Scratch 3.0
© 2019 MIT Media Lab
Scratch is the best way to learn to code. Version 3.0 (released January 2019) was made in HTML/Javascript rather than Flash, and it can work with touch interfaces. It is also backward compatible with previous Scratch projects... and that's great news. So you have nothing to loose, and a lot to gain. The larger button interface offers more sprites, a the sound editor gives you more audio options. This edition runs better on tablet-based browsers, although native apps for both iOS and Android are planned. There are 40 language options. No code functions -- or blocks -- have been removed, but some commands have been changed or moved under "extensions" folder. These extensions let you work with hardware specific products like LEGO or micro:bit. We can expect this library of extensions to grow over time. In order to work with touch devices (namely touch screen Chromebooks, Windows Surface laptops, and tablets) some of the blocks are bigger. The paint editor now has an "eraser" that works in vector mode, with more options for selecting and adjusting colors, and you get more control over vector points (curve handles and point modes) and layers. Other features include new gradient controls, the ability to trim or time-shift sound, and a better tutorial. Scratch 3.0 is designed to work in any modern browser on a variety of platforms—?for the first time including touch devices like tablets. We tried it using Safari on an iPad without problems. There is also an offline version offline editor called Scratch Desktop in case there is no Wi-Fi. The bottom line? This new version of Scratch helps insure that Seymour Papert's ideas have a long and healthy future.
Windows, Mac OSX, Chrome
Teaches: programming, debugging, logic, math, science, STEM
CTR Rating: 98%