Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Nature of Code VS The Coding Train

Compare Nature of Code VS The Coding Train and see what are their differences

Nature of Code logo Nature of Code

How can we capture the unpredictable evolutionary and emergent properties of nature in software?

The Coding Train logo The Coding Train

Online learning resource for beginner-friendly creative coding tutorials and challenges.
  • Nature of Code Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-05-28
  • The Coding Train Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14

Nature of Code features and specs

  • Educational Value
    The Nature of Code provides an in-depth look at complex concepts in physics and computation using accessible language and examples, making it a valuable resource for learning.
  • Open Access
    The book is freely available online, allowing a wide audience to benefit from its content without any financial barriers.
  • Hands-on Examples
    The book includes numerous examples and exercises that allow readers to apply concepts directly, enhancing understanding through practice.
  • Creative Coding Focus
    Emphasizes creative exploration of code, which appeals to artists and designers looking to incorporate computational techniques into their work.
  • Interactive Content
    The website offers interactive code examples and simulations, providing an engaging way to experience the concepts in action.

Possible disadvantages of Nature of Code

  • Complexity for Beginners
    Some readers may find the mathematical and programming concepts challenging, especially if they are new to coding or physics.
  • Processing Language
    The book primarily uses the Processing language, which may not be as widely used in professional environments compared to other languages like Python or JavaScript.
  • Limited Scope
    While it covers a range of topics in physics-based simulations, it does not delve deeply into other areas of computational science.
  • Outdated Examples
    Some examples may become outdated as programming languages and libraries evolve, potentially causing issues for readers using newer software versions.

The Coding Train features and specs

  • Comprehensive Content
    The Coding Train offers a wide range of tutorials and courses that cover various programming languages and technologies, providing a comprehensive learning resource for beginners and advanced users alike.
  • Engaging Teaching Style
    Daniel Shiffman, the creator of The Coding Train, is known for his enthusiastic and engaging teaching style that makes complex topics more approachable and fun to learn.
  • Community Support
    The Coding Train has a strong community of learners and contributors, providing additional support, collaboration opportunities, and feedback through forums and social media platforms.
  • Free Access
    A significant amount of content on The Coding Train is available for free, making it accessible to learners from different backgrounds and financial situations.
  • Creative Approach
    The platform encourages a creative approach to learning programming by integrating art and visual experiments, which can be particularly appealing to visual learners and those interested in creative coding.

Possible disadvantages of The Coding Train

  • Variable Depth
    While The Coding Train covers a wide variety of topics, the depth of coverage can vary, and some complex topics may not be explored in detail, potentially requiring supplemental resources for thorough understanding.
  • Unstructured Paths
    The coding tutorials and projects are available in a non-linear format, which might be overwhelming for new learners who benefit from a more structured, step-by-step learning path.
  • Focus on JavaScript and p5.js
    Much of the content focuses on JavaScript and the p5.js library, which might not be ideal for learners looking to study other languages or frameworks comprehensively.
  • Limited Interactive Features
    The platform primarily consists of video tutorials, which might not offer the same level of interactivity and immediate feedback as some modern coding platforms with in-browser coding and hands-on exercises.

Nature of Code videos

Dan Shiffman Brings You The Nature of Code!

More videos:

  • Review - Nature of Haxe - Prologue A - What is "The Nature of Code"?
  • Review - 4.1: Particle System Simulation - The Nature of Code

The Coding Train videos

No The Coding Train videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Nature of Code and The Coding Train)
Open Source
68 68%
32% 32
Education
43 43%
57% 57
Online Learning
31 31%
69% 69
Design Books
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Nature of Code might be a bit more popular than The Coding Train. We know about 27 links to it since March 2021 and only 24 links to The Coding Train. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Nature of Code mentions (27)

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The Coding Train mentions (24)

  • p5.js
    He has a knack for picking visual interesting problems/algorithms and his enthusiasm is unmatched. https://thecodingtrain.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Was BASIC that horrible or better?
    I'd say Scratch is the #1 way kids to day are introduced to programming For parent that have some 8bit experience, Pico-8 (LUA) is also relatively popular. It's basically like running an Apple 2, Atari 800, Commodore 64 as if it booted into LUA instead of Basic. You can trivially draw things, and peak and poke bytes into "Screen memory" if you want to feel like you're "touching the hardware" JavaScript is also... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Sketch execution issues
    You can always look at the help videos by Shiffman at (the coding train) Specifically: help guide to p5js. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: How to teach a kid of 15 Linux and programming
    > how do I get him learning programming in a fun way? Processing / P5.js can be pretty fun to learn. You use a real programming language to create art and animations. With little code you can get a circle on the screen, then making it move, then following your mouse, then adding other shapes, then changing colour depending on some event… It’s conductive to experimentation and a way to gradually introduce concepts.... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Help needed: Rinkeby and other test networks won't appear
    Another great free site https://thecodingtrain.com/ to have in your pocket :D have fun out there! Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Nature of Code and The Coding Train, you can also consider the following products

Processing - C++ and Java programming at the speed of thought.

p5.js - JS library for creating graphic and interactive experiences

CodeGym.cc - CodeGym.cc is an online Java programming course that is 80% based on practice.

CodeCombat - Learn programming with a multiplayer live coding strategy game.

Figmaster - Build your design system by doing exercises in Figma

Godot Engine - Feature-packed 2D and 3D open source game engine.