Exercism
Learn coding through practice with 65+ languages
What is Exercism? Complete Overview
Exercism is an interactive coding education platform that helps users learn programming through practice and mentorship. The platform offers tracks for over 65 programming languages, covering everything from coding fundamentals to specialized areas like front-end development. Exercism's unique approach combines coding exercises with community mentoring, allowing learners to receive feedback on their solutions. The platform serves beginners looking to learn programming fundamentals, intermediate coders wanting to expand their language skills, and even experienced developers seeking to refine their craft. Exercism addresses key pain points in coding education by providing structured learning paths, immediate practical application through exercises, and personalized feedback from mentors.
Exercism Interface & Screenshots
Exercism Official screenshot of the tool interface
What Can Exercism Do? Key Features
65+ Language Tracks
Exercism offers comprehensive learning tracks for over 65 programming languages, from popular choices like JavaScript and Python to niche languages. Each track provides progressively challenging exercises tailored to the language's specific paradigms and features.
Coding Fundamentals
The platform includes specialized courses teaching core programming concepts applicable across all languages. These fundamentals help beginners establish strong coding foundations before diving into language-specific features.
Front-end Development
Exercism provides dedicated tracks for front-end technologies, covering HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and modern frameworks. These courses bridge the gap between basic programming knowledge and practical web development skills.
Community Mentoring
A key differentiator is Exercism's mentoring system where experienced developers review and provide feedback on solutions. This personalized guidance helps learners understand best practices and improve their coding style.
Solution Sharing & Favorites
Users can save and revisit their favorite solutions, creating a personal knowledge base. The platform also enables viewing others' solutions to learn different approaches to the same problems.
GitHub Integration
Exercism's GitHub Syncer allows users to automatically back up their solutions to GitHub repositories, maintaining a portfolio of their progress and achievements.
Best Exercism Use Cases & Applications
Career Transition
Professionals switching to tech careers use Exercism to systematically learn programming fundamentals and build practical skills across multiple languages, creating a strong foundation for job applications.
Language Expansion
Experienced developers leverage Exercism to quickly pick up new programming languages through structured exercises and mentor feedback, significantly reducing the learning curve.
Educational Supplement
Computer science students complement their academic studies with Exercism's practical exercises and real-world coding challenges, bridging theory and application.
Code Review Practice
Developers looking to improve their code review skills participate as mentors on Exercism, gaining experience evaluating diverse coding styles and solutions.
How to Use Exercism: Step-by-Step Guide
Sign up for a free account on Exercism's website. Choose whether you want to focus on learning a new language or strengthening fundamentals.
Select your desired language track or fundamental course from the available options. Each track begins with basic concepts and gradually increases in difficulty.
Complete coding exercises directly in your browser or using Exercism's CLI tool. Exercises include detailed instructions and test cases to verify your solution.
Submit your solution for mentor review. Experienced developers will provide feedback on your code's style, efficiency, and correctness.
Iterate on your solution based on feedback, then move to the next exercise. Track your progress through the course milestones.
Explore additional features like GitHub syncing, community discussions, and advanced tracks as you progress in your coding journey.
Exercism Pros and Cons: Honest Review
Pros
Considerations
Is Exercism Worth It? FAQ & Reviews
Yes, Exercism's core features including language tracks, exercises, and mentoring are completely free. The Insiders program offers additional perks through voluntary donations.
After submitting a solution, it enters a queue for mentor review. Experienced volunteers provide feedback on your code, typically within a few days, offering suggestions for improvement.
Yes, Exercism offers a CLI tool that lets you download exercises, work on them locally, and submit solutions without needing constant internet access.
Absolutely. Exercism offers dedicated coding fundamentals tracks designed specifically for beginners with no prior programming experience.
Exercism differentiates itself through its focus on mentorship and feedback. While other platforms may offer more structured courses, Exercism emphasizes practical problem-solving with expert guidance.