New visual language for teaching kids to code

Hacker News

Pickcode is a new language and editor for getting kids started with coding. The code editing experience is totally structured, where you select choices from menus rather than typing. I made Pickcode after experiences teaching kids both block coding (Scratch, App Inventor) and Python. To me, block coding is too far removed from regular coding for kids to make the connection. Pickcode provides a much clearer transition path for students to Python/JS/Java. Our target market is middle/early high school kids, and that’s who we’ve tested the product with during development. On the site, you can do tutorials to make chatbots, animated drawings, and 2D games. We have a full Intro to Pickcode course, as well as an Intro to Python course where you make regular console programs with a regular text editor. There are 30 or so free lessons accessible with an account, and the rest are paywalled for $5/month. For professional programmers, the editor is probably pretty frustrating to use (no vim keybindings!), but I hope it’s at least interesting to play with from a UI perspective. If you have kids aged 10-14, I’d love any feedback you have from trying it out with them. I love talking to users, reach out at charlie@pickcode.io!

Visit product View on Hacker NewsNov 21, 2023

Share card

Actual performance

420points

170comments

Made the leaderboard

Launch Intel predictions

Analyze your own launch →

Indie HackersFits the IH revenue-focused audience · Strong signals: started · Missing: supports, reddit linkedin, podcasting

88%88% predicted probability of success on Indie Hackers, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

best fitHighest predicted score across all platforms for this description.

Hacker NewsStrong engagement from HN community · Strong signals: ide, io · Missing: https docs, excited, just released

77%77% predicted probability of success on Hacker News, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

nativeThis product was originally launched on this platform.

Product HuntOn track for Day 1 leaderboard · Strong signals: user, new, visual · Missing: mac, agents, macos

52%52% predicted probability of success on Product Hunt, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

TrustMRRLess likely to generate early MRR · Strong signals: month, users · Missing: mobile apps, ios, personal

41%41% predicted probability of success on TrustMRR, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

AppSumoMay struggle as an AppSumo deal · Strong signals: users · Missing: plus, platform, intuitive

36%36% predicted probability of success on AppSumo, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Acquire.comPre-revenue stage for this audience · Missing: arr, mrr, revenue

22%22% predicted probability of success on Acquire.com, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

BetaListMay not resonate with beta-testers · Strong signals: chat · Missing: web3, crypto, cryptocurrency

0%0% predicted probability of success on BetaList, based on ML models trained on real launch data.

Correct prediction on native model

Similar products

New language for teaching kids to code76%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

New language for teaching kids to code

Hacker News4

Robotopia – Teaching Kids to Code Showcase47%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Robotopia – Teaching Kids to Code Showcase

Hacker News1

Junior Boss56%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Teaching kids entrepreneurship, through practice

Indie Hackers2b2c

A visual encyclopedia for kids made with DALL·E65%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

A visual encyclopedia for kids made with DALL·E

Hacker News22

Codera52%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Teaching kids how to code in a fun and engaging way

Indie Hackers7education

Sketchbook for Teaching C49%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Sketchbook for Teaching C

Hacker News2

Flake schemas – teaching Nix about your flake outputs44%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Flake schemas – teaching Nix about your flake outputs

Hacker News32

Teaching16%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Teaching

Indie Hackers

Rebel Coding41%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Teaching code to those outside the system

Indie Hackers2books

Hypertune – Visual, functional, statically-typed configuration language63%Launch Intel prediction score: how likely this product is to succeed on its source platform, based on its name, tagline, and description.

Hypertune – Visual, functional, statically-typed configuration language

Hacker News38

Browse all products Analyze your launch