Free Programming Books

What is in it

The repository is a set of lists rather than a single page:

• Books by programming language and by subject (algorithms, databases, operating systems, machine learning, security and much more), each available in many human languages.
• Free courses, interactive tutorials and playgrounds for practising in the browser.
• Podcasts and screencasts, cheat sheets, and problem sets and competitive programming resources.

There is a search site for the whole collection. With about 397k stars as of September 2026, it is one of the most starred repositories on GitHub, and it receives frequent updates and pull requests. The lists are released under a Creative Commons licence.

How to use it

• Before buying a book, search here. Well known titles on Git, Go, Python, Rust, algorithms and more are free from their authors.
• Pick by subject, not just language. The subject lists are the best way to find a free textbook for a university course.
• Prefer resources in the language you learn best in. The multilingual lists, including Urdu and many others, help if English technical writing slows you down.
• Check the date. A free book on a framework from many years ago may be out of date; fundamentals books age much better.

Where it falls short

It is an index, not a curriculum. Entries are not ranked, so you still need to choose between several books on the same topic; look for ones recommended by course syllabi or with recent editions. Links occasionally break, although maintainers fix them. Inclusion means the resource is legally free, not that it is good.

Pair it with

A structured path for what to learn in which order, such as a university course syllabus or a roadmap, then use this list to find free materials for each step.

Common questions

Is everything really legal? The project only accepts resources that are free and legally available, such as books the authors publish online.

Are there videos? Yes. The free courses list includes video courses, and there are podcast and screencast lists.

Can I add a resource? Yes. The contributing guide explains the rules, and beginner friendly issues are labelled.

Best for: students and self-learners on a budget who want free, legal textbooks and courses for any language or subject.