### Why We Built ItWe noticed something strange while helping people learn to code:AI chatbots and YouTube tutorials have made it easier than ever to start —but harder to actually understand.Many beginners now rely on copying AI-generated answers instead of thinking through the problem.They can “get” the code to work, but can’t explain why it works.We call this *AI-dependent learning*, and we wanted to fix it.### What Runtric Does*Runtric* is an AI-powered coding education platform that helps people learn by reasoning, not just repetition.Instead of giving answers, the AI tutor keeps learners in the thought process — asking questions, nudging ideas, and encouraging self-discovery.Our MVP currently includes:- A beginner-friendly Python curriculum- An in-browser coding sandbox (no setup required)- An AI tutor that guides instead of giving direct solutions- A unified flow from lesson → code → quiz → feedbackEverything runs client-side, and it’s *free for now*.### Who It’s For- Students and self-learners starting with Python- Educators looking for an interactive way to teach programming- Anyone who wants to understand code rather than just make it run### What’s NextWe’re still in MVP, gathering early feedback before expanding into advanced paths, project-based tracks, and educator tools.Our long-term goal is to make AI in education a *cognitive amplifier*, not a crutch —a system that trains learners to think through AI guidance rather than depend on it.### Background ReadingOur motivation aligns with several recent papers discussing AI’s impact on programming education and the risks of overreliance on chatbots:- Aleedy, M., Atwell, E., & Meshoul, S. (2022). Using AI Chatbots in Education: Recent Advances, Challenges and Use Case. Springer, Singapore.- Anagnostopoulos, C.-N. (2023). ChatGPT impacts in programming education: A recent literature overview that debates ChatGPT responses. F1000Research, 12:1393.---We’re just getting started and would love to hear your thoughts.Try Runtric here: [https://runtric.com](https://runtric.com/)Feedback, criticism, and questions are all welcome — especially from educators, developers, and anyone interested in how AI changes the way we learn.Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45564950Points: 1# Comments: 0