How to learn to program in Python while playing with CodeCombat

Python is one of the most robust and widely used programming languages ​​in the world, but its main advantage revolves around its simple syntax that allows learning to program in python is quite simple. There is even a tool called CodeCombat that allows us to know in depth the wonders of this language while we play in a quite fun adventure.

Learn to program in python

One of the programming languages ​​that I recommend to start learning to program is Python, which I use to teach the children I train (with ages ranging from 7 to 12 years) since it has a super simple, easy-to-read, multi-paradigm, multi-platform syntax and a «pythonic»That invites you to program in a clear and organized way.

It is good when learning to program in Python that we are clear about the philosophy and principles of programming in this language, its creator Peters Team describes it quite well in what is known as The Zen of Python an interesting manifesto that we quote below:

• Beautiful is better than ugly.
• Explicit is better than implicit.
• Simple is better than complex.
• Complex is better than complicated.
• Flat is better than nested.
• Scattered is better than dense.
• Legibility counts.
• Special cases are not special enough to break the rules.
• The practical beats the pure.
• Mistakes should never be allowed to pass silently.
• Unless they have been explicitly silenced.
• Faced with ambiguity, reject the temptation to guess.
• There should be one - and preferably only one - obvious way to do it.
• Although that way may not be obvious at first unless you are Dutch.
• Now is better than ever.
• Although it is often never better than right now.
• If the implementation is difficult to explain, it is a bad idea.
• If the implementation is easy to explain, it might be a good idea.
• Namespaces are a great idea. Let's do more of those things!

Knowing and understanding each of these «commandments»When programming in Python it is convenient that we get down to work and begin to know the basic principles, bearing in mind that the best way to study a programming language is by practicing it.

Here multiple articles have been written on the blog that help us get started in the Python world, from follow-up to a complete Guide to Learning Python, going through excellent tutorials for the Developing applications with Python 3, Glade and GTK + 3 on Windows, as well as an article on  First Steps with Python + Qt and highlighting guides that teach us Program a bot for IRC, perform local backups with rsync, among others. Similarly, we have published a large number of reviews of applications made with this programming language, so we are convinced that our readers can get the appropriate information to immerse themselves in this interesting world.

The information provided here on the blog can be easily complemented with excellent video tutorials and complete courses published for free at youtube , reference books or the same python wiki. But I feel the need to emphasize that I consider that the best way is for you to start playing CodeCombat and then as you go, complementing the learning with the above.

Finally, I encourage you to give yourself the opportunity to learn to program in Python, surely you will not regret it.

What is CodeCombat?

CodeCombat is an open source platform that allows you to learn to program in python while playing a fun multiplayer game. The platform has a large number of characters, with which the user will have to advance through the various levels where you face difficult challenges and opponents, to meet the objectives of each level you must use commands typical of the python programming language .

This great game immerses us in the world of programming from the first level, where you must write real code and meet objectives that will allow you to learn the basic notions of programming. As the game progresses, new sentences and functions will appear that will enrich your programming skills.

CodeCombat manages to familiarize its users with the python programming language in a natural and accelerated way, since the game promotes interaction, discovery, and learning through trial and error techniques. With the passage of time the user begins to master programming skills and also his logical thoughts develop which allows him to better analyze any problem.

It is important to note that in addition to Python with CodeCombat We will learn all the basic principles of Computer Science and other programming technologies such as JavaScript, HTML 5, CSS, jQuery, Bootstrap.

CodeCombat in the cloud or on our local server?

CodeCombat is an excellent platform in the free cloud, which is managed by a great team, who affirm that «Programming is doing magic. It is the ability to create things from the imagination. We started CodeCombat for students to experience magic on their fingers by write code.. "

In his online platform You can play at all levels of CodeCombat, in addition to that you have a large amount of documentation related to python, mainly I prefer to use CodeCombat directly from the cloud platform because it has teacher roles, students and excellent user management that They allow us to keep track of the progress of our students at any time, and users can also access the game from any browser.

Now those who prefer host the CodeCombat platform on your own servers can do it without any problem, for this you must enter the github from CodeCombat where you will find all the necessary information to have our own installation of this excellent learning platform.

We encourage the community to use this tool and that we begin to motivate our children to learn to program, which without a doubt is an activity that should be mandatory in the times we live in.