Software Alternatives & Startups

Practice Makes Python VS Exercism

Compare Practice Makes Python VS Exercism and see what are their differences

Practice Makes Python

Your second Python book - build fluency through 50 exercises

Rating
0 reviews
Exercism

Download and solve practice problems in over 30 different languages.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Exercism seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 318 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 318
Online Learning popularity
1% vs 99%
alternatives listed
16 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Practice Makes Python
Exercism
Website lerner.co.il exercism.org
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Practice Makes Python 0 features
Exercism 7 features

No features have been listed yet.

  • Free Access
    Exercism provides free access to a wide range of coding exercises and learning resources, making it accessible to everyone regardless of their financial situation.
  • Mentorship
    Offers personalized mentorship from experienced developers who can provide feedback and guidance on your code submissions.
  • Wide Variety of Languages
    Supports numerous programming languages, which allows users to learn and practice coding in multiple languages.
  • Structured Learning Tracks
    Organizes exercises into structured tracks, guiding learners through progressively challenging problems in a logical order.
  • Community Support
    Has an active community forum where users can discuss problems, share insights, and ask for help.
  • Open Source Contributions
    Encourages contributions to the platform itself, offering an opportunity for users to give back and improve the resources available to others.
  • Focus on Clean Code
    Emphasizes writing clean, well-documented code, which is beneficial for developing best practices.

Possible disadvantages

  • Variable Mentorship Quality
    The quality of mentorship can vary, as it depends on the availability and expertise of volunteer mentors.
  • Learning Curve
    There can be a steep learning curve for beginners who may find some exercises too challenging without sufficient initial guidance.
  • Limited Interactivity
    Exercises are primarily text-based without interactive or visual learning aids, which might be less engaging for some users.
  • Dependence on Volunteers
    The platform relies heavily on volunteer mentors, which can lead to delays in getting feedback and may affect the consistency of support.
  • Interface Complexity
    Some users find the interface and workflow somewhat complex and unintuitive, particularly for those new to the platform.
  • No Real-Time Collaboration
    Lacks real-time collaboration features, meaning users cannot code together or get instant feedback.
  • Focus on Individual Learning
    The platform predominantly focuses on individual learning rather than collaborative projects, which can be a downside for those looking to develop team-working skills.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Practice Makes Python
Exercism

Overall verdict

  • Practice Makes Python by Reuven Lerner is a well-regarded exercise-based book/course aimed at helping intermediate Python learners solidify their skills through deliberate practice. It's good for those who want structured problem-solving repetition rather than just conceptual learning.

Why this product is good

  • Written by Reuven Lerner, an experienced and respected Python trainer with decades of teaching experience
  • Provides 50+ hands-on exercises with detailed solutions and explanations, not just theory
  • Focuses on practical, real-world coding patterns rather than abstract computer science concepts
  • Explanations often show multiple solution approaches, helping learners understand tradeoffs and idiomatic Python
  • Good for reinforcing muscle memory and confidence in writing Python code independently
  • Exercises are curated based on common sticking points Lerner has observed in his many years of teaching corporate Python courses

Recommended for

  • Beginner-to-intermediate Python learners who understand basic syntax but want more practice applying it
  • Self-taught coders who feel shaky translating concepts into working code
  • People who've finished an introductory Python course/book and want a bridge to intermediate skills
  • Learners who prefer exercise-driven practice over long-form conceptual reading
  • Developers preparing for coding interviews or wanting to sharpen fundamentals

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Exercism is considered good for learning and improving programming skills.

Why this product is good

  • Exercism offers free access to a wide variety of exercises in over 50 different programming languages, catering to both beginners and experienced programmers.
  • The platform provides a unique mentorship model where volunteers review submitted solutions, offering personalized feedback and guidance.
  • The exercises are well-structured, facilitating both practice and mastery of language-specific concepts and problem-solving skills.
  • Exercism encourages learning through doing, promoting an active learning environment which can be more effective compared to passive learning styles.
  • The platform allows for self-paced learning, enabling users to progress at their own speed and revisit topics as needed.

Recommended for

  • Beginner programmers seeking practical coding exercises to reinforce their learning.
  • Intermediate and advanced developers looking to hone their skills or learn new programming languages.
  • Individuals who appreciate personalized feedback and mentorship to improve their coding practices.
  • Students and educators searching for supplementary resources to support coursework or syllabus requirements.
  • Professionals aiming to practice coding interview problems and enhance their problem-solving abilities.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Practice Makes Python 0 videos + Add
Exercism 3 videos + Add

No Practice Makes Python videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Learn with Exercism.io

More videos

  • - JavaScript Exercise | Learn JavaScript with Exercism | #0 Setup
  • - exercism.io 01 hello-world

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Practice Makes Python
Exercism
1% 1%
99% 99%
3% 3%
97% 97%
2% 2%
98% 98%
2% 2%
98% 98%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Practice Makes Python no reviews yet
Exercism no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Practice Makes Python 0 mentions
Exercism 318 mentions

Tracking Practice Makes Python since Mar 2021.

  • AI made me lazy. I didn’t notice until it was too late.
    Exercism.org structured deliberate practice, no AI required. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Free Python Resources
    Providing free coding exercises and mentorship, Exercism helps developers practice and improve their programming skills step by step. Their Python Track offers a series of exercises that guide learners from beginner to more advanced levels. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Collaboration Circles for Developers (2026)
    Exercism is a code practice + mentoring platform in 74 languages. Why it can work: although it is not exclusively focused on groups of five, its mentoring and peer review model allows forming mini-circles where participants give each... - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago

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Alternatives to Practice Makes Python and Exercism

When comparing Practice Makes Python and Exercism, you can also consider the following products.