I built "Wax On, Python", a browser-based Python 'dojo' that focuses on syntax precision through repetition and muscle memory.
The Problem: When learning to code, it's easy to copy-paste or gloss over syntax. Many tutorials explain the logic but don't force you to actually type the code. Sometimes beginners encounter basic syntax errors (missing colons, wrong indentation, mismatched braces etc) once they graduate to script writing.
The Solution: Inspired by a classic fictional tale, this app takes an approach as if lessons are given by a 'strict sensei': - Drills: You are given code snippets and must type them exactly character-for-character. - Immediate Feedback: Typo? 'FOCUS!' 'SLOPPY.' Correct? 'GOOD.' - Muscle Memory: starting with simple print statements and building up to loops, classes, and eventually pandas dataframes. - Philosophy: Between drills, you get philosophical Sensei wisdom explaining the why behind the concepts (eg: 'Variables are buckets', 'Indentations are choices' etc).
The tech... - Runs entirely in browser. Code executes locally so no servers or latency. - Runs a Pyodide Python REPL in-browser so user can see real errors as they make them. Includes Pandas package for data science drills. - Stack: vanilla js, HTML, css.
Why I made it I run a Python Learning Group at work and wanted a good engaging starting point for anyone who is curious about Python regardless of their professional or technical background - the goal being to make syntax automatic so you don't have to think about it, freeing the mind for higher-level logic, and giving people a sense of the learning journey they are about to embark on.
Any feedback on curriculum pacing and the "tough love" approach would be helpful - does it work in your case? would love to hear it.
Note: the app was actually blocked at work due to strict wasm rules implemented in Zscaler :(