Programming Languages

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This post covers my unique experience of utilizing the animation program Scratch. It includes a brief description of my personal experience using the program, challenges I faced while using the program and how I overcame them, insights I gained, and how it compares to other programming languages.

This was my first time using scratch and I genuinely enjoyed it. Enough that I started working on another project after I completed the assignment for this class. Now that I am aware of this program, I will continue using it in the future to create animations for fun.

              Being my first experience with the program, there were a few difficulties that I encountered while creating my animation. The most challenging difficulty I was faced with was figuring out that some parts of my animation required creating a loop within a loop. For example, my flashing lights on the Christmas tree change color and size continuously with a short wait block in between cycles. I was able to overcome this with persistence and critical thinking. I didn’t want to use YouTube or any other site that would help me figure this problem out. I wanted to experiment and try different block sequences myself. It probably took me thirty minutes or so to get it right but when I did, it was worth the excitement.  Another issue I had was figuring out the motion of the snowflakes and how the X and Y axes were oriented. To overcome this issue, I simply used one snowflake sprite and adjusted the set X and Y options to see how it would affect the sprites location.

              Insights I have gained from this exercise regarding programming animation is that it takes a lot of time, patience, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Although the coding blocks are already preloaded into the program, there are limitless ways to use them.  It’s really an extension of the boundaries of our imagination.

My experience programming in Scratch compared to using machine, assembly, and high-level languages were a great learning experience. All of this is a relatively new concept to me and it’s interesting to see the underlying mechanics of how it all works. There are many similarities and differences between the languages. Listed below I have included a list.

Similarities

·       Designed to accomplish a specific task or set of tasks.

·       Use inputs and outputs to instruct program on what to do.

·       Require creativity, critical thinking, and troubleshooting skills.

Differences

·       Scratch uses preloaded drag and drop blocks while the other languages are text based.

·       Scratch and other high-level languages are easier to read and write.

·       High-level languages use a “Compiler” to convert to assembly/machine language. (Pankaj, 2018)

·       High-level languages are “easier to code, debug, and maintain.” (Pankaj, 2018)

In terms of what language I found easiest to use, Scratch was the most straightforward. With preloaded inputs in block form, Scratch is easier to navigate and understand. Whereas machine language uses all 0’s and 1’s and is more difficult to interpret and more prone for errors and debugging issues.

High-level programming is frequently used in a spectrum of different applications including creating software products, websites, and video games. It is also heavily used in scientific research, testing and deploying applications, and manipulating and handling large amounts of data. (Programiz)

Low-level programming language on the other hand, is typically used in situations that require precise control of hardware. Examples include graphics and sound cards, embedded systems, operating systems, time critical systems, and creating firmware. (Programiz)

In terms of popularity, I would think high-level programming language would be the most popular amongst programmers. It is the least complicated amongst the other languages, it is the easiest learn, write, interpret, and troubleshoot.

In conclusion, I have acquired an array of new information pertaining to programming languages. I have learned how to create basic animations using Scratch and I have discovered more about machine, assembly, and hi-level languages. I have also learned through the research of these machine languages, more about embedded systems, operating systems, firmware, software, mnemonics, and compilers.

 

SCRATCH ANIMATION LINK

SNOW JAM on Scratch(mit.edu)

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