I feel it would be better if the website has a few examples of how people are using it. Also there should be a way to anonymously post code and get feed back.
I'm using it for the Common Lisp exercises. The command line client is nice, keeping you from having to upload your code through a browser or copy pasting.
Basically you are given a set of unit tests and you have to make them pass, so it's good practice for TDD without havingto write the tests. The exercises so far are pretty basic being <10 liners, but it's a fun way to practice your coding.
I did a few exercises a while back in the Python, Ruby, and JS modules. Feedback from other users seems minimal; I only received one comment from another user and one automated comment. I haven't commented on others' code, either, but still, it was good practice.
I've been using the site extensively for the past six months or so. I have about a dozen Python exercises complete, one C++, and about a half-dozen Common Lisp and OCaml exercises to boot.
Some languages get more reviews than others. The big problem is taking the time to review other peoples' code. There isn't a lot of reward for doing that. Solving the challenges and receiving a comment or two is far more rewarding... so it tends to be pretty one-sided in the less-populated corners of the site. The Common Lisp group has been the most vocal for me so far followed by Python.
It's worth mentioning that the project is open source and you can contribute features on github (or add requests to the growing queue)[0].
It's a useful tool for dipping your toes in a new language if you're an experienced programmer. Code reviews are essential for learning the in-grained idioms and conventions of a language that make things easier. I think there's a lot of potential in a site like this if it were able to attract more users and reward reviewers.
I think it depends on how you frame it. Personally, reviewing other people's code on exercism can be an invaluable chance to practice giving feedback on code. I've yet to find a better mechanism for practicing code reviews - and it something that even senior developers can benefit from.
Excerism is a great way to practice giving polite and thoughtful feedback to a captive newbie. I've gotten more practice at code reviews in 15 minutes a day on Exercism than I could have in several weeks at work.
Too true! It's a valuable exercise and worth investing in. My observation was simply that the mechanics of submitting code and reviewing it have different, unequal reward mechanisms at present.
There doesn't appear to be a way for users to provide feedback to reviewers on whether they're being helpful besides leaving a comment. It might also be worthwhile to collect karma for taking the time to give a thoughtful review.
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[ 4.9 ms ] story [ 32.0 ms ] threadBasically you are given a set of unit tests and you have to make them pass, so it's good practice for TDD without havingto write the tests. The exercises so far are pretty basic being <10 liners, but it's a fun way to practice your coding.
Maybe it would be better if they were not quite so intense/vibrant?
Some languages get more reviews than others. The big problem is taking the time to review other peoples' code. There isn't a lot of reward for doing that. Solving the challenges and receiving a comment or two is far more rewarding... so it tends to be pretty one-sided in the less-populated corners of the site. The Common Lisp group has been the most vocal for me so far followed by Python.
It's worth mentioning that the project is open source and you can contribute features on github (or add requests to the growing queue)[0].
It's a useful tool for dipping your toes in a new language if you're an experienced programmer. Code reviews are essential for learning the in-grained idioms and conventions of a language that make things easier. I think there's a lot of potential in a site like this if it were able to attract more users and reward reviewers.
[0] https://github.com/exercism/exercism.io
Excerism is a great way to practice giving polite and thoughtful feedback to a captive newbie. I've gotten more practice at code reviews in 15 minutes a day on Exercism than I could have in several weeks at work.
There doesn't appear to be a way for users to provide feedback to reviewers on whether they're being helpful besides leaving a comment. It might also be worthwhile to collect karma for taking the time to give a thoughtful review.