Introducing the freeCodeCamp Coding Trivia Quiz on Amazon Alexa
Learning to code is an increasingly valuable skill in our digital world, but getting started can be daunting. Thankfully, organizations like freeCodeCamp are working hard to break down barriers and make software engineering education accessible to all. freeCodeCamp offers a comprehensive online curriculum, supportive community, and hands-on projects to help anyone learn to code for free and launch a new career in tech.
Since launching in 2014, freeCodeCamp has become a major player in online tech education. The platform now boasts over 40,000 graduates of their full curriculum who have gotten jobs at companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and more. There are over 6,000 local study groups around the world and over a billion minutes of code have been logged on the platform.
A key factor in freeCodeCamp‘s success is its vibrant open-source community. Experienced developers contribute articles, videos, and interactive projects to enhance the core curriculum. One exciting new community project is the freeCodeCamp Coding Trivia Quiz skill for Amazon Alexa, created by contributor David Jolliffe. This voice-based app lets you test your programming knowledge through a fun, interactive quiz.
The freeCodeCamp Alexa skill currently includes around 100 multiple-choice questions covering:
- JavaScript syntax and concepts
- CSS and web design terminology
- Computer networking protocols
- Computer science fundamentals
Here are a few sample questions:
| Topic | Question | Answer Choices |
|---|---|---|
| JavaScript | What is the correct way to write a JavaScript array? | 1. (item1, item2) 2. {item1, item2} 3. [item1, item2] |
| CSS | What does the CSS property ‘justify-content‘ control? | 1. Vertical alignment 2. Horizontal alignment 3. Text alignment |
| Networking | What does HTTP stand for? | 1. HyperText Transfer Protocol 2. Higher Transmission Text Path 3. HyperText Traversal Procedure |
| Comp Sci | In computing, what does CPU stand for? | 1. Computer Processing Unit 2. Central Processing Unit 3. Content Processing Utility |
The true power of this project lies in its open-source nature. The entire codebase is publicly available on GitHub, meaning anyone can contribute new questions, flag issues, or suggest improvements. To submit a new question, simply fork the repository, add your question to the appropriate file, and open a pull request describing your change. The freeCodeCamp team will review it and merge good additions into the main branch.
Contributing to an open-source project like this is a great way for experienced developers to reinforce their own understanding. Distilling a coding concept into a succinct question and set of answers requires you to reflect on the most important points and anticipate common misconceptions. You can also share knowledge on more advanced or specialized topics that aren‘t covered in the core freeCodeCamp curriculum.
Using the Alexa skill is simple – just say "Alexa, enable the freeCodeCamp quiz" to install it, then "Alexa, open the freeCodeCamp quiz" to start playing. You‘ll be asked a series of multiple-choice questions and can respond with just the number of your answer choice. Alexa keeps score as you go and provides some additional context after each question.
Voice-based apps like this have huge potential for making learning more accessible and engaging. According to eMarketer, over 45 million US adults use voice assistants like Alexa on a smart speaker. Adoption has grown nearly 80% since 2017 and continues to rise. Hands-free interaction is especially useful for people with mobility limitations, visual impairments, or manual tasks that make it hard to use a screen and keyboard.
There are numerous possibilities to expand on a voice-based coding quiz like this:
- Adding more questions and categories to cover advanced topics like data structures, algorithms, databases, etc.
- Personalizing question sets based on the user‘s freeCodeCamp curriculum progress or self-assessed skill level
- Offering code snippets that Alexa could read out loud, then asking what the code does or what is wrong with it
- Having a ‘streak‘ system to encourage daily practice and retention
- Running monthly competitions with prizes for high scores
Some limitations of voice interfaces for coding education include not being able to display images, diagrams, or large code blocks. Potential solutions could be integrating with a companion mobile app or having Alexa direct users to view supplemental material on the freeCodeCamp website.
Compared to other coding quiz apps and games, the freeCodeCamp Alexa skill stands out for its hands-free, conversational format. Many quiz apps are mobile-only and rely on visual multiple choice questions. The open-source model of the freeCodeCamp quiz is also unique – most other apps use a closed set of company-generated questions.
Ultimately, an educational tool is only as good as the community that rallies around it. Having an accessible, engaging app is important, but the real value comes from a dedicated group of learners and educators collaborating to improve it. That‘s what makes the freeCodeCamp community so inspiring.
If you‘re a developer, you can contribute to this project by sharing your expertise in the form of clear, well-explained quiz questions. If you‘re a learner, you can provide feedback on what topics you want to see covered and how well the questions reinforce your understanding. And if you represent a mission-aligned organization, you can support freeCodeCamp through donations or spreading the word to your audience.
Learning to code is a continuous journey that benefits from a variety of tools, resources, and perspectives. The freeCodeCamp Coding Trivia Quiz on Alexa is an exciting example of how voice interfaces and open-source collaboration can make that journey more engaging and accessible. Whether you‘re a coding newbie or a seasoned dev, try out the skill for yourself and consider contributing some questions to help strengthen this free educational resource for all.