Over the past few years, I’ve wanted to learn more about coding, beyond my basic understanding of HTML and CSS. I started out on Codecademy learning basic front-end web stuff, then got into learning a bit about the Command Line on Mac, then briefly into Python and JavaScript.

But it wasn’t enough, so I decided I needed a classroom setting and I enrolled in evening front-end web classes at General Assembly in Austin, where I live. After making it through a month and a half of a three-month course and bottoming out, I started thinking that the best way for me to really learn to code would be to enroll in an immersive, full-time coding course. But I’m already maxed out time-wise and don’t have the luxury of going to school full-time. After a month or two of not working on coding, other than dealing with random HTML errors on stories during the day, I more or less gave up for a while. I still wanted to learn more, but I had reached a sort of impasse. I knew I would eventually return to coding again, though.

So when I started hearing about a new way to learn–through coding robots–my interest was reignited. Although many such robots are geared toward kids and STEM education, adults with limited coding knowledge can also have fun while learning coding with them. But the difference is that adults aren’t normally in daily classroom settings that teach coding like kids are.

Wonder Workshop’s Cue: A Great Entry Into JavaScript

During Fast Company‘s recent Innovation Festival, I met Vikas Gupta, the CEO and founder of Wonder Workshop, makers of the Dash and Dot robots and the new Cue. The Dash and Dot teaches kids the basics of block programming on the app that you control the robot with, and the Cue allows you to open up a full JavaScript command prompt in the Cue app once you progress through several demo challenges. Wonder Workshop sent me a Cue to test-drive, and I have been working and playing with it for a while now. The Cue uses a block-style programming language called Blockly, which is a JavaScript-based drag-and-drop language that allows you to arrange preset actions for the Cue to perform on your phone or tablet, such as motion, color, and sound, and voice parameters.

As you unlock various demo levels on the Cue’s Coding palette, you eventually open up the full JavaScript command palette, and can work with functions and variables. By starting simple and working up to more complex actions, you naturally start learning the basics of JavaScript programming. But once you unlock those demo levels and get to full JavaScript, you will still need outside help to progress further into JavaScript, either online or in a classroom setting.

Sphero’s Mini Robot: Fun To Play With And Room To Grow

Another company that uses block-style programming on its robots is Sphero, which produces the Sphero, BB-8 and other Star Wars-themed robots, and the new Mini. The Mini is a tiny ball with motion and light activators that you can control with the app using the Mini app, and go into coding with the Sphero Edu app. Sphero sent me a Mini, and it’s really fun to play with, but I wanted to know how in-depth you could go with the coding. The coding palette is very similar to Wonder Workshop’s Cue app, with a preloaded, block-style, drag-and-drop program built on JavaScript you can tweak, such as distance moved and color, but there is access to an SDK (software developer kit) that allows you to build apps for the Sphero bots. As with the Wonder Workshop Cue, you will eventually need outside help if you want to progress further with coding with Sphero bots.

Anki’s Cozmo Robot: SDK Access In The App

Anki, maker of Cozmo, the “gifted little guy with a mind of his own,” has recently launched what it calls “a feature-packed expansion to Code Lab,” its programming environment for the Cozmo robot. The coding interface also uses block-style programming (this one is called Scratch). Cozmo also has its own SDK for developers that is accessible for download via the Anki site (and which can be accessed via Code Lab on the app). Once again you will need outside help to get deeper into coding on Cozmo.