems, environment design, tracking |
| 2 | Module 2: Developer Environment & Tooling | Missing Semester - shell, editor, dotfiles, command-line mastery |
| 3 | Module 3: Git Fundamentals | Version control - commits, branches, collaboration, workflow discipline |
Also this Pre-Semester: Foundation Project · Checkpoint Gate · Cumulative Review · Readiness Exam Portfolio Artifact | Common Failure Modes | Bridge Review
Core Resources
| Resource | Role |
|---|---|
| Deep Work (Cal Newport) | Parallel reading - focus and attention management |
| Atomic Habits (James Clear) | Primary - study systems and behavior design |
| Missing Semester (https://missing.csail.mit.edu/) | Primary - lectures 1-4 (shell, tools, editor, data wrangling) |
| Pro Git (https://git-scm.com/book) | Primary - version control fundamentals |
Cross-Cutting Tracks Active This Pre-Semester
| Track | Level | Focus This Pre-Semester |
|---|---|---|
| B: Git | Level 1 | Foundation setup - repo creation, commit discipline, basic branching |
| E: Engineering Fundamentals | Level 1 | Terminal mastery, editor configuration, dotfiles management |
Weekly Arc (3 Weeks)
This pre-semester should feel like setting up your workshop. Every tool and system you build here will be used for the next 96 weeks.
| Week | Focus | Modules / Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Study systems and habit formation | Module 1 - establish daily study routine, create tracking system, environment design |
| 2 | Development environment mastery | Module 2 - shell basics, editor configuration, dotfiles setup, Missing Semester lectures |
| 3 | Git fundamentals and workflow | Module 3 - Git basics, commit discipline, branching, collaboration preparation |
Deliverables Checklist
- All module warm-up quizzes attempted
- All module quizzes completed
- All Missing Semester lectures 1-4 completed with hands-on exercises
- All practical exercises completed
- Daily study habit established and tracked for 21 consecutive days
- Foundation Project completed
- Checkpoint Gate completed
- Cumulative Review completed
- Readiness Exam completed
Transition To Semester 0
Upon completion of Pre-Semester Launchpad, you should have:
- sustainable study habits that can handle a multi-week technical block
- a working development environment with terminal, editor, and version control fluency
- enough Git discipline to keep later projects readable
- a repeatable weekly review system