AI and machine learning · Free online course
AI Coding for Engineers: Claude Code, Cursor and Copilot
Use AI coding agents the way an engineer should: set up Claude Code, Cursor and GitHub Copilot, write the spec before the prompt, review every diff, let tests and Git catch the mistakes, connect tools with MCP, keep secrets out, build a Python Modbus and OPC UA logger, and generate PLC Structured Text that is checked and simulated before it goes near a machine.
- 13 modules
- 10h 13m of video
- Beginner
- English
- ₹0, free
₹0Free for good
Worth ₹5,999 by length and depth against classroom training. It has always been free; that is not a former price.
No card. Checkout takes a minute and gives you a receipt.
Overview
About AI Coding for Engineers: Claude Code, Cursor and Copilot
Use AI coding agents the way an engineer should: set up Claude Code, Cursor and GitHub Copilot, write the spec before the prompt, review every diff, let tests and Git catch the mistakes, connect tools with MCP, keep secrets out, build a Python Modbus and OPC UA logger, and generate PLC Structured Text that is checked and simulated before it goes near a machine.
AI Coding for Engineers: Claude Code, Cursor and Copilot is a free, self-paced online course from EDWartens for engineers who script: PLC and SCADA engineers, data and AI learners, and engineering students. It has 13 modules and 10h 13m of video lessons by Anthropic, Tech With Tim, freeCodeCamp.org and others, with written notes and worked problems, a practical project with a document pack and a 15-question final assessment (pass mark 60%). Learning is free with an account; an optional certificate with a public verification code is issued when you pass. Last updated 27 September 2026.
Who it is for: Engineers who script: PLC and SCADA engineers, data and AI learners, and engineering students
This course includes
- 10h 13m of video lessons
- 13 modules with written notes and diagrams
- One final assessment: 15 questions, pass mark 60%
- Ask-an-engineer support from practising engineers
- Lifetime access, the course does not expire
- Optional verifiable certificate when you finish
- Step 1 of 3
Learn the 13 modules
10h 13m of video lessons, written notes and a practice task per module, at your own pace.
- Step 2 of 3
Pass the final assessment
15 questions drawn from every module, pass mark 60%, 3 attempts.
- Step 3 of 3
Take the certificate, if you want it
Optional, paid once, only if you choose it. The course stays free either way.
See the certificate and its price
A look inside
From the lessons
What agentic coding is, and what it is not
by IBM Technology
Setting up Cursor
by Tech With Tim
Spec first: prompting an agent for code
by IBM Technology
Tests as guardrails
by Tech With Tim
MCP and tool use
by IBM Technology
Worked build: a Python Modbus and OPC UA data logger
by APMonitor.com
Lesson frames belong to the creators named in the Credits and are shown from YouTube.
What you learn
What you will be able to do
Explain what a coding agent does and where it fits in engineering work; install and configure Claude Code, Cursor and GitHub Copilot with project instructions and safe permission modes; write a spec and acceptance tests before prompting; review AI code with a checklist; use pytest and Git so any agent change can be proved or undone; connect tools through MCP and keep plant-facing tools read only; keep credentials out of prompts and repositories and check what an agent installs; build a tested Python Modbus and OPC UA data logger; and review and simulate AI-generated IEC 61131-3 Structured Text before it goes near a machine.
- Explain what a coding agent does and which engineering tasks to give it
- Install and configure Claude Code, Cursor and GitHub Copilot with safe permission modes
- Write a one-page spec with acceptance tests before prompting
- Review AI code with a checklist and catch invented functions and swallowed errors
- Use pytest and Git so every agent change can be proved or undone
- Connect tools through MCP and keep plant-facing tools read only
- Keep credentials out of prompts and repositories and check every new dependency
- Build a tested Python Modbus and OPC UA logger and review AI-written Structured Text in a simulator
Syllabus
Course content, module by module
In order, at whatever pace suits you. Each module ends with a practice task that builds on the last.
- Modules
- 13
- Video lessons
- 33
- Of video
- 10h 13m
- Final questions
- 15
- 01
What agentic coding is, and what it is not
2 lessons · 31m - 02
Setting up Claude Code
2 lessons · 1h 4m - 03
Setting up Cursor
2 lessons · 1h 5m - 04
Setting up GitHub Copilot
4 lessons · 30m - 05
Spec first: prompting an agent for code
3 lessons · 1h 4m - 06
Reading and reviewing AI code
3 lessons · 45m - 07
Tests as guardrails
2 lessons · 51m - 08
Git and safe rollbacks
2 lessons · 52m Final assessment · 15 questions, pass mark 60%
Project
The course project
Optional practice that ends in the kind of job the course prepares you for, with the documents that go with it.
About 10 hours
Building a tank skid dashboard with an AI coding agent: spec, tests, review log and a read-only data path
Use Claude Code, Cursor or GitHub Copilot to build a small plant dashboard for a clear-water tank skid: it reads the CSV written by the course's Modbus logger, shows the latest good values, raises high and low alarms and reports data availability. You write the spec and the tests first, review and log everything the agent produces, keep the data path read only and the secrets out of the repository. The sample pack shows each document for a textile processing unit in Egypt.
Sample document pack, 5 documents, filled in for the scenario
- FDSFunctional specification: T-101 clear-water tank dashboard
- Tag listTag list: T-101 dashboard
- Risk registerRisk register: building the dashboard with an AI agent
- Test reportTest report: T-101 dashboard, version A
- ReportAI review log: what the agent produced and what was changed
Read inside the course and download as a workbook. The project is optional practice, marked when you submit it; the certificate needs only the modules and the final assessment.
Tools
Software, hardware and lessons
Software
VS Code, Python 3.10 or later, Git, and at least one of Claude Code, Cursor or GitHub Copilot. Cursor and Copilot have free plans; Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan or a Console account. A PLC simulator (PLCSIM, CODESYS or OpenPLC) for the Structured Text module.
Hardware
A computer that runs VS Code. No PLC or plant equipment: every exercise runs against simulators.
Who it is for
Beginner to intermediate. For engineers who script or want to: PLC and SCADA engineers, data and AI learners, and engineering students. You should be able to read a short Python program; no professional software experience is needed.
Video lessons by
- Anthropic
- Tech With Tim
- freeCodeCamp.org
- Cursor
- Visual Studio Code
- GitHub
- IBM Technology
- Microsoft Developer
- Corey Schafer
- Jakob Sagatowski
Independent creators, credited in full under Credits.
Software you need
What to download, where from, what it costs and how to install it. Every link goes to the maker's own site, never a mirror.
One AI coding tool is enough for every exercise. pymodbus, asyncua, pytest and streamlit install with pip; the Structured Text module needs one PLC simulator.
Required
- 01Free
Python
Python Software Foundation
- Runs on
- Windows (not Windows 7 or earlier), macOS and Linux. Windows builds for x64, 32-bit and Arm64.
- Account
- None needed
Python is free, open source software. You can use it for learning and for commercial work at no cost.
Steps
- 1.Open python.org/downloads and click the download button for your system.
- 2.On Windows, run the Python install manager (or the classic 64-bit installer) you downloaded.
- 3.If you use the classic installer, tick "Add python.exe to PATH" on the first screen, then click Install Now.
- 4.Open a new Command Prompt or Terminal and run: python --version (on Windows you can also run: py --version).
- 5.Install packages with pip, for example: python -m pip install requests
- pip comes with Python. Run it as python -m pip so it always matches the Python you are using.
- Python.org now recommends the Python install manager on Windows. If it offers to add its folder to PATH, say yes so the python command works everywhere.
- Make a virtual environment for each project: python -m venv .venv
Official download pagepython.orgAlternatives
- Anaconda Distribution: Python with 600+ data science packages and Jupyter already included.
- 02Free
Visual Studio Code
Microsoft
- Runs on
- Windows 64-bit (supported Windows client versions), macOS (latest and two previous releases), Linux (Ubuntu 20.04, Debian 10, RHEL 8, Fedora 36 or later)
- Account
- None needed
- Size
- Less than 200 MB download, under 500 MB installed
Free to download and use. Extensions from the Marketplace each have their own licence.
Steps
- 1.Open code.visualstudio.com/download.
- 2.Pick the installer for your system (on Windows, the User Installer is fine).
- 3.Run the installer. On Windows, tick "Add to PATH" if it is offered.
- 4.Open VS Code and install the extensions your course uses, for example the Python extension.
- Hardware needs are small: a 1.6 GHz processor and 1 GB of RAM.
- On Windows, the "Open with Code" options in the installer let you open folders from File Explorer.
Official download pagecode.visualstudio.com - 03Free
Git
Git project (git-scm.com)
- Runs on
- Windows (x64 and ARM64), macOS, Linux
- Account
- None needed
Git is free and open source software. Use it for any purpose at no cost.
Steps
- 1.Open git-scm.com/downloads and choose your system.
- 2.On Windows, download the x64 Setup (or ARM64 Setup) and run it. The default choices are fine for most learners.
- 3.Open a new terminal and run: git --version
- 4.Set your name: git config --global user.name "Your Name"
- 5.Set your email: git config --global user.email "you@example.com"
- On Windows you can also install with: winget install --id Git.Git -e --source winget
- A portable version (no installer) is offered for PCs where you cannot install software.
Official download pagegit-scm.com
One AI coding tool
Any one is enough.
- 04Paid plan or API account
Claude Code
Anthropic
- Runs on
- macOS 13 or later, Windows 10 1809 or later, Ubuntu 20.04 or later, Debian 10 or later; 4 GB of RAM
- Account
- A Claude Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise plan, or a Claude Console (API) account
The free claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code. It runs in the terminal, in VS Code and JetBrains through extensions, and in a desktop app.
Steps
- 1.Open code.claude.com/docs/en/setup and follow the native installer for your system.
- 2.On macOS, Linux or WSL run: curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash. On Windows PowerShell run: irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex.
- 3.Open a new terminal and run claude --version, then claude doctor.
- 4.Go to your project folder, run claude and follow the browser prompt to log in.
- 5.Run /init to create a CLAUDE.md, then cut it down to the rules that matter.
- On native Windows, install Git for Windows so Claude Code can use Git Bash.
- Start new work in plan mode (Shift+Tab) and commit before every task.
Anthropic product pagecode.claude.comLegitimate free routes
- Cursor (Hobby plan): A free plan with limited Agent requests
- GitHub Copilot Free in VS Code: A free monthly allowance
- 05Free plan with limited Agent requests
Cursor
Anysphere
- Runs on
- macOS 12 or later (Apple silicon and Intel), Windows 10 or later, Linux (apt, dnf or AppImage)
- Account
- A Cursor account (email, Google or GitHub sign-in)
The Hobby plan is free with limited Agent requests and needs no card. Paid individual and team plans give more usage; check cursor.com/pricing for the current plans.
Steps
- 1.Open cursor.com/download and pick the installer for your system.
- 2.Run the installer and open Cursor.
- 3.Sign in or create a free account when asked.
- 4.Open your project folder, then open Agent with Ctrl+I (Cmd+I on a Mac).
- 5.Press Shift+Tab in the agent input to switch to Plan Mode for larger changes.
- Cursor can import your VS Code extensions and settings on first start.
- Put project rules in .cursor/rules as .mdc files, or use an AGENTS.md at the root.
Official download pagecursor.com - 06Free plan with a monthly allowance
GitHub Copilot in VS Code
GitHub (Microsoft)
- Runs on
- Wherever VS Code runs: Windows, macOS and Linux
- Account
- A GitHub account
Copilot Free gives a monthly allowance of inline suggestions and AI credits. Verified students can use Copilot Student. Paid plans (Pro, Pro+, Max, Business, Enterprise) add more usage and Copilot cloud agent; check GitHub's plans page for the current terms.
Steps
- 1.Install VS Code from code.visualstudio.com/download.
- 2.Open VS Code, select the Copilot icon in the Status Bar and choose Use AI Features.
- 3.Sign in with your GitHub account when the browser asks.
- 4.Open the Chat view and pick Agent or Plan for a task in your project.
- 5.Add a .github/copilot-instructions.md or an AGENTS.md with your project's rules.
- Copilot cloud agent is not part of Copilot Free; on Business and Enterprise an administrator must enable it.
Official download pagecode.visualstudio.com
Optional
Useful, not needed to finish the course.
- 07Free
PyModbus
pymodbus-dev (open source project), a Python or npm package
- Runs on
- Windows, macOS and Linux with Python 3.10 or later
- Account
- None needed
Free, open source under the BSD 3-Clause licence.
Steps
- 1.Install Python 3.10 or later and create a virtual environment.
- 2.Run: pip install "pymodbus==3.8.6" (the version the course code is written and tested for; 3.10 renamed slave= to device_id=)
- 3.For serial (RS-485) devices, run: pip install "pymodbus[serial]==3.8.6"
- 4.Follow the client examples in the documentation to read holding registers from a device or the built-in simulator.
- PyModbus includes a server simulator with a web interface, so you can practise without real hardware.
- Only write registers on lab equipment. Writes can move real machines.
Official download pagegithub.com - 08Free
CODESYS Development System V3
CODESYS GmbH
- Runs on
- Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit (8 GB RAM and 12 GB free disk recommended)
- Account
- A free CODESYS Store account (one-time registration)
The Development System is free in the CODESYS Store. The setup also installs a demo of the CODESYS Control Win SL SoftPLC, which runs for two hours without a licence and then needs a manual restart.
Steps
- 1.Open the CODESYS Development System page in the CODESYS Store.
- 2.Register once for a free CODESYS Store account and sign in.
- 3.Download the 64-bit setup.
- 4.Run the installer as administrator.
- 5.Start CODESYS Control Win SL from the system tray and connect your project to it.
- When the SoftPLC stops after two hours, restart it from the system tray and log in again.
- Allow at least 12 GB of free disk space.
Official download pagestore.codesys.com - 09Free
OpenPLC Editor and OpenPLC Runtime
Autonomy Logic (OpenPLC project)
- Runs on
- Editor: Windows 10 or 11 (x64), macOS (Apple silicon or Intel), Linux x64. Runtime: Linux or Docker
- Account
- None needed
OpenPLC is free and open source. The Runtime v4 is MIT licensed and the Editor source is on GitHub under GPL-3.0.
Steps
- 1.Open the OpenPLC download page and download the Editor for your system.
- 2.Install and open the OpenPLC Editor.
- 3.Install OpenPLC Runtime v4 on a Linux PC, Raspberry Pi or in Docker, following the GitHub instructions.
- 4.In the Editor, set the runtime IP address and log in to it.
- 5.Write a ladder or structured text program and upload it to the runtime.
- Runtime v4 has no web page at port 8443; connect to it from the Editor instead.
- The old OpenPLC_v3 runtime has been replaced by Runtime v4.
Official download pageautonomylogic.com - 10Free trial: 21 days
S7-PLCSIM V21 (TIA Portal) Trial
Siemens
- Runs on
- Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise 64-bit (24H2), Windows 10 Enterprise 2021 LTSC, or Windows Server 2022/2025. Windows 11 Home is supported only for the Basic editions.
- Account
- A free Siemens account registered for Industry Online Support (SiePortal)
- Size
- about 2.5 GB (ISO)
S7-PLCSIM V21 is offered as a 21-day trial on the same Siemens page as the STEP 7 and WinCC V21 trial. It needs STEP 7 V21 installed on the same PC.
Steps
- 1.Open the Siemens STEP 7 and WinCC V21 trial page (entry 109989774) and sign in.
- 2.Install STEP 7 V21 from the main TIA Portal ISO first.
- 3.Download S7-PLCSIM_V21.iso (2.5 GB) from the section Download S7-PLCSIM Standard V21.
- 4.Mount the ISO, run Start.exe as administrator and follow the setup.
- 5.In TIA Portal, select your CPU and click Start simulation to open PLCSIM.
- Siemens notes that the PLCSIM Standard V21 installation also includes S7-PLCSIM Advanced V8.0.
Official download pagesupport.industry.siemens.com - 11Free for personal use, education and small businesses
Docker Desktop
Docker, Inc.
- Runs on
- Windows 10 64-bit version 22H2 (build 19045) or Windows 11 64-bit version 23H2 (build 22631) or later, with WSL 2 and hardware virtualisation on, 8 GB RAM. Also macOS and Linux.
- Account
- None needed
Free for personal use, education, non-commercial open source projects, and businesses with fewer than 250 employees and less than 10 million US dollars in annual revenue. Larger businesses need a paid subscription. Docker Engine on Linux is open source and is not covered by these terms.
Steps
- 1.Open docker.com/products/docker-desktop and download the installer for your system.
- 2.On Windows, install WSL first (wsl --install) if you do not have it.
- 3.Run the installer and keep the WSL 2 option selected.
- 4.Restart if asked, then start Docker Desktop and accept the subscription terms.
- 5.Open a terminal and run: docker run hello-world
- Turn on virtualisation in BIOS or UEFI if Docker says it is not available.
- On Linux servers, install Docker Engine instead of Docker Desktop.
Official download pagedocker.comAlternatives
- Docker Engine (Linux): Free, open source engine for Linux. Not covered by the Docker Desktop subscription terms.
Checked against each maker's own page on 27 September 2026. Trial lengths and editions change; the maker's page is the final word.
What you walk away with
Your certificate for AI Coding for Engineers: Claude Code, Cursor and Copilot
Finish the course, pass the final, and this is the document with your name on it.
Verifiable by anyone
Adds to LinkedIn in one click
QR code on the certificate
Names what you can do
A permanent link
Earned, not attended
Learning is free. The certificate is optional.
Add it now and pay only when you have finished the course, or come back for it later. One-off, US$23.99, with a receipt.
Issued by Wartens Ltd (England and Wales, company no. 15262249) through the EDWartens training portal, as a Certificate of Completion for this self-paced course. Sold in India by Wartens Automation Private Limited. It is not a vendor certification, a university award or a CPD-accredited activity, and it does not certify competence on live equipment. Delivered electronically; see the refund policy.
FAQ
Common questions
Who is the AI Coding for Engineers course for?
Engineers who write scripts or want to: PLC and SCADA engineers, instrumentation and maintenance engineers, data and AI learners, and engineering students. You should be able to read a short Python program.
Do I need to pay for Claude Code, Cursor or Copilot?
No. One tool is enough to do every exercise, and Cursor and GitHub Copilot both have free plans. Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan or a Console account, so every exercise can be done in Cursor or Copilot instead. EDWartens is not affiliated with Anthropic, Cursor, GitHub or Microsoft.
Will this course go out of date?
These tools change every month. The course was checked against each tool's official documentation on 30 September 2026, the notes say so, and they point you to the official pages to check the current steps. The engineering habits it teaches, specs, tests, review and Git, do not change.
Can AI write PLC programs for my machine?
It can draft Structured Text, and the course shows how convincing and how wrong the drafts can be. Every line must be reviewed against a control narrative and tested in a simulator such as PLCSIM, CODESYS or OpenPLC before it goes near a machine, and safety functions stay in safety-rated systems.
Is this the same as the prompt engineering or Python courses?
No. Prompt Engineering for Engineers teaches writing prompts, and Python for AI and Engineering Data teaches Python itself. This course teaches working with coding agents: setup, specs, review, tests, Git, MCP and security, applied to automation work.
Is the AI Coding for Engineers course really free?
Yes. Every module, the notes, the project and the final assessment. The only paid item is the certificate, if you want it.
What certificate does the AI Coding for Engineers course give?
An EDWartens Certificate of Completion, issued when you pass the final assessment, with a number anyone can verify on our site. It is not a certification from Anthropic, Cursor, GitHub or Microsoft.
How long does the AI Coding for Engineers course take?
About 15 hours of video lessons, notes and practice, taken at your own pace. The optional project takes about 10 hours more.
What is the project in the AI Coding for Engineers course?
You build a small dashboard for a clear-water tank skid at a textile processing unit with an AI agent: a specification, a tag list, tests written first, a read-only data path, a risk register, a test report and an honest log of what the agent produced and what you changed.
Is the AI Coding for Engineers course free in India, and what does the certificate cost?
Yes. Learning costs ₹0 in India: every module, the written notes, the practice tasks and the final assessment, with no card and no trial period. The only paid item is the optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹499 including GST for this beginner course, paid in rupees through Razorpay, and only if you want it after passing the final assessment.
All course factsHide course facts
- Price
- ₹0, free for good. No trial, no card. Comparable classroom training of this length costs about ₹5,999.
- Who it is for
- Engineers who script: PLC and SCADA engineers, data and AI learners, and engineering students
- Format
- 13 self-paced modules, 10h 13m of video, written notes, a practice task per module and one final assessment.
- Level
- Beginner. Beginner to intermediate. For engineers who script or want to: PLC and SCADA engineers, data and AI learners, and engineering students. You should be able to read a short Python program; no professional software experience is needed.
- Brand
- Vendor-neutral
- Software
- VS Code, Python 3.10 or later, Git, and at least one of Claude Code, Cursor or GitHub Copilot. Cursor and Copilot have free plans; Claude Code needs a paid Claude plan or a Console account. A PLC simulator (PLCSIM, CODESYS or OpenPLC) for the Structured Text module.
- Hardware
- A computer that runs VS Code. No PLC or plant equipment: every exercise runs against simulators.
- Certificate
- Optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹499 inclusive of GST for learners in India, verifiable by code. Not a vendor credential.
- Video lessons by
- Anthropic, Tech With Tim, freeCodeCamp.org, Cursor, Visual Studio Code, GitHub, IBM Technology, Microsoft Developer, Corey Schafer, Jakob Sagatowski (independent creators, credited below)
- Language
- English
- Last updated
- 27 September 2026
Pairs well with
PLC programming · FreeSiemens TIA Portal
PLC programming · FreeSiemens TIA Portal in Three Hours
PLC programming · FreeTIA Portal: Build a Machine
Instrumentation · FreeInstrumentation for PLC EngineersMore free courses: Free AI courses for engineers
Classroom course, Bangalore
PLC training in Bangalore
The Automation Engineer Program (AEP) is our classroom course in PLC programming and industrial automation, taught in person at our Electronic City centre.
Credits
Who made the video lessons
The video lessons in this course were created by the people below, not by EDWartens. Every lesson streams from its creator's own YouTube channel; EDWartens neither hosts nor sells that footage, and the creators are not affiliated with EDWartens and do not endorse this course. What EDWartens wrote is the study plan, the notes, the practice tasks and the assessments.
- Anthropicthe talk on the future of agentic coding with Claude Code, and Mastering Claude Code in 30 minutes
- Tech With Timthe full beginner tutorials for Claude Code and Cursor 3.0, and the pytest tutorial on writing tests in Python
- freeCodeCamp.orgthe Claude Code full course on VS Code setup, autonomous goals, MCP servers and GitHub
- Cursorten working tips for Cursor's Agent
- Visual Studio Codegetting started with Copilot Free, the agent mode tutorial with MCP and custom agents, and local, background and cloud agents
- GitHubwhen to use Copilot's cloud (coding) agent versus agent mode, and automating code review and testing with Copilot
- IBM Technologythe explainers on agentic coding, spec-driven development, agentic engineering versus vibe coding, AI in code review, and MCP
- Microsoft Developerthe session on planning, specifying and implementing with GitHub Spec Kit
- Owain Lewisthe lessons on coding with AI agents from a spec and on test-driven development with Claude Code
- John Kimthe lesson on how an experienced engineer reviews AI-written code
- Corey Schaferthe Git command-line fundamentals and the lesson on fixing mistakes and undoing bad commits
- Snykthe lesson on securing AI-generated code
- SiteGround.comthe security checklist for vibe-coded projects
- Nate Herk | AI Automationthe lesson on using Claude Code's safer permission modes instead of bypassing permissions
- Fuzz Puppyrunning Claude Code safely inside a VS Code dev container
- APMonitor.comreading and writing Modbus from Python
- Fusion Automatea basic Modbus data logger in Python with SQLite
- Siemens Knowledge Hubthe introduction to the Industrial Copilot for engineering
- Jakob Sagatowskithe TwinCAT specialist's test of ChatGPT for PLC programming
- Automatedothe guide from prompt to PLC code with AI
- LEARNACONgenerating PLC code with AI for TIA Portal
If you are one of these creators and would like a lesson removed or credited differently, write to info@wartens.com.