How to run Python on school Chromebooks without Linux

The simplest way to run Python on school Chromebooks without Linux is a browser IDE. In CS Room, each student writes and runs Python 3.12 in a browser tab, and nothing gets installed on the Chromebook. It's free. You can also hand out assignments, grade them with tests, and keep the scores in a gradebook.

Why Python is hard on school Chromebooks

Python doesn't install on ChromeOS by itself. Google's own help page says that on a school Chromebook you might not be able to use Linux. Most online compilers run one script at a time. Colab only does notebooks and is often turned off for students under 18. Trinket has shut down.

A free Python IDE for Chromebooks

• A terminal, so input() waits for the student to type. Files are saved.
• Packages from pip install stay installed.
• Turtle and tkinter programs open in a pop-up window. If Chrome blocks it, allow pop-ups for csroom.org.
• Jupyter notebooks, and Flask sites at a public URL.
• Assignments with autograding and due dates, a gradebook, and live editing in any student's workspace.

Set up a Python class

1. Request a teacher account. We set teachers up within a day or two.
2. Create a class and turn on its class link. Limit emails keeps it to your school's domain.
3. Students open the link, sign in with Google or email, and click Join class.
4. Open the Welcome to CS Room lesson, click Import, choose the class, and Publish it.

To grade with input/output cases or pytest, see Writing assignment tests.

If it doesn't load at school

Ask IT to allow *.csroom.org, including WebSocket connections, and to exempt it from SSL inspection.

Request a free teacher account to start a class.