Useful Links - VCE Software Development — Living Textbook (2026)

Curated resources to help you learn Python beyond the classroom. All links are free to access.

Tools¶

Resource	What it does
Python Tutor	Paste your code and watch it execute step-by-step. See how variables change, how loops iterate, and how objects are created.
W3Schools Python	Interactive tutorial with “Try it Yourself” editors for every topic. Great for quick revision.
Automate the Boring Stuff	Free online textbook covering foundations through file I/O and functions.

Videos¶

Resource	Best for
Fireship — Python in 100 Seconds	2-minute high-energy overview of Python
Corey Schafer — Python Beginner Tutorials	Clear, methodical explanations of all core topics
Socratica — Python	Short, polished videos with a dash of humour
Hungarian Folk Dance — Sorting Algorithms	Sorting algorithms performed as folk dances — unforgettable

Interactive Practice¶

Resource	Best for
VisuAlgo — Sorting & Searching	Step-by-step animation of selection sort, quick sort, linear search, binary search
Sort Visualizer	Side-by-side visual + audio comparison of sorting algorithms
CodeCombat	Learn Python by writing code to navigate dungeons in an RPG game
CheckiO	Gamified Python puzzles focused on lists and dictionaries

Fun¶

Resource	Why
XKCD #353 — import antigravity	Type `import antigravity` in Python and it actually opens this comic
XKCD #927 — Standards	Why we have CSV, XML, JSON, TXT... and counting
ProgrammerHumor — If-Else Memes	“When your code has 47 elif statements”