10 ms·

Microsoft MakeCode

407 points by mdturnerphys 9y ago

wslh 9y ago
It works and it is usable in the mobile phone! That is great.
gwilkes 9y ago
I really don't understand why Minecraft Education Edition (the only way to use MakeCode with Minecraft AFAIK) is only available to schools. I'm willing to pay for it but I'm not allowed to. Not MakeCode's fault, this is great software. But clearly this is Microsoft's fault.
- mmoskal 9y ago
  You can now also use Minecraft for Windows 10, see https://minecraft.makecode.com/setup https://minecraft.makecode.com/setup
  - gwilkes 9y ago
    That is good news, my only complaint now is that Education Edition has a Mac OS version which is the platform I prefer.
    - mynameisvlad 9y ago
      Education Edition is based off Bedrock Edition, which is the console/UWP codebase (as opposed to the Java version available already). You'll have to wait for that to come to macOS first before seeing EE there.
      - gwilkes 9y ago
        I realize that, actually EE is already on Mac OS, it was there even in the beta of EE. I would like to be able to use the Bedrock Edition on Mac OS but EE and being a school is the only way to do that.
        mynameisvlad 9y ago
        Oh, huh, I didn't even realize. I do wonder how far the two codebases have diverged (especially with the recent "Better Together" update on Bedrock). Kind of a shame MakeCode doesn't work on Java Edition, since that's where I invested my time.
        gwilkes 9y ago
        I know what you mean but Bedrock just has much better performance. The ideal for me would be Bedrock on all the same platforms as Java (including Linux) with a supported way to make mods that didn't break on every version update
        gwilkes 9y ago
        Good news for anyone who is interested, it seems Microsoft is working on bringing the Bedrock (C++) version to Linux and Mac OS: https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/769uli/confirmed_c_edition_coming_to_linux/?st=JAMQJKBN&sh=64a761ab https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/769uli/confirmed...
        AgentME 9y ago
        As long as we can also run our own servers! There is no server software available for people to run their own servers for the Bedrock edition. I was really surprised when I found that out.
        mynameisvlad 9y ago
        There are a few unofficial projects for a BE server though: https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Bedrock_Edition_server_software https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Bedrock_Edition_server_softw...
        AgentME 9y ago
        Do any of them implement the full standard game, including mob AI, the Nether, and the End? It seems like most of them are targeting the easy creative/peaceful mode subset. I'm just a sucker for the full standard game.
- abchatra 9y ago
  MakeCode works with Minecraft Windows 10 as well. Please see the setup instructions here: https://minecraft.makecode.com/setup https://minecraft.makecode.com/setup
  - gwilkes 9y ago
    I stand corrected, i don't think that was the case sometime last year when I first checked out MakeCode, glad to see that has changed Edit: I may also be misremembering, I primarily use Mac OS, and Education Edition has a Mac OS version. Plus Education Edition has some unique features that I would like to be able to use.
    - mynameisvlad 9y ago
      Looks like it was added around October: https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Seth-Juarez/Announcing-Microsoft-MakeCode-for-Minecraft-Windows-10 https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Seth-Juarez/Announcing-Micro...
  - scubadude 9y ago
    I assume there's a technical reason that a normal Minecraft account/client can't be used? Ideally, I'd be able to get a free transferable license from the Microsoft store for already owning the game. (lol, I know..) *edit: I shouldn't be so cynical; and am gobsmacked - there is a free version available for existing owners. Nice job Microsoft! (Login to Mojang account to claim the copy.)
    - mnsc 9y ago
      "there is a free version available for existing owners" I was also pleasantly surpise and with this I actually have a reason to use it. My 6y old has tinkered with the tutorial in Scratch and plays Minecraft like a mad man so this is a match made in heaven. Almost makes up for having to buy it one more time on the Switch.
pjmlp 9y ago
It also supports compiling to ARM Thumb. https://makecode.com/language https://makecode.com/language
leggomylibro 9y ago
Wow, cool - the 'block editor' looks a lot like Scratch. Is it Scratch? I'm having trouble finding many details about the technical side of it. I think 'visual programming' has a lot of promise for education, but...jeez, after looking into it for awhile I'm sort of losing hope that it isn't a gimmick or fad. Has anyone actually made a complex project with these initiatives, and had it spark an interest in computing/electronics that didn't already exist? Have they managed to make the jump from visual interfaces to lines-of-code? Is there any evidence that these programs REALLY help when it comes to engaging a wider group of people? I'm starting to worry that it's just more cynical grant-grabbing as the projects pile up and the results don't seem to. I hope it isn't, I just worry that this is all starting to sound a little 'magic solution'-y. The Arduino came out about 15 years ago, for perspective.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- abchatra 9y ago
  There is a toggle between blocks and javascript in MakeCode. You can write code in blocks and switch to javascript or vice versa. This dual modality hopefully helps students to make the jump from blocks to javascript on a long term. Blocks editor is based on the fork of google blockly(https://developers.google.com/blockly/ https://developers.google.com/blockly/).
  - leggomylibro 9y ago
    Cool, thanks for the information!
  - matthewwiese 9y ago
    Scratch 3.0 uses Google's Blockly in their new software, for those curious about the similarities. The tech is widely used in many different applications, as evidenced by Microsoft's use of it in MakeCode. Though I'm not a part of the team and so can't provide much more information beyond an interested outsider, unfortunately. :)
gw 9y ago
The transition between block-based code and JavaScript is implemented better than I expected. If I write something in JS, and switch back to blocks, the equivalent blocks actually appear! Going back to JS shows rewritten code but still readable.
dankohn1 9y ago
I was just about to start an every other day programming course for my 9 and 11yo kids. Could anyone help me compare this curriculum with code.org (which they've used through school)?
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
tonydiv 9y ago
I'm really excited about this project! It seems like it's Google Blockly with a lot more bells and whistles. I'll have to dig into the code more to tell. At BlockSchool, my online coding school for kids 6-13, we've had a pretty good experience using Blockly. We've managed to hook it up to our own Minecraft-esque world. If you're interested in what we're doing with kids you can learn more here: https://block.school https://block.school
- darzu 9y ago
  It uses Google Blockly internally: https://github.com/Microsoft/pxt/tree/master/pxtblocks https://github.com/Microsoft/pxt/tree/master/pxtblocks
fillskills 9y ago
Off topic but this is one of the best UIs I have seen in a while. It clearly illustrates what it is about with examples, tutorials etc. I didnt have to go to any sub pages to understand what it actually does
lerie82 9y ago
I saw something like this before, this might have been it, im not sure. I have been programming for a long time and the block programming looks so confusing to me lol. I am curious if it does help people learn.
shironineja 9y ago
Where can I get one of these for Terraform?
aetherspawn 9y ago
I’m just sitting here in awe over the Minecraft integration. And that’s just one bullet point in the feature set.
nukeop 9y ago
It's sad that these "get everyone and their dog into 'coding'" initiatives by large companies are just attempts to provide cheap workers for themselves in the future. There's so many of them, and yet there's no evidence that they help anyone other than the company's PR team in generating exposure and promoting their products.
- yaseer 9y ago
  This isn't the only reason. It's obvious that coding is becoming a skill on par with math for its utility in the modern world. If more people understand the fundamentals of coding, it will completely change the user interfaces and sophistication of applications in the future. People will be able to code up simple features and behaviours they need, for example.
  - nukeop 9y ago
    Most people don't have the analytical approach engineering-minded people have. They understand most of their surrounding reality in terms of blackboxes. Pull a trigger and a bullet comes out. Press a button and receive a parking card. Touch the screen and the facebook app launches. They're not interested in the internal mechanisms. And if you're not already interested in that, then no amount of coding bootcamps are going to spark that interest.
    - madeofpalk 9y ago
      Sure, but a lot of people don't have the mindset required for cooking or construction or sports, yet these are still things we teach in school and try to make accessible for more people.
      - chrisan 9y ago
        Or any of the liberal arts. The "well rounded" argument works both ways!
    - yaseer 9y ago
adamkruszewski 9y ago
Cool! It just reminded me that yesterday I have stumbled upon a 'visual programming' environment built on Haskell: http://www.luna-lang.org/ http://www.luna-lang.org/ Haven't had time to play with it yet.
etanol 9y ago
I didn't take a deep look, but it reminds me to Bret Victor's proposal on "Inventing on Principle" from 2012: https://vimeo.com/36579366 https://vimeo.com/36579366
mukundmr 9y ago
This is great to introduce programming to my daughter. Switching between blocks and actual code helps.
- manojlds 9y ago
  What age are you starting this with?
2sk21 9y ago
Looks very attractive.
AshleysBrain 9y ago
Microsoft have tried this kind of thing more than once in the past, usually ultimately cancelling the projects. There was Microsoft Popfly (retired), Project Spark (retired), Microsoft Kodu (still going), now MakeCode. I suspect there are even more if you go further back. Our startup has been doing the visual programming thing successfully for around 6 years now, and our latest tool is at www.construct.net. Maybe they should give us a call since it looks like they're struggling to get this right ;)
- pdm55 9y ago
  Thanks for the link to https://www.construct.net/au https://www.construct.net/au. Others are https://studio.code.org/s/express https://studio.code.org/s/express, https://blockly-games.appspot.com/?lang=en https://blockly-games.appspot.com/?lang=en & http://microbit.org/code/ http://microbit.org/code/.
jordanwallwork 9y ago
I ran a code club at my local primary school last year using the micro:bits. They're awesome little devices, super simple to get some pretty effective results with. I had 15 kids aged 7 - 11, some of whom were there only because they went along to every after school club it's cheaper for working parents than a childminder, and all of them absolutely loved it. We did some great little projects - making 'musical instruments' with speakers and the gyroscope, making those buzzy 'steady hand' games, sending messages to one another via bluetooth, etc...

407 points by mdturnerphys 9y ago

wslh 9y ago

It works and it is usable in the mobile phone! That is great.

I really don't understand why Minecraft Education Edition (the only way to use MakeCode with Minecraft AFAIK) is only available to schools. I'm willing to pay for it but I'm not allowed to. Not MakeCode's fault, this is great software. But clearly this is Microsoft's fault.

mmoskal 9y ago
You can now also use Minecraft for Windows 10, see https://minecraft.makecode.com/setup https://minecraft.makecode.com/setup
- gwilkes 9y ago
  That is good news, my only complaint now is that Education Edition has a Mac OS version which is the platform I prefer.
  - mynameisvlad 9y ago
    Education Edition is based off Bedrock Edition, which is the console/UWP codebase (as opposed to the Java version available already). You'll have to wait for that to come to macOS first before seeing EE there.
    - gwilkes 9y ago
      I realize that, actually EE is already on Mac OS, it was there even in the beta of EE. I would like to be able to use the Bedrock Edition on Mac OS but EE and being a school is the only way to do that.
      - mynameisvlad 9y ago
        Oh, huh, I didn't even realize. I do wonder how far the two codebases have diverged (especially with the recent "Better Together" update on Bedrock). Kind of a shame MakeCode doesn't work on Java Edition, since that's where I invested my time.
        gwilkes 9y ago
        I know what you mean but Bedrock just has much better performance. The ideal for me would be Bedrock on all the same platforms as Java (including Linux) with a supported way to make mods that didn't break on every version update
        gwilkes 9y ago
        Good news for anyone who is interested, it seems Microsoft is working on bringing the Bedrock (C++) version to Linux and Mac OS: https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/769uli/confirmed_c_edition_coming_to_linux/?st=JAMQJKBN&sh=64a761ab https://www.reddit.com/r/Minecraft/comments/769uli/confirmed...
        AgentME 9y ago
        As long as we can also run our own servers! There is no server software available for people to run their own servers for the Bedrock edition. I was really surprised when I found that out.
        mynameisvlad 9y ago
        There are a few unofficial projects for a BE server though: https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Bedrock_Edition_server_software https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Bedrock_Edition_server_softw...
        AgentME 9y ago
        Do any of them implement the full standard game, including mob AI, the Nether, and the End? It seems like most of them are targeting the easy creative/peaceful mode subset. I'm just a sucker for the full standard game.
abchatra 9y ago
MakeCode works with Minecraft Windows 10 as well. Please see the setup instructions here: https://minecraft.makecode.com/setup https://minecraft.makecode.com/setup
- gwilkes 9y ago
  I stand corrected, i don't think that was the case sometime last year when I first checked out MakeCode, glad to see that has changed Edit: I may also be misremembering, I primarily use Mac OS, and Education Edition has a Mac OS version. Plus Education Edition has some unique features that I would like to be able to use.
  - mynameisvlad 9y ago
    Looks like it was added around October: https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Seth-Juarez/Announcing-Microsoft-MakeCode-for-Minecraft-Windows-10 https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/Seth-Juarez/Announcing-Micro...
- scubadude 9y ago
  I assume there's a technical reason that a normal Minecraft account/client can't be used? Ideally, I'd be able to get a free transferable license from the Microsoft store for already owning the game. (lol, I know..) *edit: I shouldn't be so cynical; and am gobsmacked - there is a free version available for existing owners. Nice job Microsoft! (Login to Mojang account to claim the copy.)
  - mnsc 9y ago
    "there is a free version available for existing owners" I was also pleasantly surpise and with this I actually have a reason to use it. My 6y old has tinkered with the tutorial in Scratch and plays Minecraft like a mad man so this is a match made in heaven. Almost makes up for having to buy it one more time on the Switch.

pjmlp 9y ago

It also supports compiling to ARM Thumb. https://makecode.com/language https://makecode.com/language

leggomylibro 9y ago

Wow, cool - the 'block editor' looks a lot like Scratch. Is it Scratch? I'm having trouble finding many details about the technical side of it. I think 'visual programming' has a lot of promise for education, but...jeez, after looking into it for awhile I'm sort of losing hope that it isn't a gimmick or fad. Has anyone actually made a complex project with these initiatives, and had it spark an interest in computing/electronics that didn't already exist? Have they managed to make the jump from visual interfaces to lines-of-code? Is there any evidence that these programs REALLY help when it comes to engaging a wider group of people? I'm starting to worry that it's just more cynical grant-grabbing as the projects pile up and the results don't seem to. I hope it isn't, I just worry that this is all starting to sound a little 'magic solution'-y. The Arduino came out about 15 years ago, for perspective.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
abchatra 9y ago
There is a toggle between blocks and javascript in MakeCode. You can write code in blocks and switch to javascript or vice versa. This dual modality hopefully helps students to make the jump from blocks to javascript on a long term. Blocks editor is based on the fork of google blockly(https://developers.google.com/blockly/ https://developers.google.com/blockly/).
- leggomylibro 9y ago
  Cool, thanks for the information!
- matthewwiese 9y ago
  Scratch 3.0 uses Google's Blockly in their new software, for those curious about the similarities. The tech is widely used in many different applications, as evidenced by Microsoft's use of it in MakeCode. Though I'm not a part of the team and so can't provide much more information beyond an interested outsider, unfortunately. :)

gw 9y ago

The transition between block-based code and JavaScript is implemented better than I expected. If I write something in JS, and switch back to blocks, the equivalent blocks actually appear! Going back to JS shows rewritten code but still readable.

dankohn1 9y ago

I was just about to start an every other day programming course for my 9 and 11yo kids. Could anyone help me compare this curriculum with code.org (which they've used through school)?

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

tonydiv 9y ago

I'm really excited about this project! It seems like it's Google Blockly with a lot more bells and whistles. I'll have to dig into the code more to tell. At BlockSchool, my online coding school for kids 6-13, we've had a pretty good experience using Blockly. We've managed to hook it up to our own Minecraft-esque world. If you're interested in what we're doing with kids you can learn more here: https://block.school https://block.school

darzu 9y ago
It uses Google Blockly internally: https://github.com/Microsoft/pxt/tree/master/pxtblocks https://github.com/Microsoft/pxt/tree/master/pxtblocks

fillskills 9y ago

Off topic but this is one of the best UIs I have seen in a while. It clearly illustrates what it is about with examples, tutorials etc. I didnt have to go to any sub pages to understand what it actually does

lerie82 9y ago

I saw something like this before, this might have been it, im not sure. I have been programming for a long time and the block programming looks so confusing to me lol. I am curious if it does help people learn.

shironineja 9y ago

Where can I get one of these for Terraform?

aetherspawn 9y ago

I’m just sitting here in awe over the Minecraft integration. And that’s just one bullet point in the feature set.

nukeop 9y ago

It's sad that these "get everyone and their dog into 'coding'" initiatives by large companies are just attempts to provide cheap workers for themselves in the future. There's so many of them, and yet there's no evidence that they help anyone other than the company's PR team in generating exposure and promoting their products.

yaseer 9y ago
This isn't the only reason. It's obvious that coding is becoming a skill on par with math for its utility in the modern world. If more people understand the fundamentals of coding, it will completely change the user interfaces and sophistication of applications in the future. People will be able to code up simple features and behaviours they need, for example.
- nukeop 9y ago
  Most people don't have the analytical approach engineering-minded people have. They understand most of their surrounding reality in terms of blackboxes. Pull a trigger and a bullet comes out. Press a button and receive a parking card. Touch the screen and the facebook app launches. They're not interested in the internal mechanisms. And if you're not already interested in that, then no amount of coding bootcamps are going to spark that interest.
  - madeofpalk 9y ago
    Sure, but a lot of people don't have the mindset required for cooking or construction or sports, yet these are still things we teach in school and try to make accessible for more people.
    - chrisan 9y ago
      Or any of the liberal arts. The "well rounded" argument works both ways!
  - yaseer 9y ago

adamkruszewski 9y ago

Cool! It just reminded me that yesterday I have stumbled upon a 'visual programming' environment built on Haskell: http://www.luna-lang.org/ http://www.luna-lang.org/ Haven't had time to play with it yet.

etanol 9y ago

I didn't take a deep look, but it reminds me to Bret Victor's proposal on "Inventing on Principle" from 2012: https://vimeo.com/36579366 https://vimeo.com/36579366

mukundmr 9y ago

This is great to introduce programming to my daughter. Switching between blocks and actual code helps.

manojlds 9y ago
What age are you starting this with?

2sk21 9y ago

Looks very attractive.

AshleysBrain 9y ago

Microsoft have tried this kind of thing more than once in the past, usually ultimately cancelling the projects. There was Microsoft Popfly (retired), Project Spark (retired), Microsoft Kodu (still going), now MakeCode. I suspect there are even more if you go further back. Our startup has been doing the visual programming thing successfully for around 6 years now, and our latest tool is at www.construct.net. Maybe they should give us a call since it looks like they're struggling to get this right ;)

pdm55 9y ago
Thanks for the link to https://www.construct.net/au https://www.construct.net/au. Others are https://studio.code.org/s/express https://studio.code.org/s/express, https://blockly-games.appspot.com/?lang=en https://blockly-games.appspot.com/?lang=en & http://microbit.org/code/ http://microbit.org/code/.

jordanwallwork 9y ago

I ran a code club at my local primary school last year using the micro:bits. They're awesome little devices, super simple to get some pretty effective results with. I had 15 kids aged 7 - 11, some of whom were there only because they went along to every after school club it's cheaper for working parents than a childminder, and all of them absolutely loved it. We did some great little projects - making 'musical instruments' with speakers and the gyroscope, making those buzzy 'steady hand' games, sending messages to one another via bluetooth, etc...