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Scratch Project

Thomas Wilson 

The Scratch application is an excellent tool to begin learning how to program blocks in sequential order. Being able to manipulate the program to visually see the graphics act accordingly is a fun and useful learning tool. Learning how to program is essential in most computer application jobs related to software development. For example, learning how to write logic for PLCs in industrial plants is a key part of continuous and safe operation. It is exciting to gain experience with scratch, learn the differences in programming languages, and explain scenarios in which the languages can be beneficial and effective. 

 My experience using scratch was interesting and exciting. Having a basic understanding of ladder logic helped tremendously when learning how to use scratch. It reminds me of a style of programming used in industrial facilities called CFC. The blocks that one is stacking in scratch are just like writing ladder logic rungs continuously with inputs, outputs, timers, and events. As said by Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2019) Like a chef executes a recipe's instructions, a CPU executes a program's instructions. It was difficult to interconnect another sprite and reset it automatically when finished. I noticed that the easiest way to carry out this is by using keys to reset certain actions. It was also difficult to change the background in the middle of an action. This exercise helped me realize how the same actions can be done by writing the program multiple ways. 

 When conducting the activities in sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, and 2.11 in the textbook, I noticed similarities in each exercise that helps with scratch. Section 2.8 shows input, add, output, and stop functions. This helped in scratch when saying start as an input and move to the x axis as an output. Also, adding time or stopping functions. When comparing with assembly language, I did not see many similarities in scratch. When comparing it to high level language, such as python, I noticed that it was similar when writing direct instructions like if, and, or blocks. For example, if the green flag is clicked, then move the output to a certain direction. The biggest difference in programming languages is that the machine language was based off a binary system and high level was based off multiple instructions. A 0 being off and a 1 being on in the binary was like a light switch being on and off. I found that the high output was easier to use because it allowed for much more capabilities with the instructions. If one is simply running off binary instructions and turning something on and off, then it is a basic level of input and output. A good example of machine language programming would be when something is waiting for a 1 then it turns on and then when it is finished it swaps back to off or a 0. According to Citak, E. (2023) Without machine language, there would be no way for programmers to write software that can interact with the low-level hardware of a computer. High level language is good for telling a system to auto start and automatically pulling up a software application to carry out tasks. One can write a script to carry out this task without having to touch it. 

 Overall, I believe this was an excellent exercise to begin understanding the differences in programming language. It is wild to grasp that so many assorted styles of programming can be used for various operations. Using a style of writing like python can be used to write to scripts to tell a CPU to do something automatically. According to Rosa, A. (2023) Python programming language is a scripting language used to develop web applications, data analytics, machine learning, and more. I am excited to learn more about each style of programming and how it can be used to help me develop software and the final project.

 URL for Scratch project: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/942092155/editor 

References 

Citak, E. (2023). Don’t be a bystander, you too can produce. Data Conomy. Retrieved from https://dataconomy.com/2023/07/24/a-beginners-guide-to-machine-programming/ 

Rosa, A. P. M. D. (2023). Analyzing Programming Competency: A Student Perspective in Python Programming. 2023 8th International Conference on Business and Industrial Research (ICBIR), Business and Industrial Research (ICBIR), 2023 8th International Conference On, 336–340. https://doi.org/10.1109/ICBIR57571.2023.10147530 

Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2019). Computing technology for all. zyBooks

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