How to Play

Code Monster teaches kids and adults a little about Javascript programming!

It's easy to play. Follow the instructions and do what Code Monster says. If you get stuck, just skip to the next lesson. You can always come back to it later!

Click on the Reset button if you really mess up your code and want to start over on a lesson. Click on the Back button to go back to a previous lesson. You can jump to a specific lesson or back to the beginning using the "Lesson Sections" link.

Code Monster saves what lesson you are on, so feel free to stop at any time and come back later. As long as you come back on the same browser on the same machine, you'll get back to your lesson.

Have fun!

Jump to a Lesson Section

About

Code Monster from Crunchzilla is an interactive tutorial for kids that focuses on action. Code changes immediately yield visible results.

Projects start with simple boxes and colors, rapidly progressing into exciting experiments with simple animation and fractals. Important programming concepts like variables, loops, conditionals, expressions, and functions are introduced by example.

Code Monster is a gentle and fun introduction to programming concepts. It is a first step in learning to program. It is not intended to teach all of computer science and programming.

Code Monster is based in Seattle, WA. It is part of the Crunchzilla suite of game and educational projects developed by Geeky Ventures.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the c in things like c.save()?

It's a little technical but, if you want to know the details, c is a variable Code Monster creates for you that contains the Canvas' 2D context. The code that creates the variable c, which is hidden, looks like

var c = document.getElementById('pane').getContext('2d');

How can I save my code and use it outside of Code Monster?

Short answer: It's not super easy, but you can copy-and-paste your code and then load that code in an HTML file (either loading a separate Javascript file or inlining the Javascript in your HTML file).

Longer answer: A minimal HTML file that works would look like this:

<html><body>
<canvas id=pane width=400 height=300></canvas>
<script>
var c = document.getElementById('pane').getContext('2d');

// PASTE YOUR CODE HERE

</script></body></html>

If you copy that into a file, then copy-and-paste your code into it, then save the file with a filename ending in .html, you should be able to load the file in any web browser.

Is there any other code that is hidden from me?

There is also a bit of hidden code to try to stop animations when you change lessons and the code you write is instrumented to try to prevent infinite loops. You shouldn't need those to run your code outside of Code Monster.

Why aren't you telling me more about the syntax and terminology of Javascript?

There are already a lot of tutorials and textbooks out there that teach Javascript programming by explaining what a variable is, what variable scope is, what the syntax of an if statement looks like, how each of the operators work, and so on. If you want that, there are many choices available, many of which are excellent supplements to Code Monster.

What is hard to find is a tutorial that is fun, immersive, and gets you immediately building cool things. Code Monster skips a lot of the syntax and explanation you can get elsewhere (Google for it when you need it) and instead jumps straight into the fun of what you can do if you learn to code.

Why doesn't this work perfectly on an iPad (or other mobile device)?

Code Monster will load on many mobile devices, might even be a bit playable depending on your device, but it isn't designed for mobile. Why not?

Mostly because it is hard to type on mobile. Writing large amounts on a mobile device is difficult, and it is even worse when what you are trying to write is code and you need to keep looking at other parts of the code. Trying to write large amounts of traditional code on a mobile device is not a good experience.

In part because of that, no one seems to have created a great app yet for learning to code on mobile, but there are good apps out there that teach programming concepts (such as Hopscotch, Move the Turtle, and Cargo-bot).

Can I use Code Monster offline (when not connected to the internet)?

Sure! Code Monster only uses the internet at the very beginning, to load the website, and then never contacts the internet again.

So, for example, you can load Code Monster on a laptop, then go on an airplane or walk to a park where there is no internet connection, open your laptop there, and use Code Monster without the internet. It even still saves your place so you get back to the same lesson when you return! You don’t need an internet connection except at the very beginning when the website loads.

Terms of Use

Code Monster from Crunchzilla is a website provided by Geeky Ventures. In order to use the Site, you must accept the terms set forth below. If you are a minor, your parent or guardian must accept the terms and full responsibility for your use of the website. THESE TERMS OF SERVICE CONSTITUTE A BINDING LEGAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND GEEKY VENTURES. BY USING THE WEBSITE, YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS.

The website HTML, text, images, audio, video, software or other content that is made available on this website are the property of Geeky Ventures or its content suppliers. Before you use this content in some way please take care to ensure that you have the relevant rights and permissions. You are welcome to display on your computer, download, and print pages from this website for personal and educational use only.

THE WEBSITE IS PROVIDED "AS IS". Your use of this website is at your own risk. Geeky Ventures disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including without limitation, warranties of merchantability and fitness of a particular purpose. Geeky Ventures disclaims liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, punitive or other damages, or lost profits, that may result directly or indirectly from the use of the website. This includes, without limitation, any damage to computer systems, hardware or software, loss of data, or any other performance failures, any errors, bugs, viruses or other defects that result from, or are associated with the use of this website.

Geeky Ventures may modify this agreement at any time, and such modifications shall be effective immediately.

Privacy Policy

Code Monster is extremely protective of privacy. Code Monster keeps almost no information about people who use the website.

Code Monster does not require registration. It does not have your e-mail address. It does not know who you are. When you use Code Monster, you are essentially anonymous.

Code Monster does not use cookies. If you leave the website and come back, there is a feature that will get you back to the lesson you were on. That does not use cookies. It is done using HTML5 Local Storage, which stores data on your machine, not remotely on the webservers. Code Monster does not even know what lesson you were on or how many lessons people using Code Monster have completed, and it is a bit of a shame that we do not, but that is how seriously we take privacy.

Like nearly all websites, Code Monster has web server logs that may contain the IP address used to access the web server. That is standard in nearly all webservers and not an attempt at data collection.

In keeping with standard language in privacy policies, personally identifiable information will not be disclosed to a third party unless required by law and we may update this policy from time to time at our sole discretion.

We are very protective of your privacy. We like it that way.

Contact

Code Monster can be reached at monster@crunchzilla.com

Code Monster would love to hear your suggestions for how he can teach better. Code Monster no like complaints, but you can send them to Code Monster too, and he'll eat them up -- yum, yum! -- with his big nasty pointy teeth.

Code Monster from Crunchzilla is a product of Geeky Ventures. Geeky Ventures is based in Seattle, WA.

Old Browser Warning

Oh my. Code Monster no like your web browser. Your browser old. You need new browser.

Code Monster like Chrome and Firefox. You can play with Code Monster with those. Go get 'em and let's play!

If you want to try to use Code Monster anyway, go ahead and try, but Code Monster probably no come out to play. Your web browser scary. Me no likey.