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Microsoft MakeCode

makecode.com

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Re: Microsoft MakeCode

#81

Post by dagw »

sjellis wrote: post #79
dagw wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work in civil engineering and literally every application used here comes with a very powerful scripting environment that could make just about everybody's jobs a lot easier if only they felt comfortable using them. Programming isn't just for programmers, but useful for everybody who has to use a computer as any a part of their job (which is verging on everybody).

"Programming isn't just for programmers, but useful for everybody who has to use a computer as any a part of their job (which is verging on everybody)." VBA does not get much respect, but there are probably a vast number of accountants, managers etc. today that write code in Office applications.

VBA does not get much respect, but there are probably a vast number of accountants, managers etc. today that write code in Office applications.

In my experience the number is far from 'vast'. But whatever the actual number might be, it is definitely much too small.

Re: Microsoft MakeCode

#82

Post by nojvek »

leggomylibro wrote: post #14

Wow, cool - the 'block editor' looks a lot like Scratch. Is it Scratch? I'm having trouble finding many details about the technical side of it. I think 'visual programming' has a lot of promise for education, but...jeez, after looking into it for awhile I'm sort of losing hope that it isn't a gimmick or fad. Has anyone actually made a complex project with these initiatives, and had it spark an interest in computing/e…

The blocky part of scratch got open sourced. This is what it’s built upon.

So to answer your question. Yes very similar to scratch. In fact it transpiles to a JavaScript like language as well.

Re: Microsoft MakeCode

#83

Post by seanmcdirmid »

anonytrary wrote: post #69
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just a correction: you are writing code with visual programming, its just visual code instead of textual code. You haven't gotten rid of code. VPLs are great for people who aren't programmers and don't wan to be programmers; e.g. Facebook designers using Quartz Composer or Orgami, game designers using Unreal blueprints, Blender, and so on.

To be very pedantic, the context makes it clear I'm using "code" as shorthand to refer only to written programs. True, visual code may well be a first class citizen in programming. As of today, there are still programs people would not write visually. It's a tool for simple procedural work, which could change as the ergonomics get even better.

There are codeless visual programming methods, like Pygmalion and Sketchpad, among others. So we shouldn't get confused with them.

Re: Microsoft MakeCode

#84

Post by leggomylibro »

agar wrote: post #29
leggomylibro wrote: post #14

Wow, cool - the 'block editor' looks a lot like Scratch. Is it Scratch? I'm having trouble finding many details about the technical side of it. I think 'visual programming' has a lot of promise for education, but...jeez, after looking into it for awhile I'm sort of losing hope that it isn't a gimmick or fad. Has anyone actually made a complex project with these initiatives, and had it spark an interest in computing/e…

Only a single data point, but Scratch has definitely sparked an interest in programming in my 12 year-old daughter. Though still early days, she has taken her first steps into learning Python. The concepts of loops, variables, counters, and even objects has definitely carried over from Scratch. She still spends most of her time in Scratch though, sometimes creating her own games or drawing programs, sometimes playing…

Well, that is great to hear - with any luck I'm just being too cynical.

But what I'm saying is, it sounds like your daughter has a nurturing environment, easy access to these tools, and a healthy amount of encouragement.

Are these new tools any better at reaching the marginalized people who the projects profess a desire to educate? That's where the real impact would be, in people who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity/environment to learn about these concepts.

But...most of this stuff is fairly expensive, and doesn't seem to be gaining any traction in any sort of national-scale programs. Maybe I'm just not paying enough attention.

Re: Microsoft MakeCode

#85

Post by Anm »

leggomylibro wrote: post #14

Wow, cool - the 'block editor' looks a lot like Scratch. Is it Scratch? I'm having trouble finding many details about the technical side of it. I think 'visual programming' has a lot of promise for education, but...jeez, after looking into it for awhile I'm sort of losing hope that it isn't a gimmick or fad. Has anyone actually made a complex project with these initiatives, and had it spark an interest in computing/e…

There is a lot of research surround this transition, and solid evidence that is does help novice programmers (not just kids) transition: http://www.jite.org/documents/Vol16/JITEv16ResearchP209-226S...

Our goal is to reduce barriers surrounding syntax and discoverability, so that they reach computational skills (sequences, conditions, functions, lists and other data structures) faster and with higher confidence and motivation. With the motivation (e.g., "I already built this") and a solid foundation, text programming can feel more achievable to the student.

Re: Microsoft MakeCode

#86

Post by Anm »

nukeop wrote: post #41

It's sad that these "get everyone and their dog into 'coding'" initiatives by large companies are just attempts to provide cheap workers for themselves in the future. There's so many of them, and yet there's no evidence that they help anyone other than the company's PR team in generating exposure and promoting their products.

If that was the goal, wouldn't efforts be better placed in the Jr Colleges, online courses, and similar institutions. Grade-school level curriculum is a pretty far-future return on investment is the only goal is cheap workers.

Re: Microsoft MakeCode

#87

Post by mynameisvlad »

AgentME wrote: post #66
gwilkes wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know what you mean but Bedrock just has much better performance. The ideal for me would be Bedrock on all the same platforms as Java (including Linux) with a supported way to make mods that didn't break on every version update

As long as we can also run our own servers! There is no server software available for people to run their own servers for the Bedrock edition. I was really surprised when I found that out.

There are a few unofficial projects for a BE server though: https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Bedrock_Edition_server_softw...

Re: Microsoft MakeCode

#88

Post by agar »

glaberficken wrote: post #70
agar wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only a single data point, but Scratch has definitely sparked an interest in programming in my 12 year-old daughter. Though still early days, she has taken her first steps into learning Python. The concepts of loops, variables, counters, and even objects has definitely carried over from Scratch. She still spends most of her time in Scratch though, sometimes creating her own games or drawing programs, sometimes playing…

Exactly my view =) I have a 7yo daughter and she has just tried some block based programming challenges and she loved tinkering and predicting what the program would do, and then fixing the bugs. Gave her a real sense of accomplishment. I also don't think it will automatically send her on to a career as a programmer. But I think it is important for everyone nowadays to have at least an notion of how software works, g…

> I think it is important for everyone nowadays to have at least an notion of how software works, given that there is software is almost everything we use these days...

I couldn't agree more. Education isn't just learning facts, it's providing tools so kids can contextualize the world around them.

When the world is powered by software, even a passing familiarity with the basics of programming will be as important as learning history, literature, or basic science.

Re: Microsoft MakeCode

#89

Post by AgentME »

mynameisvlad wrote: post #87
AgentME wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As long as we can also run our own servers! There is no server software available for people to run their own servers for the Bedrock edition. I was really surprised when I found that out.

There are a few unofficial projects for a BE server though: https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Bedrock_Edition_server_softw...

Do any of them implement the full standard game, including mob AI, the Nether, and the End? It seems like most of them are targeting the easy creative/peaceful mode subset. I'm just a sucker for the full standard game.

Re: Microsoft MakeCode

#90

Post by mynameisvlad »

AgentME wrote: post #89
mynameisvlad wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are a few unofficial projects for a BE server though: https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Bedrock_Edition_server_softw...

Do any of them implement the full standard game, including mob AI, the Nether, and the End? It seems like most of them are targeting the easy creative/peaceful mode subset. I'm just a sucker for the full standard game.

I haven't personally used any of them, but I would have to assume at least one of them does since most hosting providers support both BE and Java (though not on the same server, one could dream...)

I personally have a JE server hosted through a company that I play on. I like the ability to have server-side plugins (through Spigot) and being able to back up my world automatically offsite.

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