Programming Languages (Scratch Project)

I created a simple program using Scratch, and I have to say it was actually more fun and interesting than I expected. Scratch uses a drag-and-drop interface to let you build programs visually, which helped me think through logic without worrying about small syntax errors. My project included over 30 blocks and made use of motion, looks, sound, and control blocks. I ended up building a short animation where a character introduces themselves, moves around, and reacts to user clicks.

Working with Scratch helped me realize just how much programming is about thinking in steps. Even though I wasn’t writing actual code, I still had to plan the flow of the program, think about when certain things should happen, and use logic like loops and conditionals. It was also cool to immediately see how changing one block could affect the whole project. This kind of trial-and-error helped me better understand how code functions in general.

When I compared this experience to the programming languages covered in Section 10.1 of the textbook compiled, interpreted, assembly, and query languages I noticed that interpreted languages felt the most similar to Scratch. Interpreted languages like Python are usually easier to work with when you're learning because you can run your code right away and see what works or doesn’t. I found Python to be the easiest language to use out of the ones we discussed. Assembly language, on the other hand, was definitely the most complex and not something I’d want to use unless I was working with really low-level systems.

Each language has its purpose. Compiled languages like C++ are great for building fast, powerful software. Interpreted languages are ideal for quick scripts and beginner-friendly environments. Assembly is useful for device-level programming, and query languages like SQL are perfect when you’re working with databases.

 

Overall, this assignment helped me understand that the core of programming whether you're using blocks or typing out lines of code is all about logic, problem-solving, and structure. Scratch made it easier to visualize these ideas, and it gave me more confidence to apply them in other languages like Python.

Scratch Project Share URL:

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1182137764

References

Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2020). Programming foundations with Scratch. zyBooks.

University of Arizona Global Campus Writing Center. (n.d.). APA formatting for Microsoft Word. https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/apa-formatting-microsoft-word

University of Arizona Global Campus Library. (n.d.). Quick and easy library research.
https://library.uagc.edu/research-quickstart