Google Blockly — a Language With a Difference

mikejuk writes "There are aspects of Google that increasingly don't make sense. First they dump App Inventor — a graphical language for Android apps — in a fit of spring cleaning and closures — and now they have launched another Scratch-like graphical language, Blockly. However Blockly is different. It works like Scratch or App inventor but it is written in JavaScript. This means it can be included in any web page or web app very easily. This, in turn, means that it can be used for education, getting people to learn to program, or as an easy-to-use script generator for the app. The FAQ gives the example of automating GMail filters and management. The additional difference is that Blockly can compile its programs to JavaScript, Dart or Python so you can take the script and develop it further. This is a really good idea. As long as Google doesn't throw this one out in a fit of reorganization and spring cleaning, it's a welcome new language."

Comments

reinventing the wheel

[Thud457]

I thought Minecraft had comprehensively solved the problem of creating a Turing-complete graphical programming language. It's redstone all the way down.

Re:reinventing the wheel

[Dragonslicer]

You don't need a web server at all for JavaScript.

That's a good one!

[Megane]

As long as Google doesn't throw this one out in a fit of reorganization and spring cleaning, it's a welcome new language.

If the sun doesn't come up in the morning, I can sleep all day!

Re:Tired of Google's lack of product maintenance

[Anonymous Coward]

You should totally post this on Google Wave.

Now the truth can be told

[MisterSquid]

I got a version that looks like this

when (aProblem.comes(along)){
you.whip(it,must);
}
before(cream.sitsOut(tooLong)){
you.whip(it,must);
}
go(forward);
move(ahead);
try(detect(it));
if(it != too late) {
you.whip(it,good)
}