Hopscotch is a visual programming language developed by Hopscotch Technologies, designed to allow young or beginner programmers to develop simple projects. Its simple UI allows its users to drag and drop blocks to create scripts of which can be played when activated. Although the language is easy to use, to develop more advanced pieces of code is almost impossible and requires more powerful languages. The use of the language is through an iPad or iPhone supporting Hopscotch.
Video Hopscotch (programming language)
Software development
The idea sprang from an already existing programming tool, 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. Though the developers wanted to take a step back from Scratch and make it slightly easier to grasp the concepts and make Hopscotch easier to use, therefore removing many blocks and adding some of their own in hope to make it easier to use.
Hopscotch includes basic programming blocks and functionalities such as variables, sprites (called objects) and text objects, but also features considered more advanced such as self variables, math functions like sine, cosine, modulo, tangent, inversed tangent and more.
The app is updated frequently with more and more features. See "Editor history" below for a short summary of the app updates.
Maps Hopscotch (programming language)
Editor
The Hopscotch app uses a UI very similar to that of 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 in X- and Y-coordinates.
Editor history
The Hopscotch Editor is available on iPhone and iPad. The iPhone version only supported viewing projects until early 2016, when an update supporting editing and account functionality was released. The Hopscotch iPhone projects play in an iPhone format even in the iPad and web player.
When blocks/inputs
When inputs are the trigger for the script to activate, when a "when" block's input is true (the "when project starts" when block is triggered when one opens the player or taps the refresh button)
list of "when" blocks:
play button is tapped
character is tapped
iPad (iPhone) is tapped
() is tapped
() is pressed
() bumps ()
() is touching ()
iPad (iPhone) is tilted (up, down, left, right)
iPad (iPhone) detects a loud noise
iPad is shaken
() is swiped (up, down, left, right)
() equals ()
() > ()
() < ()
() != ()
object is cloned
(>,<,=,!=) (and, or) (>,<,=,!=)
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.
Drawing blocks
Drawing blocks in Hopscotch work similar to the turtle module in Python, allowing easy and more complex art to be coded.
Player
In-app player
The Hopscotch player activates the blocks in the scripts upon activation of their individual triggers.
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´s unique link that is formatted like this: https://c.gethopscotch.com/p/(project id)
Languages
Supported languages: English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish.
How to change languages in Hopscotch: iPad >> Settings >> General >> Language & Region >> iPad Language >> (Select a Hopscotch-supported language).
References
2. Hopscotch app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hopscotch-coding-for-kids/id617098629?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
3. hopscotch website: https://www.gethopscotch.com/
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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