Hopscotch (programming language): Difference between revisions

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'''Hopscotch''' is a [[visual programming language]] developed by Hopscotch Technologies, designed to allow young or [[Beginners|beginner]] [[programmers]] to develop simple projects. Its simple [[User interface|UI]] allows its users to drag and drop blocks to create [[Scriptscript (computer programming)|scriptsscript]]s that can be played when activated. Although the language is easy to use for simple [[Programming language|programming]], it lacks the power to be used for more complex programs. The use of the language is through an [[iPad]] or [[iPhone]] supporting Hopscotch.<ref name="Hanselminutes Podcast">[http://www.hanselminutes.com/417/i-am-teaching-my-daughter-to-code-with-hopscotch-fitzgerald-steele Hanselminutes Podcast, Show #417], Apr 04, 2014, titled "I am teaching my daughter to code with Hopscotch - Fitzgerald Steele", 30-minute interview with father whose daughter tried Hopscotch app on iPad.</ref>

==Software development==

The idea sprang from an existing programming tool, [[Scratch (programming language)|Scratch]], where the user drags blocks to create a script. This is much easier for children than typing out the [[code]] manually like in most programming languages. The [[DeveloperSoftware developer|developersdeveloper]]s of Hopscotch wanted to take a step back from Scratch, making it slightly easier to grasp the concepts and easier to use, so removed many blocks and added some of their own. Hopscotch's notion of events, and rules combining conditions with actions, is similar to [[AgentSheets]].

Hopscotch includes basic programming blocks and functionalities such as [[Variable (computer science)|variables]], [[Sprites (computer graphics)|sprites]] (called objects) and text objects, but also features considered more advanced such as self [[Variable|variablesvariable]]s{{dn|date=April 2021}}, [[Mathematics|math]] functions and more.

== Editor ==

[[File:Hopscotch iPhone editor.png|thumb|Hopscotch iPhone editor]]

[[File:Hopscotch ipad editor.jpg|thumb|Hopscotch iPad editor|223x223px]]

The Hopscotch app uses a UI very similar to that of Scratch. Use of the [[Editing|editor]] is simple, all one has to do is open the editor, tap the object and script you wish to edit, open one of the block tabs, and drag out code blocks. Most code blocks can have [[Number|numeric]], text, or math inputs. e.g. the "move" block. The editor work area is mainly based on a [[grid]]{{dn|date=April 2021}} divided into X and Y-[[Coordinate system|coordinates]].

=== Editor history ===