Tuesday, March 9, 2010

JavaBat gets Python support, now CodingBat

Wow, well there's a big new feature -- Python support! So now there's online python problems on the 'bat! This is something I've been thinking about for a long time, but it just took a lot of coding. I had to change the name of the site from JavaBat to CodingBat. The name JavaBat sounded silly and weird at first, but I grew fond of it with so much use. So I hope the name CodingBat will grow to make sense, although of course today it sounds a little funny.

There are not as many Python problems as Java problems as yet, but I'm adding them quickly. I wanted to cut the Python capability over to be live so I can see how it works before adding any more. I am, of course, very interested to hear bug reports given the large new features -- email me at nick.parlante@cs.stanford.edu

I had to make the front page look very different .. now it lists some Java sections on the left and some Python sections on the right. I hope this is not too confusing for people accustomed to the old all-Java look. You can get to the old all-Java page by clicking the Java link.

If you don't know Python, try it out for a few problems. You can start playing with the Python Warmup problems where the solutions are available to get a feel for the language. I wrote some basic Python help docs to help you get started.

Since the Python problems are so parallel to the Java problems, it might be an interesting way to learn Python .. since you can look at your own Java solution for a Java problem, and then work out how it goes in Python ...heh, your personal Rosetta stone.