JetBrains Academy
The place for learning and teaching computer science your way
Edu Courses on JetBrains Marketplace
In our April post, we introduced our new course repository – JetBrains Marketplace. This time we’d like to tell you more about the first four educational courses that you can find there. They have been with us for a while, but we would like to introduce them one more time, as this new chapter of their lives begins. The content they present is the result of both original development and material created by members of the community, adapted to our format.
Introduction to Python
Our first and the most conventional course is Introduction to Python. This is not just a tour of one of the most commonly used programming languages, but of programming itself. It is not as sophisticated and deep as a Computer Science class, but it walks the learner through the basic concepts required to write code.
In this course, you will learn the basics of Python, such as variables and their operations, strings and other data structures, boolean operators, conditions, and control flow. You will get experience implementing loops, functions, and classes, using parts of your code as imported modules, and working with text files.
To join the Introduction to Python course, follow the instructions here.
Scala Tutorial
This course adapts a collection of open-source interactive exercises for use in an IDE. For hands-on exercises like these, we believe some learners will benefit from working with an IDE-based interpretation of the materials. This course is just the beginning of a larger journey in learning the different technologies based on the Scala programming language. The full list of courses is available at Scala Exercises project. The one we adapted is based on the MOOC on Scala created by professor Martin Odersky, the author of the language himself.
In this course, you will learn about Scala’s basic terms and types, proper naming, conditional expressions in loops, lexical scopes, and OOP. You will find out the difference between classes and case classes, learn to apply recursive functions and structure information, and implement higher order functions. Throughout the course, you will discover many tips and tricks to make your code flexible and more optimized.
To join the Scala Tutorial course, follow the instructions here.
Kotlin Koans
This series of exercises is designed to familiarize you with the syntax of Kotlin. Each exercise is created as a failing unit test, and your job is to make it pass. The course does not offer the most conventional learning material – in a way it emulates the learning process of an engineer trying to make something work while reading the documentation. It might not be the most suitable experience for someone just beginning the journey of becoming a programmer, but it’s a time-tested way to get your hands dirty with the technology. The Koans were designed here at JetBrains, and are available both in our Educational Products and in a web-based version.
To join the Kotlin Koans course, follow the instructions here.
Rustlings
The Rustlings course is a perfect example of learning materials created by a passionate and open-armed community. The course contains small exercises to get you used to reading and writing Rust code. The materials are supported by the language documentation and the Rust book – the ultimate guide to all of the core features of the language.
The course receives regular improvements, so it is not always easy for us to keep up. But we recently updated the Edu version of the materials to match version 4.4.0. The adaptation tries to stick closely to the original spirit of rustlings, but it provides a few helpful hints about Rust development inside the IDE.
To join the Rustlings course, follow the instructions here.
One of our main goals is to help knowledge seekers navigate the vast ocean of information available today, making it easier for them to find the most illustrative and immersive material. We believe that the best way to become an engineer is to dive in, roll up your sleeves, and develop a deep understanding of the technology you are working with. This is where our Educational Products help most.
We will continue to expand and improve the materials available on our platform, and we are glad to invite anyone willing to share their knowledge. Our team will do its best to help you publish your own learning materials. If you are willing to contribute to existing materials, our repo is out there as well.
You can also share your feedback here in the comments, on Twitter, or through our issue tracker. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas!
Your Educational Products team
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