Hedy

What it does

Hedy is a free, open source textual programming language for classroom use. It teaches coding step by step, introducing one concept and its syntax at a time, and supports 47 languages. It is aimed at kids aged 10 and up and their teachers.

Hedy helps schools move students from playful tools like Scratch to real text based code. It runs in the browser, so there is nothing to install, and it works on phones and tablets too. The language is gradual: concepts are first introduced with little syntax and then refined. Hedy supports 47 languages, including Dutch, Spanish, Arabic, Turkish, Chinese and Hindi, so learners can program in their own language. Teachers can use the free built-in lesson plans or write their own lessons and load them into the interface. A free teacher account also gives access to the teacher's manual. Hedy is open source and free to use, with donations accepted to keep the server running. It is not a full replacement for Python, but a stepping stone toward it. Check which languages are available for your class before you start.