Inspiration
We noticed that learning to code can be overwhelming for beginners, especially when faced with static tutorials or unclear feedback. We wanted to create a platform where anyone—regardless of experience—could learn by doing, receive real-time help, and progress at their own pace using the power of AI.
What it does
Code-Guru transforms natural language prompts into interactive coding exercises. It guides users step-by-step using ghost text (AI-generated inline guidance), supports multiple programming languages, and allows users to run code directly in the browser or simulate output via OpenAI for non-browser-based languages. It also includes hints, progress tracking, and a simple UI to make learning intuitive and fun.
How we built it
We used:
- Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, Vanilla JavaScript
- Execution Environment: In-browser for HTML, CSS, JS; OpenAI API for Python and others
- AI Integration: GPT-4 via OpenAI API for code generation, execution simulation, hints
- Storage: LocalStorage to preserve API keys We built the ghost text engine using a token-based approach and created a modular prompt system to interact with the OpenAI API effectively.
Challenges we ran into
- Creating a smooth ghost text experience that doesn’t feel intrusive
- Handling unpredictable API response formats
- Ensuring sandboxed and safe code execution within the browser
- Detecting and switching between multiple programming languages correctly
Accomplishments that we're proud of
- A fully functional demo that can turn a natural language idea into a guided coding experience
- Successfully implementing ghost text guidance and progress tracking
- Robust prompt engineering for consistent and structured AI-generated code
- An elegant and responsive UI with no external frameworks
What we learned
- The importance of balancing user autonomy with guided learning
- How to design prompts that produce reliable and context-aware code
- Deepened our understanding of browser sandboxing and secure execution practices
- Realized the value of iterative UI/UX improvements based on user flow testing
What's next for Code-Guru
- Add user authentication and save progress to the cloud
- Expand language support (e.g., Java, C++, SQL)
- Introduce predefined learning paths, quizzes, and certification
- Enable real-time collaborative coding
- Integrate with GitHub for version control and automatic testing
- Launch as a browser extension or standalone progressive web app (PWA)
Built With
- css3
- html5
- javascript
- openai


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