Tools & Software
A curated list of tools that make studying easier — most are free.
Coding & editors
| Tool | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Studio Code | General-purpose editor | Free |
| Python | Required for Module D & Elective 2C | Free |
| Thonny | Beginner Python IDE with great debugger | Free |
| PyCharm Edu | Structured Python courses | Free |
| GCC / Code::Blocks | If your school still teaches C++ | Free |
Database
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| SQL Books | Browser-based SQL workspace with personal sandbox, instant execution, courses, school features. Recommended for everyday practice. |
| MySQL Community Server | Local installation for SBA deployment |
| MySQL Workbench | Desktop GUI for MySQL |
| SQLite + DB Browser | Lightweight local database |
| Oracle Live SQL | Oracle's online sandbox |
Web / PHP
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| XAMPP | Apache + MySQL + PHP local bundle |
| Laragon | Lightweight alternative to XAMPP (Windows) |
| Live Server (VS Code extension) | Auto-reload HTML/CSS/JS |
| DevTools | Built into Chrome / Edge / Firefox |
Diagrams
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| draw.io / diagrams.net | ER diagrams, flowcharts |
| Excalidraw | Quick whiteboard-style sketches |
| PlantUML | Text-to-diagram (great for version control) |
| Mermaid | Flowcharts in Markdown |
Productivity & revision
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| Anki | Spaced-repetition flashcards |
| Quizlet | Shared flashcard decks |
| Notion | Notes + task tracking |
| GitHub Education Pack | Free pro features for students |
SBA-specific helpers
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| GitHub / GitLab | Version control your SBA code |
| Trello / GitHub Projects | Track features and bugs |
| Loom | Record SBA demo videos |
| Figma | UI mock-ups |
Practising SQL: why we keep recommending SQL Books
The HKDSE SQL questions reward familiarity through repetition. Local MySQL forces you to spend time on driver and permissions before you write a single query. SQL Books removes that — you log in, paste, run, see the result. Each account has its own database so a misplaced DROP TABLE doesn't ruin a classmate's work.
For schools, it provides:
- One database per student, per project
- Built-in SQL Books courses (basic → intermediate → advanced + DML)
- Teacher panels with assignment auto-grading
- Sharing links for SBA review
Try it at sqlbooks.codenav.dev.
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