Inspiration
In middle school, I loved playing a Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA) game with historical women that gave me a glimpse of living in different eras would have looked like. Growing up, I would have enjoyed learning Python with a game like this, which highlights the stories of female STEM pioneers and prompts young girls to explore local sustainability nonporifts.
What it does
Introduces girls of all ages to coding in Python with interactive minigames that help historical women pioneers in STEM in their work. It teaches them about the impact of women trailblazers on various STEM fields and shows them Python foundational concepts with pixel-art simulations. The coding panel gives them step by step guides and the freedom to apply what they've learned by experimenting with code within the rules of Python.
How we built it
I vibe-coded most of the game with Github Copilot in VS Code. I used Google Gemini to add finishing touches, like the local nonprofit pop up and biographies about the women.
Challenges we ran into
I had to run through many, many iterations to get Github Copilot to create the graphics I was envisioning. I also used up 95% of my free Github Copilot in VS Code credits, so I had to switch to Google Gemini to finish the project.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
I'm excited to be vibe-coding and navigating Github for the first time! There are still many areas for growth in this project, but I'm really happy with the overall design and idea I was able to build out this weekend.
What we learned
When I started vibe-coding, I didn't realize just how specific I had to be until the website looked nothing like I had envisioned. I began giving Github Copilot reference images of pixelated art to achieve the style I was looking for and very specific descriptions of where certain elements should go.
What's next for CodeWithSally
I could refine the project further so that users could select a specific topic in STEM (Ex. Chemistry, biology, physics, computer science, etc.) and only receive simulations and scenarios with women scientists from that particular field of interest. I think hosting an in-person event for users who complete the game would be a fun way to connect girls interested in STEM and an opportunity to share additional resources for girls in STEM.
