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Yeah, I teach python to elementary and middle schoolers. The first lesson is getting everything installed and maybe explaining the basics of how files work on c

Yeah, I teach python to elementary and middle schoolers. The first lesson is getting everything installed and maybe explaining the basics of how files work on computers. PythonAnywhere is a really good idea though, I should look into that...

xapata 7y ago
https://repl.it/ https://repl.it/ is good too.
- _fullpint 7y ago
  Absolutely -- one of the tools I wish more classrooms used. Even in a CS program, its surprising how difficult it is for many students to provision the correct software.
- Wowfunhappy 7y ago
  I wish there was something like repl.it but with an even more basic UI (but which still allowed saving and sharing of programs). Super-beginners don't need version control or a debugger, and I worry that extra visual noise draws away brain power when you're starting out. We use Trinket.io at my Girls Who Code club (or did before Coronavirus mayhem shut it down). It has the simpler interface, but one huge flaw—the free version is some kind of weird hybrid interpreter that will attempt to run both python 2 and python 3 code (in the same program, even).
  - amasad 7y ago
    Repl.it CEO here, I'm curious which noise are you talking about? Here is how the empty python environment looks like (editor, console, and a huge green run button): https://answer-on-hn.amasad.repl.co/python.png https://answer-on-hn.amasad.repl.co/python.png We continue to test with kids and they intuitively get it with little instructions. If you want to make the environment even simpler just add "?lite=1" to the url and it will look like this: https://answer-on-hn.amasad.repl.co/lite.png https://answer-on-hn.amasad.repl.co/lite.png
    - Wowfunhappy 7y ago
      Thank you! What I really want is that left sidebar gone (Files, Version Control, Packages, Debugger, Settings). Kids starting out don't need any of it.
      - amasad 7y ago
        Oh ok. I'll think about that. Slightly off topic but I just made a BASIC environment designed for kids learning to code. The theory is BASIC is still one of the best way languages to start with. Let me know if you try it: - https://repl.it/languages/basic https://repl.it/languages/basic - docs: https://docs.repl.it/misc/basic https://docs.repl.it/misc/basic
- reuven 7y ago
  I must admit that I had heard of repl.it in the past, but never gave it a thought. I tend to use Jupyter because it's easy to sho, relatively easy to use, and I can distribute its documents. But installing it gives newcomers a lot of trouble, which is a shame. I'll look more at repl.it! I'm not sure if/when/how I'll use it, but knowing about additional, newbie-friendly tools is crucial in my line of work, and helps me to improve my classes.

xapata 7y ago

https://repl.it/ https://repl.it/ is good too.

_fullpint 7y ago
Absolutely -- one of the tools I wish more classrooms used. Even in a CS program, its surprising how difficult it is for many students to provision the correct software.
Wowfunhappy 7y ago
I wish there was something like repl.it but with an even more basic UI (but which still allowed saving and sharing of programs). Super-beginners don't need version control or a debugger, and I worry that extra visual noise draws away brain power when you're starting out. We use Trinket.io at my Girls Who Code club (or did before Coronavirus mayhem shut it down). It has the simpler interface, but one huge flaw—the free version is some kind of weird hybrid interpreter that will attempt to run both python 2 and python 3 code (in the same program, even).
- amasad 7y ago
  Repl.it CEO here, I'm curious which noise are you talking about? Here is how the empty python environment looks like (editor, console, and a huge green run button): https://answer-on-hn.amasad.repl.co/python.png https://answer-on-hn.amasad.repl.co/python.png We continue to test with kids and they intuitively get it with little instructions. If you want to make the environment even simpler just add "?lite=1" to the url and it will look like this: https://answer-on-hn.amasad.repl.co/lite.png https://answer-on-hn.amasad.repl.co/lite.png
  - Wowfunhappy 7y ago
    Thank you! What I really want is that left sidebar gone (Files, Version Control, Packages, Debugger, Settings). Kids starting out don't need any of it.
    - amasad 7y ago
      Oh ok. I'll think about that. Slightly off topic but I just made a BASIC environment designed for kids learning to code. The theory is BASIC is still one of the best way languages to start with. Let me know if you try it: - https://repl.it/languages/basic https://repl.it/languages/basic - docs: https://docs.repl.it/misc/basic https://docs.repl.it/misc/basic
reuven 7y ago
I must admit that I had heard of repl.it in the past, but never gave it a thought. I tend to use Jupyter because it's easy to sho, relatively easy to use, and I can distribute its documents. But installing it gives newcomers a lot of trouble, which is a shame. I'll look more at repl.it! I'm not sure if/when/how I'll use it, but knowing about additional, newbie-friendly tools is crucial in my line of work, and helps me to improve my classes.