Microsoft Research launches Code Hunt, a browser-based game for coders wishing to learn

Microsoft Research has launched Code Hunt – a browser based game for anyone interested in learning how to code. Instead of presenting students with a problem and comparing their solutions to a fix set of answers, Code Hunt presents an empty slate to the student and a set of constantly changing test cases. In essence, it teaches the student how to code by solving a problem that is presented as a pattern.

“Today, we are pleased to announce the launch of Code Hunt, a browser-based game for anyone who is interested in coding. We built Code Hunt to take advantage of the fact that any task can be more effective and sustainable when it’s fun,” Microsoft stated in an official blog post.

Microsoft touts Code Hunt as being fun for students. “The fun is in finding the pattern. Fun is seen as a vital ingredient in accelerating learning and retaining interest during what might be a long and sometimes boring journey towards obtaining a necessary skill – or in this case, winning a competition. The GCR team recognized that Code Hunt would not only make the BOP competition more fun, but it would also enable them to check the solutions more quickly and accurately,” Microsoft added.

Code Hunt runs on Microsoft Azure and was developed by a team in Microsoft Research led by Principal Development Lead Nikolai Tillmann and Principal Research Software Engineer Peli de Halleux.

Do you have what it takes? Head over to www.codehunt.com to check it out.