Exercism - Programming exercises

Exercism is a programming exercise platform that focuses on deep learning through mentorship, providing coding challenges with personalized feedback from experienced developers to improve code quality and understanding. Unlike competitive programming platforms, Exercism emphasizes learning through iteration, code review, and mentorship rather than just solving problems correctly.

The service creates a supportive learning environment where students receive detailed feedback on their solutions, helping them develop not just problem-solving skills but also code craftsmanship and best practices.

What Makes Exercism Different

Exercism’s mentorship-focused approach includes:

• Personal mentorship from experienced developers who provide detailed code reviews
• Emphasis on learning through iteration and improving existing solutions
• Language-specific learning tracks designed by experts in each programming language
• Focus on code quality, readability, and best practices rather than just correctness
• Completely free platform supported by donations and volunteer mentors
• Open-source exercises and platform encouraging community contribution and transparency

Developers choose Exercism when they want to improve code quality and deepen their understanding of programming languages through personalized mentorship and iterative learning.

Key Features

• Mentorship Program - Receive personalized feedback and guidance from experienced developer mentors • Language Tracks - Structured learning paths for over 50 programming languages • Interactive Exercises - Hands-on coding challenges with automated testing and feedback • Solution Iteration - Improve and refine solutions based on mentor feedback and community examples • Community Discussion - Engage with other learners and mentors about different approaches and techniques • Progress Tracking - Monitor advancement through language tracks and skill development • Open Source - Contribute to exercise creation and platform development • Free Access - Complete platform available at no cost supported by community donations

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Exceptional mentorship program provides personalized learning impossible to get elsewhere for free • Strong emphasis on code quality and best practices improves overall programming craftsmanship • Language-specific tracks designed by experts ensure authentic, idiomatic learning experiences • Iterative approach promotes deep understanding rather than superficial problem-solving • Completely free access removes financial barriers to high-quality programming education • Open-source platform encourages community contribution and continuous improvement

Cons

• Mentorship availability varies by language and may involve waiting periods for feedback • Slower progression compared to self-paced platforms focused on problem completion • Limited competitive elements may not motivate learners who thrive on competition • Fewer advanced algorithmic challenges compared to interview preparation platforms • Dependency on volunteer mentors creates potential inconsistency in feedback quality • Less gamification and immediate rewards compared to platforms with ranking systems

Get Started with Exercism

Ready to get started? Visit Exercism to explore the platform and begin practicing programming with mentor feedback.