Scratch logo

Scratch

By Scratch Free Editors' Rating

Key Details of Scratch

  • Create animated stories, video games, and interactive artwork
  • Last updated on 11/17/10
  • There have been 0 updates within the past 6 months
  • The current version has 1 flag on VirusTotal badge_icon

Editors' Review

Download.com Staff Nov 7, 2008

Of late, some of the best technology to come out of MIT's celebrated Media Lab has been built with whippersnappers in mind. The birthplace of the $100 laptop has also issued forth Scratch, a colorful, simplified app that quietly teaches budding young developers the logic of a programming language through animating a character, or "sprite."

The program consists of a four-panel window clearly organizing an elements library, scripting arena, staging area, and preview window. The elements for motion, sounds, and senses are the objects, actions, rules, and conditions of a programming language. Snap them together in the scripting area to make a sprite walk, speak, play music, or interact with other sprites. We applaud that the controls are intuitive enough for kids to begin with simple maneuvers while complex enough to build elaborate games and scripts that make use of various effects to share with family and other Scratch users. Read the full review.

Full Specifications

What's new in version 1.4

Version 1.4 features keyboard input, camera, string operations, support for smaller screens, and smaller sprite thumbnails.

General

Release May 31, 2012
Date Added November 17, 2010
Version 1.4

Operating Systems

Operating Systems Windows, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista
Additional Requirements None

Popularity

Total Downloads 500,619
Downloads Last Week 208
Report Software

Related Software

KeyBlaze Typing Tutor Free logo

KeyBlaze Typing Tutor Free

Free
KeyBlaze Typing Tutor Free
Free QuizMaker logo

Free QuizMaker

Free
Free QuizMaker
Practise Typing logo

Practise Typing

Free
Practise Typing
Workrave logo

Workrave

Free
Workrave

User Reviews

4/5
7 User Votes
5 Star
4 Star
3 Star
2 Star
1 Star

Developer's Description

Scratch is designed for children, this freeware multimedia programming tool makes creating animated stories, video games and interactive artwork a snap. Scratch uses a simple graphical interface that lets users put together multimedia programs without any programming knowledge.
Promo image for CNET Shopping

Get the best price on everything

Shop your favorite products and we’ll find the best deal with a single click. Designed to make shopping easier.