Scratch

archmage wrote:

These are the kinds of blocks/improvements that would help people make higher quality programs. While sharing on facebook and adding a clock is nice the projects will be the same. Let me know what you think.

1. Sprite Duplication: The most essential, block scratch is missing in my opinion. Would get rid of the need to make 100+ separate sprites.

2.Function (custom) block: This would reduce the number of blocks to make a program. Instead of putting 1 sequence of block in many scripts, you would build the block and put in anywhere its needed.

3. Overall Speed Increase: I never really understood why scratch is as slow as it is. Its easily the slowest program making program I have seen.

4. Super Loop (without lag): Every time the forever loop goes by it automatically puts in a delay of a fraction of a second. This makes it hard to do things like sort lists quickly.

5. More Math Functions: It already has some trig functions so why not put in Atan2? Also functions like ceil, floor would be nice but not really too necessary.

6. More String Compatibility: You can put in the string blocks ie. join, in some areas that accept text but not others. It would be nice to use the join block to reference a variable.

7. If touching x,y block: Not really that necessary, but I am used to using something like this in flash and its very useful

8. Save Variables To Cookie: Currently making something that you can play in more than 1 sitting isn't possible. Passwords are too cumbersome and people don't like remembering them.

9. Send/Receive Data from Database: Something like mesh I guess, good for highscores and stuff

10. Multidimensional Arrays (AKA lists in lists, tables): Would get rid of the need for many lists that hold similar data.

1. That seems useful be how are people gonna put different scripts in the new sprite if they wanted to?

2. You can do that with brodcasts.

3. Scratch is slow because it's written with about 1000 lines of code. I think it's slow because Squeak's default memory accalolation is very low. I think.

4. Thats because at the end of a loop Scratch gets rid of the data that was used for the blocks. Then Scratch has to make the data again. I think.

5. That would be epic.

6. I don't know what your talking about.

7. That would be useful in some way.

8. EPIC!!!!!

9. Thats good.

10. That would probabally confuse some new Scratchers.

I put my responses after the question.


1. That seems useful be how are people gonna put different scripts in the new sprite if they wanted to?
-The new sprites would not show up in the editor so you pretty much can't. You could edit the sprites variables by calling them with the join block. For example join baddie+10 set dead variable to 1. If all the sprites do the same thing then the scripts don't need to be different.

2. You can do that with brodcasts.
-Not really, you can sort of manage something similar but it takes longer to call the broadcast and it may disrupt the flow of the program. Plus, it would be simpler to have 1 block.

3. Scratch is slow because it's written with about 1000 lines of code. I think it's slow because Squeak's default memory accalolation is very low. I think.
-1000 lines of code isn't that much. Squeaks memory has nothing to do with it being slow online. Its the slowest creator program I have seen and I think it should be on par with other programs at least.

4. Thats because at the end of a loop Scratch gets rid of the data that was used for the blocks. Then Scratch has to make the data again. I think.
-No, that lag was put in intentionally. They want to slow you down to make it easier to do things like moving sprites. It is useful for moving sprites but not so much for processing quickly.

5. That would be epic.
-The above suggestions would be better but this one is still good

6. I don't know what your talking about.
-You can't call a variable using the join block. You can call a sprite but not a variable.

7. That would be useful in some way.
-Yep

8. EPIC!!!!!
-I think it would be epic if all the above features were also included. Combined it could make for some awesome projects.

9. Thats good.
-Sure is

10. That would probabally confuse some new Scratchers
-Its a table instead of a list. Like those grids in spread sheets. If you can understand lists then tables isn't too much harder.

Last edited by archmage (2010-04-09 13:39:53)

1. I totally agree.
2. The Scratch Team won't make that, plus that would mean Scratch almost turning into BYOB.
3. I so agree.
4. I didn't notice!
5. It wouldn't help much, but okay.
6. I don't get what you mean.
7. You can already do that, but the block you were suggesting would make the script a LOT smaller.
8. I thought of something similar. Great idea.
9. Internet connecting would be nice.
10. I see what you mean. Nice idea.

1. definitely
2. really like this idea. i can picture it now a "c" block with a drop down menu
3. my number 1
4. ok
5. it would be better
6. ok
7. it would help. if i needed it i would put a one pixel sprite in that location.
8. great for big games.
9. need high scores
10. would that be like matrices

chuck norris wrote:

Lucario621 wrote:

Nice suggestions 

lol 

Huh chuck norris!!! wow

Last edited by hdarken (2010-07-26 01:54:22)

Nice ideas!

I really like m44's function block idea. 

Chuck Norris wrote:

m44 wrote:

function block
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/3231/functionblock.jpg

Chuck Norris Approves.

Hdarken approves.