Which coding platforms do you recommend for 6-12th Clubs?

Starting in 2024, we recommend that Clubs use the free IDE from CodeHS or the free version of Trinket.io instead of Replit to complete Learn to Code Activities that use text-based programming languages. Both have an easy-to-use interface, support multiple programming languages, and have been used widely in many schools and districts in the US. Students can sign up for free accounts on both platforms. For CodeHS, Facilitators can also create a free teacher account and invite students into a section or students can create free, individual student account to access the IDE. In the past, we have recommended and used Replit as our primary IDE, but due to some recent platform changes, we no longer recommend it for Clubs. You can see this FAQ for more details and a timeline of curriculum updates. For our Learn to Code Activities that use block-based programming languages, we recommend using Scratch. 

How did we come to these suggestions? We’re so glad you asked! In selecting an IDE to recommend, we consider the criteria below to ensure safe, smooth, and equitable access:

• Browser-Based: Can it be accessed and run entirely in the browser? Could students with Chromebooks use it?
• Data Privacy Policy: Does it meet the requirements of our Data Privacy Policy? 
• Firewalls: What is the likelihood that schools, districts, or countries will block this site? 
• Variety of Languages and Libraries: Does this platform allow students to work in multiple programming languages to simplify instruction for Facilitators? Are external libraries available to support more technical projects? 
• Cost: Are Club Facilitators and students able to access the platform for free? If not, can GWC sustainably provide access to the platform?
• Stability: How often do updates/feature rollouts occur? Does that platform seem to offer reliability and stability for students and Facilitators?
• Interface/Usability: Is the interface easy to use for beginners while still allowing students with more experience to build projects with more complexity?
• Project Submission/Sharing: How easy is it for students to share projects with Facilitators? Is there a public facing link option to share with the broader community when appropriate?
• Collaboration: Can students invite others to work on their code in real time synchronously?