On other Linux distributions you’ll have to manually build the project from the source code which can be found here goo.gl/BKX0E. If you’re running Fedora, you can grab an RPM from goo.gl/zXFBX. On Ubuntu, just type in sudo apt-get install scratch in the terminal or look for Scratch in the Software Center. The installation method will change if you’re running Linux. The minimum requirements are Windows 2000 or later, Mac OS X 10.4 or later, Ubuntu Linux 9.04 or later. Head over to the Scratch download page and grab the latest version of the application for your operating system. This workshop will cover everything from the setup to some programming fundamentals.

The program and the interface are quite explanatory (the least you can expect from a programming language learning environment for kids). Imagine Logo with a colorful new interface, a Lego-like way of building your program from blocks, an online repository where you can share and discover new projects (a la Github) and above all the ability to replace the boring old triangular turtle with any graphic of your choice, and the end result is Scratch. Enter Scratch – a brainchild of the excellent people over at the MIT Media Lab, the same people who came up with the revolutionary augmented reality technology called the Sixth Sense, a couple of years back. The only problem with Logo is that it’s too bland, no one let alone kids, likes to stare at a blank screen with a small triangle drawing squiggly lines everywhere. Behind the seemingly benign facade, Logo explored some of the very intricate aspects of functional programming and provided kids with an easy and an interactive way to pick up computer programming. Kids from the 3rd to 6th grade could be found carefully punching out the commands to solve the exercise and watch the ‘turtle’ zoom around doing their bidding. This environment/programming language, call it what you may, had been the mainstay of computer lectures in nearly all schools across the country. Computer lab sessions during school in the late 90’s were synonymous with one thing – Logo.

Scratch sprites free