Your Ultimate Guide to JetBrains Academy’s April Learning Boost: 4 Steps to Level Up Your Coding Skills

Introduction

April brought a fresh wave of opportunities to sharpen your coding skills right inside your IDE. Whether you’re a beginner looking to build your first 3D game, a developer eager to master spec-driven development, someone ready to earn a Kotlin certificate, or determined to complete a 100-day Python challenge, JetBrains Academy has you covered. This step-by-step guide walks you through each offering so you can make the most of them and accelerate your learning journey.

What You Need

• A JetBrains IDE (IntelliJ IDEA, WebStorm, PyCharm, or any other compatible one) – download the free trial or use an existing license.
• A Coursera account (free) for the 3D game course and the spec-driven development course.
• A LinkedIn profile (to display the Kotlin Professional Certificate).
• A GitHub account (optional, but useful for storing project files).
• A stable internet connection.
• Motivation and a willingness to code daily!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Explore All Learning Highlights

Before diving in, take a moment to understand what’s available. JetBrains Academy’s April digest features four main learning paths:

• Build Your First 3D Game With AI – a short course where you code a browser game in WebStorm with an AI coding agent.
• Spec-Driven Development With Coding Agents – a collaboration with DeepLearning.AI to move beyond vibe coding.
• Kotlin Professional Certificate – a certification path on LinkedIn Learning that covers Kotlin essentials, multiplatform development with Ktor and Compose.
• 100-Day Python Challenge in Your IDE – a daily coding challenge to reinforce Python skills.

Each path is independent, so you can start any of them in any order. Decide which one matches your current goals, or plan to tackle all of them this month.

Step 2: Start the 3D Game Course

If you want a fun, quick project that combines coding and AI, begin here.

1. Open the course page (available through Coursera’s seven-day free trial).
2. Install WebStorm (if you don’t have it) – the course uses JetBrains WebStorm IDE.
3. Follow along as you help Tode the Frog defend his home by coding a 3D browser game using an AI coding agent.
4. Complete the course and leave a review.
5. Send a screenshot of your review to education@jetbrains.com. You’ll receive one free month of JetBrains AI Pro (10 AI Credits).

Step 3: Take the Spec-Driven Development Course

This short course, created by DeepLearning.AI in partnership with JetBrains, teaches you how to build software with clear specs, iterative workflows, and agent skills – moving beyond random “vibe coding”.

1. Navigate to the course enrollment page (it’s free).
2. Set up your development environment – the course works with any JetBrains IDE.
3. Work through the examples that demonstrate how to write precise specifications and use coding agents to implement them.
4. Practice by creating your own spec-driven project.

Step 4: Enroll in the Kotlin Professional Certificate

If you want a formal credential to showcase on LinkedIn, this four-course path is your ticket.

1. Access the program on LinkedIn Learning (a subscription may be required, but you can start a free trial).
2. Complete all four courses: Kotlin Essentials, Ktor for Backend Development, Compose Multiplatform, and Advanced Kotlin.
3. Pass the final exam to earn the certificate.
4. Add the certificate directly to your LinkedIn profile under Licenses & Certifications.

Step 5: Begin the 100-Day Python Challenge

This challenge runs directly inside JetBrains Academy (accessible from your IDE).

1. Open your JetBrains IDE and go to the Learn tab (or visit the JetBrains Academy plugin).
2. Search for the 100-Day Python Challenge.
3. Start with Day 1 – each day presents a short programming problem.
4. Commit to completing one task per day. Use the built-in hints and solutions if you get stuck.
5. Track your progress on the JetBrains Academy profile.

Tips for Success

• Use free trials wisely. Both Coursera and LinkedIn Learning offer free trials. Plan to finish the short courses within the trial period to avoid charges.
• Combine activities. For example, while taking the Kotlin certificate, apply the spec-driven development approach to your project.
• Leave a review for the 3D game course. It only takes a minute and earns you a month of JetBrains AI Pro, which can assist you in other courses.
• Join a community. Share your progress on social media or on JetBrains forums to stay motivated.
• Keep a coding journal. Jot down what you learn each day to reinforce concepts.
• Don’t skip the hands-on parts. These courses are built around practice – type the code yourself, don’t just watch.