Scratch

I just tried the latest version of BYOB and I must say - I'm impressed! I haven't tried BYOB in several years (I think since it first came out) and it's turned Scratch into a true programming language, with parameters and everything. I must admit I find a lot of the programming to be quite befuddling, but that's probably because I'm not used to BYOB quite yet. My head itches at the thought of a script as a reporter (if you want to explain, go ahead - I'd love to get an answer), I'm not entirely sure what the <true> and <false> blocks do, but my guess is that they are what they say they are    - I'm just not sure when I would use them.

I'm completely blank on editing existing blocks with what I believe is Processing, though I'd imagine that would come from Squeaking... I have no idea what the [the ( ) block] block does, but I'd imagine it gives the result of a predicate or reporter block does... And I simply fail to see the difference between the "report" block and what the report field at the bottom of the block-building window does. I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between the "run" and "launch" blocks are, or why you would need the "with inputs" or "with input list" when you could just put the respective reporter blocks just into the block itself, or why you would even need those blocks in the first place. I have no idea what the (copy of) block does, but it looks pretty cool; methinks it makes a copy of a list 

Despite my lack of understanding of the blocks and features of BYOB, I have been able to create a rather fully-featured program with it - imagine if I actually knew what half the blocks did! I'm incredibly impressed with the GUI innovations, such as panning and the resizable block window, the alternating colours between blocks, and the ease of creating new fields (excuse me for not knowing the right term) in each block you create. It truly is a pleasure to use, and surely will bring infinite possibilities to aspiring programmers. I haven't read through the manual yet (which would probably explain my lack of understanding) but it certainly looks like a world of opportunity. Well done, Jens and bharvey!

Hi coolstuff,

thanks for the favorable review of BYOB! It's heartwarming and encouraging to see that (smart) people are able to use it for their own projects even without fully understating what some of the blocks are for. You know, Brian did an awesome job in documenting all the new features. If you don't know what a block does you can always right-click it and select "help" and - tadaa - a help screen for that particular block will pop up, ususally containing an example and an explanation. So, you should be able to get answers to most of your questions by just "browsing" BYOB!

To get an overwiew of the new functions, as well as some pretty advanced programming techniques, check out Brian's "movie" tutorials in his "mystuff" area or on the byob.berkely.edu website (where you can also view them as Quicktime movies). They are pretty short but astoundingly dense and informative.

Enjoy!

Last edited by Jens (2010-07-26 03:17:40)

Jens wrote:

Hi coolstuff,

thanks for the favorable review of BYOB! It's heartwarming and encouraging to see that (smart) people are able to use it for their own projects even without fully understating what some of the blocks are for. You know, Brian did an awesome job in documenting all the new features. If you don't know what a block does you can always right-click it and select "help" and - tadaa - a help screen for that particular block will pop up, ususally containing an example and an explanation. So, you should be able to get answers to most of your questions by just "browsing" BYOB!

Aha! Thanks for pointing that out - I wasn't expecting such amazing documentation for a beta release 

To get an overwiew of the new functions, as well as some pretty advanced programming techniques, check out Brian's "movie" tutorials in his "mystuff" area or on the byob.berkely.edu website (where you can also view them as Quicktime movies). They are pretty short but astoundingly dense and informative.

Enjoy!

I'll be sure to check those out. Thanks!

Jens wrote:

Schaffenswut should probably translate to "obsessively creative" 

Or, as my old boss Ralph Gorin used to tell me, "you're a feature-mongerer!" 

We make a good team.  Yin and yang.

coolstuff wrote:

My head itches at the thought of a script as a reporter (if you want to explain, go ahead - I'd love to get an answer)

... And I simply fail to see the difference between the "report" block and what the report field at the bottom of the block-building window does.

These questions partly answer each other!  If you put a REPORT block in a script, it's a reporter.

Program as data is a hard idea, although once you get it, it makes programming much easier.  Besides the tutorials, read the Reference Manual (BYOBManual.pdf in the distribution folder).  Then come back with questions.

shadow_7283 wrote:

Quick question:
Would hacks to BYOB to create new blocks (in the squeak source code, not using elements) still be effective when compiled?

no, if you have a Mac and you look at the package contents of a BYOB compiled application, you'll see why.

shadow_7283 wrote:

After my argument against Macs do you really think I'd have one? 

Sorry, I forgot about that. I've had a long day. 

ScratchReallyROCKS wrote:

no, if you have a Mac and you look at the package contents of a BYOB compiled application, you'll see why.

Not right out of the box, but if you're a modder, you shouldn't draw the line at modding compile.sh; you can replace "cp BYOB realBYOB" with "cp /users/me/myhackedBYOB realBYOB".

ScratchReallyROCKS wrote:

Wouldn't you just have to replace the BYOB.image file that's in the MacOS folder in the contents?

Yeah, I guess that'd work too.  If you totally replace BYOB with your modded version, then of course it works.  But with some effort in compile.sh you can have two versions and choose which to include with standalone (I prefer that term) projects.

I just made the play sound until block... Check it out here: play soud until block

If you want to add photos, log in the website with your webs ID, or make a new webs ID. the visit this link: BYOB Block Gallery
If you're posting a block please name it this: { (You're name here)- (Block name here) }

Last edited by TheExternal (2010-07-27 13:56:34)

TheExternal wrote:

BYOB Block Gallery

Wow!  You're way ahead of us. 

Sadly, something in my browser configuration is incompatible with that site.  I can see the thumbnails in the gallery (which is enough for blocks 1 and 3) but not the full picture.

shadow_7283 wrote:

Vote to join BYOB3 and Scratch 2.0!

Hey, shadow, I want to thank you for your wonderful response to John's "what part of BYOB3 is most useful"!  (For those who aren't following this survey, he basically said "all of it.")  Your response was eloquent and heartwarming.

2.995.003 bugfix release:

Jens wrote:

- DEBUG reported 'Error!' for all custom reporter blocks
    - non-Western font sets (Korean) did not work in menus with
checkboxes (Edit-options)
    - REPORT in custom C-shaped slots did not always work
    - ASKing a list or a block  showed garbled text instead of the
first-class item
    - Trying to undelete a custom block used to raise an error box
    - double clicking on an "orphaned" variable setter used to raise an
error box

plus some more I forgot just now.