This is a read-only archive of the old Scratch 1.x Forums.
Try searching the current Scratch discussion forums.

#1 2012-10-11 22:17:58

technoguyx
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-10-18
Posts: 1000+

MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

I recently noticed that the MIT App Inventor beta is open again, and as I've always been interested in checking it out (it was closed for a while), I didn't hesitate to check it out.  big_smile

As you can tell, it's an environment where one can develop Android apps, by designing the UI with a drag-and-drop system, and then code it using blocks, not unlike Scratch.

The interface is amazingly easy to use and pretty straightforward - if you can use Scratch, you won't have a problem getting your head around App Inventor. :3 The block editor is suspiciously similar to StarLogo TNG's.  tongue

All I've done so far is a simple "Hello World" kind of app to test it, and I don't know how far can you push the engine when it comes to game development (as it's not really meant for that from what I can tell), but nevertheless it's a great idea, well executed.  smile  I'll keep fiddling with it when I have time, and I'll be sure to show this to my brother when I can c:


http://getgnulinux.org/links/en/linuxliberated_4_78x116.png

Offline

 

#2 2012-10-11 22:59:47

jji7skyline
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-03-08
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

I remember this from a long time ago, I emailed the ST about possible copyright infringement, then found out that MIT was involved in it  tongue

Glad to see it's back up and running  smile


I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello!  big_smile

Offline

 

#3 2012-10-12 10:03:21

soupoftomato
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-07-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

jji7skyline wrote:

I remember this from a long time ago, I emailed the ST about possible copyright infringement, then found out that MIT was involved in it  tongue

I doubt the ST would care, regardless.
They would probably be happy to see more programs adopting the drag'n'drop method.

Last edited by soupoftomato (2012-10-12 10:03:33)


I'm glad to think that the community will always be kind and helpful, the language will always be a fun and easy way to be introduced into programming, the motto will always be: Imagine, Program, Share - Nomolos

Offline

 

#4 2012-10-12 10:36:39

mythbusteranimator
Scratcher
Registered: 2012-02-28
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

I cant make a game with it.  tongue


http://www.foxtrot.com/comics/2012-04-01-fdb37077.gif
clicky

Offline

 

#5 2012-10-12 11:58:04

technoboy10
Scratcher
Registered: 2007-08-25
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

Pretty sure that mres from the ST is/was involved in this.


So long, 1.4.
http://goo.gl/3JEV9

Offline

 

#6 2012-10-12 22:05:31

technoguyx
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-10-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

Mitchell Resnick? Probably, who knows.  tongue

mythbusteranimator wrote:

I cant make a game with it.  tongue

Well, one of the tutorials is about making a Whack-a-Mole game, so it's possible. Simple games, but games nevertheless.

The Canvas object is a bit of a pain to use though (can't seem to make it fill the screen), and that might make the creation of platformers, etc. harder.


http://getgnulinux.org/links/en/linuxliberated_4_78x116.png

Offline

 

#7 2012-10-13 00:48:04

41w4y5
Scratcher
Registered: 2012-08-15
Posts: 100+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

i think I'm goin to try it


http://i.imgur.com/Em1YC.png

Offline

 

#8 2012-10-13 00:49:24

jji7skyline
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-03-08
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

Can't get the blocks editor to launch ;P


I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello!  big_smile

Offline

 

#9 2012-10-13 11:37:59

technoguyx
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-10-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

^^Ah, it's quite troublesome. You need to install a big (almost 100 MB) package that includes the Android SDK, App Inventor commands, and an emulator, before using the blocks editor. See the Setup page.


http://getgnulinux.org/links/en/linuxliberated_4_78x116.png

Offline

 

#10 2012-10-14 01:13:46

jji7skyline
Scratcher
Registered: 2010-03-08
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

technoguyx wrote:

^^Ah, it's quite troublesome. You need to install a big (almost 100 MB) package that includes the Android SDK, App Inventor commands, and an emulator, before using the blocks editor. See the Setup page.

Done that. Still won't work. Oh well... I'll work it out later  tongue


I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello!  big_smile

Offline

 

#11 2012-10-14 09:13:49

Mokat
Scratcher
Registered: 2011-12-08
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

Wow, MIT has made more programs than I thought xD


http://www.eggcave.com/egg/977371.pnghttp://www.eggcave.com/egg/977376.pnghttp://www.eggcave.com/egg/1005291.pnghttp://www.eggcave.com/egg/996745.png

Offline

 

#12 2012-10-14 09:57:04

technoguyx
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-10-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

^^Well, MIT is a college (?) whose students tend to form many groups, specializing in many areas, doing multiple projects for research. Of course they've done a lot c:


http://getgnulinux.org/links/en/linuxliberated_4_78x116.png

Offline

 

#13 2012-10-14 09:58:45

Gravitation
New Scratcher
Registered: 2012-09-26
Posts: 500+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

technoguyx wrote:

^^Well, MIT is a college (?)

University, actually.

Offline

 

#14 2012-10-14 10:04:07

yousmiledatme
New Scratcher
Registered: 2012-09-26
Posts: 100+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

I'm also pretty sure they've made some big scientific achievements/advancements

Offline

 

#15 2012-10-14 14:52:06

technoguyx
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-10-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

Gravitation wrote:

technoguyx wrote:

^^Well, MIT is a college (?)

University, actually.

I see.

...wait. "Massachusetts Institute of Technology". I just noticed, I posted that other post at like 1 AM lol

yousmiledatme wrote:

I'm also pretty sure they've made some big scientific achievements/advancements

Yep c:


http://getgnulinux.org/links/en/linuxliberated_4_78x116.png

Offline

 

#16 2012-10-17 02:49:51

slinger
Scratcher
Registered: 2011-06-21
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

I started developing a Coders' Shed app in App Inventor  smile
Unfortunately the only way I could use it is through an emulator but whatever :p

Last edited by slinger (2012-10-17 02:50:17)


http://s0.bcbits.com/img/buttons/bandcamp_130x27_blue.png

Offline

 

#17 2012-10-17 07:48:57

technoguyx
Scratcher
Registered: 2008-10-18
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

slinger wrote:

I started developing a Coders' Shed app in App Inventor  smile
Unfortunately the only way I could use it is through an emulator but whatever :p

Nice c:


http://getgnulinux.org/links/en/linuxliberated_4_78x116.png

Offline

 

#18 2012-10-17 08:10:41

slinger
Scratcher
Registered: 2011-06-21
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

Merci, unfortunately I haven't done too much on it :p


http://s0.bcbits.com/img/buttons/bandcamp_130x27_blue.png

Offline

 

#19 2012-10-20 20:08:27

ahirbhairav
Scratcher
Registered: 2012-10-06
Posts: 100+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

yousmiledatme wrote:

I'm also pretty sure they've made some big scientific achievements/advancements

Yep c:

erm Seth Lloyd, who has a group at MIT works on a quantum computer and many well known physicists such as Allan Adams & Walter HG Lewin teach at MIT.

Offline

 

#20 2012-10-21 16:31:21

eventexception
Scratcher
Registered: 2011-04-08
Posts: 500+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

Cool topic!

I wondered why the App inventor went offline.

Offline

 

#21 2013-02-23 21:50:59

beanandbean
New Scratcher
Registered: 2013-02-23
Posts: 26

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

Interesting! Gonna try it.

Offline

 

#22 2013-02-23 21:53:19

Bklecka
Scratcher
Registered: 2011-08-27
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

beanandbean wrote:

Interesting! Gonna try it.

This topic hasn't been posted on in almost 5 months, this is considered Necroposting and is looked down apon by the community, please refrain from doing this in the future  smile


http://i48.tinypic.com/106ijc9.jpg

Offline

 

#23 2013-02-23 21:57:02

Firedrake969
Scratcher
Registered: 2011-11-24
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

Actually, it's not looked down upon if it's relevent/contributes to the topic, which his post does.

I would get it if I had Android.


Click the sign.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/eterna/eterna2/logo2.png

Offline

 

#24 2013-03-08 19:10:16

eventexception
Scratcher
Registered: 2011-04-08
Posts: 500+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

Firedrake969 wrote:

...I would get it if I had Android.

Get a free emulator:

http://developer.android.com/tools/help/emulator.html

Android Emulator
The Android SDK includes a mobile device emulator — a virtual mobile device that runs on your computer. The emulator lets you develop and test Android applications without using a physical device.

Offline

 

#25 2013-03-08 19:43:49

kayybee
Scratcher
Registered: 2009-12-07
Posts: 1000+

Re: MIT App Inventor, an Scratch-like for Android development

but I think he wants to be able to use his app, not just test it...

if he wanted to make a computer program there are a lot of more ways to do that.

Last edited by kayybee (2013-03-08 19:44:12)

Offline

 

Board footer