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Getting Started with CoderKit

Welcome to CoderKit! This guide will help you download, install, and launch your first coding project on your mobile device.

📱 Installation

System Requirements

  • Android: Android 10+ (API 29+)
  • iOS: iOS 14+ (coming soon)
  • Storage: ~200MB free space (for core app + one language runtime)
  • RAM: 4GB minimum (works best with 6GB+)

Download CoderKit

Option 1: Google Play Store (Recommended)

  1. Open Google Play Store on your Android device
  2. Search for "CoderKit" or "CoderKit"
  3. Tap Install
  4. Wait for download (~50MB base app)

Option 2: Direct APK

  1. Visit coderkit.app/download
  2. Tap Download APK
  3. Open the downloaded file and tap Install

🚀 First Launch

Step 1: Create Your Account

  1. Open CoderKit
  2. Tap Sign Up or Sign In with Google
  3. Complete profile (name, email, avatar optional)
  4. You're in!

Step 2: Choose Your First Language

When you first launch, CoderKit shows a language selector:

  • 🐍 Python - Best for: Data science, scripting, learning
  • ☕ Java - Best for: Object-oriented programming, Android
  • 🌐 Web (HTML/CSS/JS) - Best for: Frontend, UI/UX
  • 🔧 C/C++ - Best for: Systems, competitive programming
  • 🎯 Go - Best for: Backend, cloud tools

Tip: Don't worry—you can install multiple languages later. Pick one to get started!

Step 3: Download Your First Language Runtime

After selecting, CoderKit will ask to download the language runtime:

  • Size: 150-300MB (depends on language)
  • Time: 2-5 minutes (WiFi recommended)
  • What it does: Installs the compiler/interpreter so you can run code offline

Feel free to skip and start with the IDE only (you'll be prompted to download later when you try to run code).

🎯 Your First Project

Create a New Project

  1. Home Screen → Tap the + button (bottom-right)
  2. New Project dialog:
    • Enter project name (e.g., "Hello World")
    • Select language (Python, Java, Web, etc.)
    • Select template (blank or starter code)
  3. Create → Opens your editor

The IDE Layout

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 📁 Project  ⚙️ Settings   ❌        │  ← Top bar
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                       │
│          CODE EDITOR                 │  ← Main editor area
│          (Your code here)             │
│                                       │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Custom Keyboard (symbols, letters)   │  ← Input keyboard
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

Key Areas:

  • File Tabs: See main.py or Main.java at the top—tap to switch files
  • Code Editor: The big white area where you type
  • Custom Keyboard: Special mobile keyboard optimized for coding
  • Terminal: Swipe up to see code output

⌨️ The Custom Keyboard

CoderKit's keyboard is designed for coders, not texting:

Keyboard Rows (Top to Bottom)

| Row | Contains | Purpose | |-----|----------|---------| | Symbols | { } ( ) [ ] : ; = + - * / | Language-specific coding symbols | | Numbers | 0 1 2 3 ... 9 | Digits | | QWERTY | A B C D ... Z | Letters | | Utilities | SNIP TAB UNDO REDO SPACE ENTER BACK | Special keys |

Special Keys Explained

  • SNIP - Open code snippet library (for copy-paste)
  • TAB - Insert indentation (2 spaces)
  • UNDO/REDO - Undo or redo your typing
  • SPACE - Large spacebar (easy to tap)
  • ENTER - New line
  • BACK - Delete character

Shift & Caps Lock

  • Single Tap on SHIFT → Next letter is UPPERCASE
  • Long Press SHIFT → Toggle CAPS LOCK (all uppercase)
  • Tap Again → Turn off CAPS LOCK

▶️ Running Your First Code

Step 1: Write Code

Type a simple program:

# Python example
name = input("What's your name? ")
print(f"Hello, {name}!")

Step 2: Tap Run

  1. Find the ▶ Run button (top-right)
  2. Tap it
  3. Watch the Terminal open at the bottom

Step 3: Interact (if needed)

If your code calls input(), the terminal shows a text field:

  1. Type your response
  2. Tap Submit (or press ENTER)
  3. See the output

What If It Fails?

  • "Language not installed" → Download the runtime (1st run only)
  • "Syntax error" → Red line under the mistake; fix and try again
  • "Runtime error" → Message in terminal tells you what went wrong

Pro Tip: Don't close the terminal—tap the X only when you're done debugging.

📚 Explore Learn Mode

CoderKit isn't just an IDE—it's also a learning platform:

Access Learn Mode

  1. Tap the 📚 Learn tab (bottom nav or sidebar)
  2. Browse courses like:
    • Python 101 - Your First Arcade Games
    • Java Fundamentals
    • Web Development Basics
    • CS Fundamentals

How Lessons Work

  1. Concept Explanation - Read the idea (with visuals)
  2. Interactive Visualizer - See the concept in action (touch to interact)
  3. Guided Practice - Write code with hints (ghost code overlay)
  4. Challenge - Solve a problem to prove you learned it

Track Progress

  • Completion Bar shows how far you are in a course
  • Streak Counter shows consecutive days you've coded
  • Stats Dashboard shows all your metrics

💡 Pro Tips for Getting Started

Keyboard Tips

  • Swipe left on symbols row to see more symbols
  • Long-press a key for more options (e.g., long-press : for ::)
  • Double-tap SPACE for quick period (.)

Editor Tips

  • Tap line number to jump to that line
  • Swipe left/right in editor to scroll horizontally (for long lines)
  • Pinch to zoom in/out

Learning Tips

  • Do the interactive practice before moving to the next concept
  • Use the visualizers—they're the secret sauce for understanding
  • Join the community Discord to ask questions and share projects

Performance Tips

  • Close other apps when running large programs
  • Use WiFi for downloading language runtimes
  • Enable Dark Mode (Settings → Theme) to save battery

🆘 Troubleshooting

"Language download keeps failing"

  • Check your internet connection (WiFi > cellular)
  • Try again later (servers might be busy)
  • Use cellular + WiFi simultaneously if available

"My code won't run—what's wrong?"

  1. Check the error message in the terminal
  2. Look for red underlines in the editor (syntax errors)
  3. Make sure the language is downloaded (Settings → Languages)
  4. Restart the app (close completely, reopen)

"Keyboard is too small"

  • iPad users: CoderKit is touch-optimized; keyboard will be larger on bigger screens
  • Phone users: Landscape mode gives more keyboard space

"App is slow/crashing"

  • Free up RAM (close other apps)
  • Clear cache (Settings → Storage → Clear Cache)
  • Uninstall unused language runtimes

🎓 Next Steps

  • ✅ Completed your first program? Awesome!
  • 📚 Ready to learn? Start a course in Learn mode
  • 🏆 Want challenges? Check out the practice problems
  • 👥 Join the community? Discord link in Settings

📞 Need Help?

Happy coding! 🚀