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Learn to Code From Day One - 10 Levels, Step by Step

For complete beginners, kids and grown-ups: a practice computer that shows every step, PlayBuddy and PlayType beside you, help when you slip, and a test with a sticker at the end of each level.

Start: Computers follow instructionsHow the lessons work
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🖥️ Meet Your ComputerL1Steps, files, folders, paths and your first look at the terminal.

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7 lessons · Learn → Practice → Test · about 5 minutes each · free

How the lessons work

Each lesson takes about five minutes. The card at the top says one new idea in a few words, and the board below is where you try it: a robot that follows your steps, a pretend file explorer, a path builder, from lesson 5 a practice terminal, then a code editor for Python, a web page builder, and Git save points beside the terminal. PlayBuddy and PlayType stand beside the board and say what to look at. The first time you do something, a green ring shows where to click; after that you do it on your own, and if you slip twice the ring comes back.

Everything happens on a pretend computer that lives in your browser, so nothing you click or type can touch your real files. The files carry over from lesson to lesson: the folder you make in lesson 3 is still there when you open the terminal in lesson 5. Stars and progress are saved in this browser only. There is no account and no signup.

Level 1: Meet Your Computer

Steps, files, folders, paths and your first look at the terminal. The level has 7 lessons:

  1. Computers follow instructions: Program a robot chef and hunt your first bug.
  2. Everything is a file: Open files and read their endings: .png, .txt, .mp3, .py.
  3. Folders keep things tidy: Make your first project folder and move files into it.
  4. Paths: every file has an address: Follow, build and type a file’s address.
  5. Meet the terminal: Type your first commands: dir, cd and cd ..
  6. Practice: tidy and find: A mission: tidy the files, then find them again.
  7. Level 1 test: Find the Cat: Use everything from Level 1 to find the cat.

The level ends with a test, Find the Cat: five quick tasks from the lessons before it with no green ring, then a build where you find the cat picture in your project using only the terminal. Finish it and you earn the Cat Finder sticker.

Level 2: Talk to Your Computer: PowerShell

Move around and build things just by typing. The level has 8 lessons, on the same files Level 1 left:

  1. Where am I? (pwd): Read the prompt, and ask the terminal where it stands.
  2. Look around (dir and ls): List a folder, read the Mode column, peek without moving.
  3. Walk around (cd): Walk in, walk back up, jump home with ~, and use whole paths.
  4. Build things (mkdir and ni): Make folders and files with commands and build a tree.
  5. Write and read (echo and cat): Write into a file with >, add with >>, read with cat.
  6. Speed tricks: Tab, the up arrow, cls and Ctrl+C: type less and go faster.
  7. Practice: the treasure mission: Hide a treasure, then find it again with commands.
  8. Level 2 test: Command Captain: Move, build, write and read, all with commands.

Level 3: Terminal Power and Safety

Copy, move and delete safely, and read errors calmly. The level has 9 lessons, on the same files Level 2 left:

  1. Copy, move and rename: Twins with copy, trips with move, new names with ren.
  2. Delete carefully (rm): Look first, then delete. The terminal has no recycle bin.
  3. Commands have parts: Command, what, how: spot the parts, and ask "what if?" first.
  4. Dialects: PowerShell, CMD, Mac: ls or dir, cp or copy: many names, one command.
  5. Red text is a clue: Read an error message calmly, then fix the command.
  6. Stop signs: Spot the commands that need a grown-up before you press Enter.
  7. Running programs: Run a Python file from the terminal, then write your own.
  8. Practice: the clean-up mission: Tidy a messy Downloads folder the safe way.
  9. Level 3 test: Safe Hands: Copy, rename, delete safely and run a program.

Level 4: Python First Steps

Write and run real code: print, variables, input. The level has 9 lessons, on the same files Level 3 left:

  1. Hello, Python! (print): Your first line of real code: print shows words on the screen.
  2. Variables: boxes with labels: Keep a value under a name, change it, and use it.
  3. Numbers and maths: Add, take away, times, and two kinds of divide.
  4. Programs that listen (input): Ask a question, wait for the answer, and use it.
  5. Your first .py file: Save code in a file and run it from the terminal.
  6. Error detective: Read Python’s red text and fix four bugs.
  7. Project: Mad Libs: Build a silly story machine with input and f-strings.
  8. Practice: the snack shop: Prices, totals and change, all in Python.
  9. Level 4 test: Python Starter: Print, variables, maths, input and f-strings.

Level 5: Python Thinks and Repeats

If and else, loops, lists and functions. The level has 10 lessons, on the same files Level 4 left:

  1. Decisions: if and else: Umbrella or sunglasses? Let the program decide.
  2. Comparisons and indents: True or False with == and <, and why four spaces matter.
  3. for loops: Repeat lines for each number in a range.
  4. while loops: Repeat until the test is False, and stop a loop that never ends.
  5. Lists: Many values under one name, counted from zero.
  6. Functions: Write a recipe once with def, use it again and again.
  7. Import a toolbox (random): Bring in a module and roll dice with random.
  8. Project: Guess the Number: Build a game that gives hints until you win.
  9. Practice: little programs: Decisions, loops, lists and functions, mixed.
  10. Level 5 test: Loop Master: if, loops, lists and functions, then a shopping list.

Level 6: Make a Web Page

HTML, CSS and a pinch of JavaScript. The level has 8 lessons, on the same files Level 5 left:

  1. How the web works: Browsers, servers and your first web page.
  2. HTML tags: Titles, paragraphs and lists: tags open and close.
  3. CSS: colours and style: Colour the page with rules in style.css.
  4. A pinch of JavaScript: Make a button change the page when you click.
  5. The folder of a site: Build my-site: index.html, style.css and images.
  6. Project: About Me page: A page all about you, with alt text and colours.
  7. Practice: Broken Page: Match tags, copy a card and fix a broken page.
  8. Level 6 test: Web Maker: HTML, CSS and JavaScript, then a mini page.

Level 7: Save Points: Git and GitHub

Never lose work. Undo anything. The level has 8 lessons, on the same files Level 6 left:

  1. Why save points?: Turn a folder into a Git project with git init.
  2. Your first commit: Pick files with git add, save them with git commit.
  3. Time travel with Git: Read the log, see a diff, undo with git restore.
  4. Branches: Try an idea on a branch, then merge it into main.
  5. GitHub and git push: Send your save points to a pretend GitHub.
  6. Secrets stay home: Keep keys and passwords out of Git with .gitignore.
  7. Practice: save point drills: Undo a mess, judge commit messages, spot secrets.
  8. Level 7 test: Save Point Pro: Init, add, commit, branch, merge and push.

Level 8: Meet Your AI Coding Agent

What an agent is, and how to ask clearly. The level has 9 lessons, on the same files Level 7 left:

  1. Chatbot or agent?: A chatbot talks. An agent acts, after you say yes.
  2. What agents can and cannot do: Fast, but it can be wrong. Read every change.
  3. Getting set up (with a grown-up): What install means, official pages, no passwords.
  4. The 4-part prompt: Where, goal, done and limits: order like a pizza.
  5. Vague or clear?: Spot vague prompts, and write clear ones.
  6. Give it context: Files, what you tried, and the exact error.
  7. Small steps: One small change, test it, save it, then the next.
  8. Practice: boss the agent: Prompts, vague or clear, allow or deny.
  9. Level 8 test: Agent Starter: Agents, prompts and safe choices.

Level 9: Be the Boss: Review, Approve, Plan

Check the changes, allow or deny, plan first. The level has 9 lessons, on the same files Level 8 left:

  1. Reading a diff: Red lines go out, green lines come in.
  2. Approve or deny: What I asked, small, safe? Then allow.
  3. Danger spotting: Commands that delete lots, send secrets or change safety.
  4. Plan mode: Read the plan and fix it before anything changes.
  5. House rules for your agent: A rules file, read every time: CLAUDE.md.
  6. When it goes wrong: Stay calm, see what changed, roll back with Git.
  7. Test it yourself: Run it and look: done means you saw it work.
  8. Practice: be the boss: Diffs, danger, plans, rules and roll backs.
  9. Level 9 test: Agent Boss: Review, approve, plan and test.

Level 10: Build Your Own Thing

Plan, build, test and share your own project. The level has 7 lessons, on the same files Level 9 left:

  1. Pick and plan: One small idea, a few features, and a plan.
  2. Set up the project: A folder, Git and a README for Cat Facts.
  3. Build round 1: A first version that works, then a save point.
  4. Build round 2: Add style, test it, find the bug and fix it.
  5. Polish and share: Check every word, then push to GitHub.
  6. Real-computer checklist: A grown-up, official pages, read before you allow.
  7. Level 10 test: Ship It: Plan, build, test, save and push.

Each level ends with a test and its own sticker, and a free certificate you can print. The last levels, working with an AI coding agent and building your own project, are on their way.

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