Computer Science & Robotics - Learn by Doing! Linux to ROS 2

Dive into an immersive, hands-on journey from foundational computing to cutting-edge robotics. In this course, you’ll master essential developer tools (Linux command line, Git for version control, Docker containers, and VS Code IDE) and then apply them directly to robotics with ROS 2.

We follow a learning-by-doing philosophy – “Learning is an active process. We learn by doing, only knowledge that is used sticks in your mind.” – so you’ll build real projects at every step. For example, you’ll set up a complete ROS 2 workspace on Linux inside a Docker container (as recommended by robotics best practices) and use Visual Studio Code to code and debug without worrying about OS conflicts. Step by step, you’ll write ROS 2 nodes and control topics and services, first in simulation and then on a physical robot – closing the loop between virtual testing and real-world application. This way, theoretical concepts immediately turn into working robot demos, ensuring the new skills truly stick in your mind.

What you will learn

• Linux & Dev Environment: Navigate the Linux terminal, install packages, and configure a developer setup on Ubuntu. You’ll use the terminal to interact with the filesystem, schedule tasks, and automate tasks with bash scripts, just as professional robotics engineers do.

• Containerized Workflows: Use Docker to create isolated, reproducible development environments. You will learn how to download and use thousands of Docker Images available on Docker Hub and how to create your own custom images with Dockerfile.

• Master Git, the professional Version Control System: Use Git and Github to track, commit and manage your code like a pro. Software Development is all about collaboration and community! You'll learn how to use Git and Github to collaborate with others, create branches, forks, and pull requests.

• IDEs for Robotics Development: You will explore various Integrated Development Environments that will help you develop new cool features for your robot, streamlining your coding workflow.

• ROS 2 Core Concepts: Learn ROS 2 fundamentals by writing your own nodes in Python or C++, publishing/subscribing to topics, calling services, and handling actions. Each concept is reinforced with practical examples and experiments on a simulated robot, following the “learn by doing” approach.

• Simulation & Gazebo: Build a robot model and test its behavior in Gazebo simulation. You’ll practice digital twin techniques and see how changes in your code immediately affect the virtual robot, mirroring techniques from successful robotics courses.

• Deploy to Real Robot: Transfer your simulation code to hardware. You’ll connect sensors and actuators, run your ROS 2 nodes on a real robot, and observe your software come to life in the real world. This completes the cycle of learning – from code to simulated testing to actual robot control.

By the end of this course, you’ll have a portfolio of real-world projects: from setting up Linux-based dev environments with Docker to running ROS 2 on physical robots. On the way, you will master Git as a collaboration tool and as a time machine that will let you go back in time to previous versions of your code.

You’ll gain the confidence and skills to tackle modern robotics challenges – learning by building and experimenting every step of the way.