Post #1 - Programming Languages [CLO: 3]

        This assignment was to write a block program with “Scratch”. It was challenging and took some thought to complete. Scratch is not a traditional programming language like C++, Fortran, or Basic, and this was a new experience for me. Understanding the features and capabilities of “Scratch” is not something that can be done in a few hours of study, and I had to minimize my program to the basic features for the assignment. I used five characters from the Scratch library to interact on a beach, two women, a man, a dove, and a crab. They were all out to hunting for something. Be it for food for the body or the heart. All the characters will respond when clicked on by the mouse.

        Scratch is a very easy to use programming language but, has limited capabilities for programmers to make changes to the block scripts. The use of variables and other features require training that may take weeks to master. However, with the limited time I was able to use only the basic features for motion, sound, and control to complete the assignment.  The movement and sound of the characters seemed awkward, and I felt like being bottled inn a small space in my programming. I am sure that these feelings are due to the limited time I had and as the course progresses, my perception will change.

        I had difficulties selecting and setting the interaction of each character. I finally decided to make the character interactive with the mouse and allow the viewer to control the sequence of the story by clicking on the character.

        After this exercise, I learned that each programming language has its advance. The machine language is very precise and require less programming lines but requires more mathematical calculations and detail instructions in programming software to complete a task and it is harder to understand since, no comments are in the compiled program. Languages like C ++ and Visual Basic are easier to use and do provide comments in the complied program, but still requires a programmer to provide detail calculations in the lines of code in the programming. The higher-level languages, like Scratch require more lines of code to perform a simple function, because these functions are preprogrammed in the computer and allows comments in the program to explain the tasks being performed, and it can be re-used to make programming easier. Languages like Scratch use programmed blocks or routines that can be combined to make a software program that is easy to use. Comments can also be used to explain what functions or process is being performed. Languages like Scratch are the of future programming and must be respected. It’s easy to see that Scratch is the easy to use because of the simple drag and drop process used to build a program.

The program can be found at: https: A Day at the Beach