# CodeWars

## Learning Goals

After this lesson, the student should:
- Have a valid codeWars account
- Understand what the codeWars community is
- Solve and submit a codeWars exercise
- Know how to get help from the community when needed
- Know how to earn the points!

## What is CodeWars?


CodeWars is a platform created to improve programming skills through challenges called **katas** and community support.

It is a collective resource where programmers from all over the world create, improve and solve kata challenges. All kata solutions are also opensourced and it is a great resource to improve your coding skills.

Are you ready?

## Create a codeWars account

First things first: create your account. The easiest way to do it is to use your GitHub account.

1) Go to [CodeWars](https://www.codewars.com/)
2) Select JavaScript as your programming language
3) After you select your language, you will have to solve and submit a couple of mini exercises to prove you understand JavaScript (fun is beginning!)
4) When you pass the initiation, you will receive this message *'You have passed the initiation. Now the real training begins...'* and the fields to fill with your information.
5) Link your GitHub account, indicate your email, and click on 'Enlist'.
6) Log into your new account

## CodeWars home

When you enter the site, you will find your dashboard.


At the top of the screen, CodeWars will suggest a challenge that you can accept by clicking on the 'Train' button. If you prefer another suggestion, click on 'Skip'.

It also specifies where you are at any time.

## Your first CodeWars kata

Go to your first kata, [even-or-odd](https://www.codewars.com/kata/even-or-odd).


In this view, you will find:

1. The name of the kata 'Even or Odd'.
2. Some details about the kata (satisfaction rating, amount of collections where this kata is, etc). Hover your mouse over the statistics to see more information.
3. The programming languange. If your account is setted to be in JavaScript, it is preselected. However, you can change it to solve it in another language (not now).
4. The Details tab is preselected and the Description of the kata is shown. You will find instructions for completing the kata here.
5. The Solutions tab. Before you submit your work, the solution will be hidden. If you choose to view the solutions you will forfeit your eligibility to earn honor/rank progress for the kata.
6. The Forks tab. Will be also available after you complete the kata.
7. The Discourse tab is a great place to submit your questions. In fact, you can also read other programmers' Q&As. Maybe your answer is there or maybe your able to answer a question. Participate! This will help you to get more points!
8. To solve this kata click on the **Train** button.

## Solving the kata


In the solving page you will find a whole environment to practice. Instructions and Output will be in the left side of the screens and you can swap between tags to see any of them.

In the right side of the screen you write your Solution code. Also, tests are available for you to apply TDD or to see if your code actually works. An initial code is also provided in the Solution area.

function even_or_odd(number) {
 ///your code
}

After you finish coding, click on **Run Suite**. This will execute the tests and check if your solution is right.

The Output tab will show if you passed or failed the tests. When you pass them, the **Run Suite** will become **Submit Final**, click on it.

When you submit your code, the Solutions tag will be unblocked and you will be able to see other solutions. Read some of them.

## Earning the points


In the [CodeWars documentation](https://www.codewars.com/docs) you might find the points that you need to become a master. At first, you will be a `8kyu` coder. As you might already noticed, punctuation system and exercises clasification are inspired in [Karate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate).

Go to **your profile** and check your stats. You will find here your information about your current state and how to improve to the next level!

As you know from before, completing katas, authoring and translating katas, commenting, posting solutions and receiving referrals are activities that grant honor for the user. Be proactive and participate in the community!


## Join the Clan!

In Codewars, you can join a clan by editing the organization you belong to on your [user profile](https://www.codewars.com/users/edit)

Join now the Ironhack clan and compite with students and teachers all around the world to be the best ironhacker!

**Clan name:** *Ironhack*

## Summary

In this lesson, we created a CodeWars account linked to our GitHub account. Now we know how to play and earn points to raise our level of coding. You have also finished your first kata, and learnt how to find some help. You earnt your first point and you are probably wanting for more :smiley:

## Extra Resources

- [codeWars](https://www.codewars.com/dashboard) - Just in case you forget the link
- [MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript) - JavaScript formal documentation.