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 beginner [[programmers]] to develop simple projects. Its simple [[User interface|UI]] allows its users to drag and drop blocks to create scripts that can be played when activated. Although the language is easy to use, tofor developsimple moreprogramming, advancedit pieceslacks ofthe codepower isto almostbe impossible andused requiresfor more powerfulcomplex languagesprograms. 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 already existing programming tool, [[Scratch (programming language)|Scratch]], where the user drags blocks into scripts in succession to create a script. This is found much easier by children than typing out the code manually like other programming languages tend to use. The developers 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 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 variables, math functions and more.

The app is updated frequently. See "Editor history" below for a short summary of the app updates.

== 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 (programming language)|Scratch]]. Use of the 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 numeric, text, or math inputs. e.g. the "move" block. The editor work area is mainly based on a grid divided ininto X- and Y-coordinates.

=== Editor history ===

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=== Code blocks ===

Code blocks are the actions completed when the blocks are triggered, code blocks fall into 6 categories: abilities, movement, drawing, looks & sounds, values, and control flow.

Drag these into and out of the scripts to modify them. Movement blocks make the character move physically on the screen. Ability blocks let you make your own subprogram blocks to duplicate code in a Hopscotch project. Drawing blocks make an object draw stuff. There are 2 “draw” blocks, Draw a Trail and Clear. Draw a trail obviously draws a trail of selected color and width. There are HSB and RGB options for color. Width is determined by the amount of pixels in that trail (citation needed). Looks & sounds blocks are blocks which change the object's looks (such as size, invisibility, and color). Value blocks are blocks that set a value to a specific number or change a value by a specific number. Finally, control flow blocks are blocks thatcan either repeat a code multiple or infinite times, or add a condition which will make the code inside it execute only if the condition is matched. There is 1 exception, the “Create a Clone” block creates a clone of the object. The clone will not execute any of the code programmed for the original object. That's the job of the “When object is cloned” block.<!-- This section needs to be completed. -->

=== Drawing blocks ===

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=== Webplayer ===

The "player" is also available on the web (known as the "Webplayer"). The webplayer brings Hopscotchs projects to almost any browser. It is designed to work the same as the in-app player. Although, the webplayer does not have any functionality for coding, uploading or liking projects. The web version of a project is only accessible via it'sits unique link that is formatted like this: <nowiki>https://c.gethopscotch.com/p/(project</nowiki> id)

== Languages ==