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You see the code along the side of your screen as you link blocks together and can switch programming languages on the fly to see the differences in language syntax for the same basic program. That makes Blockly a visual editor rather than only a kid-friendly programming language. Not much functionality beyond translating blocks to code.īlockly is Google's refinement of Scratch using the same interlocking building blocks metaphor, but it can output code in several different programming languages including JavaScript, Python, PHP, Lua, and Dart. Kids can optionally share their creations on Scratch's online community.īecause Scratch is free and so well supported, it's one of the first suggestions for kid-friendly programming, and it's easy to see the influence of Scratch in many other kid-friendly programming languages listed here, such as Blockly. Scratch doesn't require an internet connection. Scratch makes real animations and games using either pre-populated images and characters or by uploading new ones. Repeat loops, for example, are shaped like a sideways "U" to let you know that you need to put blocks in between the start and stop of a loop. You stack together programming components, such as actions, events, and operators.Įach block has a shape that only allows it to be combined with a compatible object. Scratch uses a building-block visual interface to create a scaffolded experience for kids and parents. There are even cards kids can use to learn Scratch programming concepts when they are away from the computer. The free language is supplemented by getting-started tutorials, curriculum instructions for parents, and a robust user community. Scratch is a free programming language for kids developed by MIT's Lifelong Kindergarten Lab. Social networking aspect may not be suitable for some children.