# 20 Free Distributed Systems Courses Available in the cs-video-courses Repository > Explore 20 free distributed systems courses from top universities like MIT and Carnegie Mellon. Access free video lectures and enhance your skills in this comprehensive guide. - Repository: [Developer-Y/cs-video-courses](https://github.com/Developer-Y/cs-video-courses) - Tags: list - Published: 2026-03-02 --- **The Developer-Y/cs-video-courses repository maintains a curated index of 20 university-level distributed systems courses from institutions including MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Washington, all accessible via free video lectures hosted on YouTube and other platforms.** The **cs-video-courses** repository serves as a comprehensive directory of computer science video lectures. For engineers and students seeking to master distributed computing concepts, the [`README.md`](https://github.com/Developer-Y/cs-video-courses/blob/main/README.md) file at the repository root contains a dedicated section cataloging **distributed systems courses** from leading academic institutions worldwide. ## MIT Distributed Systems Curriculum The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers its legendary graduate course in two archived editions within the repository. According to the source code in [`README.md`](https://github.com/Developer-Y/cs-video-courses/blob/main/README.md), line 49 links to the **6.824 – Distributed Systems (Spring 2015)** iteration, while line 50 references the **Spring 2020** version. Both courses cover consensus protocols, fault tolerance, and systems like MapReduce and Raft. ## Carnegie Mellon and Top-Tier Distributed Systems Courses Carnegie Mellon University provides **CMU 15-440/640 – Distributed Systems** (Spring 2022), indexed at line 62 in the README. This course emphasizes practical implementation of distributed algorithms and cloud infrastructure. Brown University contributes **CSCI 1380 – Distributed Computer Systems** (Spring 2016) at line 64, focusing on the architectural principles of distributed computing environments and middleware design. ## Public Research University Distributed Systems Courses The repository includes several **distributed systems courses** from prominent public institutions: - **University of Massachusetts Amherst**: **CS 677 – Distributed Operating Systems** (Spring 2024) — Line 47 - **University of Waterloo**: **CS 436 – Distributed Computer Systems** — Line 48 - **University of Washington**: **CSEP 552 – PMP Distributed Systems** (Spring 2013) at line 53, and **CSE 490H – Scalable Systems: Design & Implementation of Large-Scale Clusters** (Fall 2008) at line 54 - **University of California Santa Cruz**: **CSE 138 – Distributed Systems** (Spring 2020) — Line 61 - **University of North Carolina**: **UNC Comp533 – Distributed Systems** (Spring 2020) — Line 63 - **Georgia Institute of Technology**: **CS7210 – Distributed Computing** — Line 68 ## Cloud Computing and Distributed Systems Architecture For practitioners focused on cloud infrastructure and data management, the repository lists: - **UIUC**: **MOOC – Cloud Computing Concepts** (Line 55), covering virtualization and distributed storage - **HPI (Hasso Plattner Institute)**: **Middleware and Distributed Systems** (WS 2009/10) by Dr. Martin von Löwis — Line 60 - **TU Braunschweig**: **Distributed Data Management** — Line 58 ## Distributed Systems Algorithms and Theory Theoretical foundations and reliable algorithms are addressed through several specialized entries: - **Distributed Algorithms** (Canvas course) — Line 52 - **EdX KTHx ID2203 – Reliable Distributed Algorithms** — Line 57 - **Distributed Algorithms** by Jukka Suomela — Line 66 Additionally, the **Distributed Systems Lecture Series** by Martin Kleppmann (Line 65) and the general **Distributed Systems Lecture Series** (Line 51) provide comprehensive algorithmic deep dives. **Prof. Pallab Dasgupta** offers a dedicated **Distributed Systems** course at Line 56. ## How to Embed Course Videos in Your Projects Since these **distributed systems courses** typically host video content on YouTube, you can embed them directly into documentation or learning platforms. The repository suggests standard iframe embeds for playlists. To embed the MIT 6.824 playlist: ```html ``` For Markdown-based documentation, use a direct link: ```markdown [6.824 – Distributed Systems (MIT Spring 2015)](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkcQbKbegkMqiWf7nF8apfMRL4P4sw8UL) ``` These snippets work in GitHub-flavored Markdown, static site generators, and learning management systems. ## Summary The **cs-video-courses** repository provides immediate access to 20 high-quality **distributed systems courses**: - **MIT 6.824** (2015 and 2020 editions) covering core distributed systems theory and consensus - **Carnegie Mellon 15-440/640** for systems implementation practice - **University of Washington** courses on both distributed systems and large-scale cluster architecture - **Cloud computing** MOOCs from UIUC and specialized middleware content from HPI - **Algorithmic foundations** via KTHx, Jukka Suomela, and Martin Kleppmann lecture series All entries are indexed in [`README.md`](https://github.com/Developer-Y/cs-video-courses/blob/main/README.md) between lines 47 and 68, with direct hyperlinks to video playlists and course materials. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Are these distributed systems courses free to access? Yes. According to the [`README.md`](https://github.com/Developer-Y/cs-video-courses/blob/main/README.md) source in the Developer-Y/cs-video-courses repository, all 20 listed courses link to publicly available video content on platforms like YouTube and EdX. No authentication or tuition is required to view the lecture recordings. ### Which course covers consensus protocols like Raft and Paxos? The **MIT 6.824 – Distributed Systems** courses (lines 49 and 50) provide the most comprehensive coverage of consensus protocols, including detailed implementations of Raft, Paxos, and Byzantine fault tolerance. The **KTHx ID2203 – Reliable Distributed Algorithms** course (line 57) also covers formal verification of these protocols. ### Is there a course specifically about cloud computing architectures? The **UIUC MOOC – Cloud Computing Concepts** (line 55) focuses specifically on cloud infrastructure, virtualization, and distributed storage systems. Additionally, the **University of Washington CSE 490H** course (line 54) covers the design of large-scale clusters used in modern cloud datacenters. ### How do I contribute a new distributed systems course to the list? The repository maintains contribution guidelines in [`NOTES.md`](https://github.com/Developer-Y/cs-video-courses/blob/main/NOTES.md). To add a new course, submit a pull request modifying [`README.md`](https://github.com/Developer-Y/cs-video-courses/blob/main/README.md) to include the course title, institution, term, and direct video link in the distributed systems section, following the existing format established at lines 47–68.