No prior bioinformatics experience is assumed, but a strong aptitude towards bioinformatics is required.
The first week of the course covers the basics of the Linux/UNIX command line from scratch, so you do not need to arrive already knowing how to use a terminal.
That said, the course will move quickly, and you will get the most out of it if you are already comfortable with the general concept of coding — for example, having written a simple script in any language, or understanding ideas like variables, loops, and following step-by-step instructions in a file. If you have never programmed before, spending an hour or two beforehand with one of the introductory resources below will help you settle in faster.