Software Basics

Explore how computers handle data behind the scenes, and try your first steps in Python, JavaScript, and SQL.

This module introduces the core building blocks behind software: data representation and encoding. You’ll learn how computers store colours, numbers, and text, and how character encoding turns letters into numeric values that systems can understand. After that, you’ll get hands-on demos in Python and JavaScript, building familiarity with key programming concepts. You’ll finish by exploring databases and learning how SQL is used to retrieve and manage stored data.

Data Representation

Learn about how computers represent numbers and colors.

Data Encoding

Learn how computer encodes characters, from ASCII to Unicode's UTF.

Python: Simple Demo

Explore what a basic Python program looks like.

JavaScript: Simple Demo

Explore what a basic JavaScript program looks like.

Database SQL Basics

Learn the basics of databases and SQL by writing simple queries to retrieve and manage data.

Topic Rewind Recap

Lock in what you learned with a recap. Earn points and keep your streak.

Next steps

Attacks and Defenses

Learn how attackers and defenders think, how data is protected, and how real world systems are attacked and defended in practice.

What are modules?

A learning pathway is made up of modules, and a module is made of bite-sized rooms (think of a room like a mini security lab).

Hierarchical diagram showing how learning pathways contain modules, which contain individual rooms.