The easiest, cheapest, and quickest way to learn.

Dashboard showing courses
Course view
Course view

Inspiration

The inspiration came from witnessing the significant barriers that aspiring tech learners face across Africa - particularly high data costs, unreliable internet connectivity, and limited access to modern learning tools, especially in rural and underserved communities. The team was motivated by seeing millions of young people eager to learn tech skills but unable to participate in the global tech economy due to infrastructure limitations. A specific example mentioned was imagining a student in Nigeria with a basic laptop but no stable electricity or money for daily internet, dreaming of becoming a software developer but unable to access traditional online learning platforms.

What it does

Codes With Vic is a lightweight, offline tech learning platform delivered as a Visual Studio Code extension that transforms the professional development tool into a comprehensive learning environment. It provides:

Structured programming courses (Python, JavaScript, C#, and more) that run entirely offline after installation
Interactive coding exercises and assessments without internet dependency
Progress tracking that works offline with cloud sync when connectivity is available
A dashboard and editor interface integrated within VS Code
An extension wizard that sets up users' devices to meet course requirements
Local content rendering that eliminates the need for power-consuming browsers

How we built it

The development followed a four-phase approach:

Phase 1: Problem Discovery & Planning - Extensive user research surveying learners and educators in low-resource communities to identify key barriers.

Phase 2: Design & Prototyping - Initially explored browser-based solutions before pivoting to Visual Studio Code as the delivery platform.

Phase 3: Development & Iteration - Built from static lessons to interactive features including code runners, offline assessments, and progress tracking, optimized for low-power devices.

Phase 4: Testing & Community Feedback - Conducted trials with learners using basic laptops, incorporating feedback to refine the interface and functionality.

The team strategically combined AI tools (like GPT) for rapid prototyping and content generation with human oversight for quality, local context, and educational clarity.

Challenges we ran into

Key challenges included:

Ensuring smooth, interactive learning experiences without internet access
Engineering a fully offline course engine that supports local content rendering and progress tracking
Optimizing the platform to work seamlessly on low-specification devices common in Africa
Repurposing VS Code's extension API to simulate a complete Learning Management System (LMS) environment
Balancing power consumption while maintaining full functionality
Creating engaging educational content that works entirely offline

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Successfully reimagining a professional developer tool (VS Code) into a fully functional learning platform
Creating a solution that works on low-spec devices while eliminating ongoing data costs
Building a completely offline learning system that includes interactive coding exercises, progress tracking, and assessments
Developing a scalable platform with modular architecture that can be localized for different regions and languages
Creating an innovative approach that transforms infrastructure constraints into opportunities for digital inclusion
Establishing a sustainable model that requires only a one-time low fee rather than recurring subscriptions

What we learned

The team learned that:

Innovation doesn't always require high bandwidth or large budgets - it requires deep empathy for real-world challenges
Existing professional tools can be creatively repurposed to solve educational access problems
Offline-first design is crucial for reaching underserved communities
Combining AI capabilities with human insight can accelerate development while maintaining quality and local relevance
User testing on actual low-resource devices is essential for creating truly accessible solutions
Strategic partnerships with educational institutions and NGOs are critical for sustainable scaling

What's next for The easiest way to learn

Future directions include:

Immediate Goals:

Rolling out across multiple regions in Nigeria and expanding to other African countries
Growing the course library and localizing content for different languages and use cases
Refining user experience based on feedback from early adopters

Strategic Expansion:

Seeking partnerships with state governments, educational institutions, NGOs, and tech hubs
Pursuing support for distribution, funding, curriculum development, and device deployment
Integrating with national education systems across the continent

Long-term Vision:

Becoming Africa's go-to model for barrier-free tech education
Delivering digital inclusion at scale where it's needed most
Empowering millions of Africans to participate in the global digital economy regardless of their connectivity or location

The ultimate goal is to establish Codes With Vic as a sustainable, continent-wide solution that transforms digital education accessibility across Africa.

Built With

Submitted to

Africa Deep Tech Challenge 2025

Created by

I worked on the visuals using CapCut Pro, DaVinci Resolve 18, and Canva Pro to help get more adoption, audience, and sales and worked all night learning how to create flyers, carousels, and scripting, all for the first time, and I learned a lot using Slack and Jira for the first time; it was challenging.

SAMUEL FOLORUNSHO
At CodesWithVic (CWV), I work as part of the Graphics and Content Designing team, responsible for creating visually compelling and brand-aligned materials using tools like Canva Pro, Adobe Illustrator, and CorelDRAW. I contribute to both the design and content sides of our platform—crafting marketing visuals, course graphics, and social contents that communicate clearly and powerfully.
I also play a hands-on role in editing and testing the course contents within Visual Studio Code, helping to ensure a seamless learning experience for users. In addition, I manage some of the social media accounts, publishing and scheduling content that drives awareness and engagement.
Working with CodesWithVic has expanded my professional toolkit—I now confidently use Slack and Atlassian Jira to collaborate, manage tasks, and track progress as part of a dynamic team. The experience has strengthened both my technical and creative skills, while allowing me to contribute meaningfully to a platform that’s breaking barriers in tech education across Africa.

Ogunyomi Daniel
victor nwafor
Vincent Nwafor