From Blocks to Brilliance: My Coding Journey with Scratch and Beyond

                    Author: Tech Insights Unleashed                                                  February 24, 2025

Building from Scratch

Welcome to my journey into the world of programming, explored through Scratch, a block-based visual programming language designed primarily for educational purposes. For those interested, you can view and interact with my Scratch project here.

Image of game load screen. Photo:Scratch

The objective of my Scratch project was to create a game where a fairy sprite navigates through the sky, collecting stars for power while avoiding lightning bolts. Scratch's drag-and-drop interface made it simple to piece together the logic, which was fantastic for a visual learner like me. However, not everything was straightforward; challenges like accurate sprite collision and looping background music tested my problem-solving skills.

Challenges and Solutions

One significant hurdle was ensuring that the fairy sprite detected collisions with stars and lightning accurately. After some trial and error, I adjusted the hit boxes and used conditional statements to fine-tune the interactions. Another issue was the background music looping; I tackled this by setting up a separate script that continuously played the music and used broadcast messages to stop the music when the game ended.

Insights Gained from Using Scratch

Working with Scratch illuminated several programming fundamentals:

Scripting screen in Scratch

• Modularity: Breaking down the game into smaller, manageable scripts for each sprite and functionality highlighted the importance of organizing code.
• Event-Driven Programming: The use of events and broadcasts taught me how programs respond dynamically to user interactions.
• Debugging: Continuously testing and tweaking the scripts reinforced the critical role of debugging in developing functional programs.

Comparison with Other Programming Languages 

Scratch differs significantly from the programming languages discussed in the textbook "Computing technology for all" (Vahid & Lysecky, 2019). Machine and assembly languages, being closer to the hardware, offer speed and control but at the cost of complexity. High-level languages like Python abstract these complexities and provide powerful libraries that accelerate development processes for various applications. In 2025, Python remains one of the most popular languages due to its simplicity and the broad range of applications it supports, from web development to data science and artificial intelligence (Cleveroad, 2025)​

Ease of Use and Popularity 

Popular apps made by Python. Photo from Cleveroad

For beginners, Scratch's intuitive interface eliminates syntax errors and reduces the steep learning curve associated with text-based programming. This makes it particularly suitable for young learners and beginners. On the other hand, Python, known for its simplicity and robust community support, is extremely popular in professional settings where versatility in solving complex problems is required. Its consistent syntax and extensive library ecosystem make it a preferred choice for both new and experienced developers looking to work in cutting-edge technology fields (Cleveroad, 2025)​

This assignment not only deepened my understanding of fundamental programming concepts but also illustrated the progression from a simple, visual programming environment like Scratch to more complex, text-based programming languages. Each language serves distinct purposes, and choosing the right one depends on the project requirements and the programmer’s skill level.

References

Cleveroad. (2025). Most Popular Programming Languages for 2025. Retrieved from www.cleveroad.com

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

Tags: #Programming, #Scratch, #Python, #CodingEducation