Show HN: Runtric – Learn to Code by Thinking, Not Copying AI

2 points by resetmerlin 6 hours ago

Hi HN,

We’ve been working on Runtric, a small project aimed at fixing a common issue we’ve seen in programming education.

Today, with AI chatbots and endless tutorials, it’s easier than ever to start coding — but much harder to understand it deeply.

Many learners get working code, but often can’t explain why it works.

We wanted to explore whether AI could help people think more while learning, instead of just giving them answers.

That idea became Runtric — an AI-powered coding education platform where learners practice Python directly in the browser, and an AI tutor guides their reasoning step-by-step.

What you can do right now:

- Run real Python code instantly in your browser (using Pyodide, no setup or login required).

- Follow short lessons that mix text, examples, and quick practice blocks.

- Chat with an AI tutor that asks guiding questions instead of giving full solutions.

- See all progress in one continuous learning flow (lesson → code → feedback).

You can try it immediately here (no signup needed): https://runtric.com

Tech stack: Next.js, TypeScript, Pyodide (WebAssembly) for code execution, and a lightweight reasoning layer built on top of OpenAI’s API.

We’re still in the MVP stage. It’s early, and we’d really appreciate honest feedback — especially from people who teach programming, design learning tools, or remember what it was like starting out.

We’d also like to hear your thoughts on this question: How should AI fit into programming education — as a teacher, an assistant, or just a guide?

Thanks for reading and for any feedback, suggestions, or criticism.