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Show HN: PyKidos, Teach Your Kid Python in the Browser

pykidos.github.io

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Re: Show HN: PyKidos, Teach Your Kid Python in the Browser

#2

Post by rossant »

Hi HN! I'm pleased to present PyKidos [1], a quick-and-dirty web application I built in a few days to teach my 8-year-old kid basic programming concepts using Python.

I tried several existing apps but couldn't find one that met all my criteria:

- Fully browser-based, no need to install anything

- Supports Python

- Open-source and customizable

- Simple UI/UX

- Includes simple graphical elements like a grid (my kid thought my plain IPython terminal was too "boring")

So I just built my own.

PyKidos provides a playground where you can introduce various programming and math concepts to your child, such as:

- Variables

- Basic mathematical operations

- Loops

- Conditional statements

- Modular arithmetic

- Vectors

- Functions

- Coordinate systems

- Color systems

- Trigonometric functions

- Matrices

- And more.

Features:

- Completely client-side: data is stored only in your browser (localStorage).

- Utilizes Pyodide [2], a CPython port to WebAssembly, with support for NumPy and other scientific libraries.

- Includes a Unicode emoji picker and color picker.

- Allows manipulation of a grid (cell colors and text, including Unicode emojis) using Python.

- Reacts to click and keyboard events within the grid.

- Supports animations.

- Enables local download of your Python scripts.

- Facilitates code sharing through a URL containing the entire code and data.

PyKidos is still quite rough around the edges since I primarily built it for my own needs, but I hope it proves helpful to others. In particular, I didn't take the time to ensure it runs smoothly on mobile devices, different browsers, or operating systems.

Feel free to report issues, ask questions, offer suggestions, or submit pull requests.

[1] https://pykidos.github.io/

[2] https://pyodide.org/en/stable/

Re: Show HN: PyKidos, Teach Your Kid Python in the Browser

#3

Post by jtwaleson »

Looks nice! Will try it with my kids later :)

If you’re interested in teaching kids Python, also take a look at Hedy. It’s a gradual language that exposed more programming paradigms with each level. It’s used a lot in classroom settings.

Full disclosure: I’ve contributed a couple of commits.

Re: Show HN: PyKidos, Teach Your Kid Python in the Browser

#5

Post by dgacmu »

If you want some curricular additions to this, you might try CMU's CS academy: https://academy.cs.cmu.edu/parents

You have to request a 'mentor' account (or if they're homeschooled you can request a teacher account). The CS1 curriculum is aimed a little older - high school students - but, from experience, a bright elementary school student can start it, though it may drag a little (the starting lessons are designed to be quick for older students).

Re: Show HN: PyKidos, Teach Your Kid Python in the Browser

#7

Post by lemonlym »

dgacmu wrote: post #5

If you want some curricular additions to this, you might try CMU's CS academy: https://academy.cs.cmu.edu/parents You have to request a 'mentor' account (or if they're homeschooled you can request a teacher account). The CS1 curriculum is aimed a little older - high school students - but, from experience, a bright elementary school student can start it, though it may drag a little (the starting lessons are designed t…

Additionally, Stanford's Code in Place has open accessed all of their python materials https://codeinplace.stanford.edu

Re: Show HN: PyKidos, Teach Your Kid Python in the Browser

#8

Post by [deleted] »

dgacmu wrote: post #5

If you want some curricular additions to this, you might try CMU's CS academy: https://academy.cs.cmu.edu/parents You have to request a 'mentor' account (or if they're homeschooled you can request a teacher account). The CS1 curriculum is aimed a little older - high school students - but, from experience, a bright elementary school student can start it, though it may drag a little (the starting lessons are designed t…

[deleted]
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