- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: May 15, 2007
- Total Downloads: 20,296
- Downloads last week: 161
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 4 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
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.
Publisher's description
From Scratch :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.
What's new in this version:
This is the first version of Scratch on CNET Download.com.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.2 stars out of 4 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 4 of 4 user reviewsSee all 4 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Scratch
Pros: I like being able to draw your own animation.
Cons: it is not a good digital art tool. dont use this if your a master at digital art.
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Version: Scratch
"Terrific teaching tool for children"
Pros: The concepts that can be taught with scratch go beyond just the animation. To do this you must be able to think sequentially -- a skill that is so needed for children. My students love it.
Cons: There is no con that I can think of.
Summary: The first thing to love is that it's free. The sprites and backgrounds are constructed for children to find attractive, such as a basketball court , a race track, or a beach. It's easy for young children to manipulate the characters and to master ... read more >>
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Version: Scratch
Pros: It didn't cost me anything.
Cons: It wasn't what i expected.
Summary: ok, but it doesn't hurt to try it for yourself.
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Version: Scratch
Pros: I find that as I like to do things my own way, this program is great. You can literally create your own computer programmes. I use it for anything from presentations to music to Gadgets.
Cons: It could use a little more input/output. Mostly the programmes made in it only run within themselves.
Summary: Awsome. Trty it. See the official site at: http://scratch.mit.edu , and see my projects at: http://scratch.mit.edu/users/billyedward. Just to give you some ideas as to what you can make.
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