A script showing some gpio pin programming using Scratch on the Pi.
In my article for the Raspberry Pi Handbook, I walk through the steps necessary to make Scratch aware of the GPIO (general purpose input/output) pins and create a proof of concept program and circuit.
Scratch by itself is a great tool to teach program development and design. However, sometimes we want to teach our kids more, such as basic circuit design. Using Scratch and Raspberry Pi, we can create applications that have tangible components, such as LEDs. Or we can create external circuits to control sprites in Scratch, such as using a switch to start and stop a sprite.
The Raspberry Pi is a $35 pocket-sized computer that runs Linux and plugs into a TV or a monitor. It’s a full-featured computer that does the things you’d expect from a computer – spreadsheets, web, networking, programming, and hardware hacking.
The primary programming language is Python, but the distributions also include an installation of Scratch 1.4. As the Pi’s popularity continues to rise, Scratch 1.4 is ensured to live a long life. Linux New Media has published the Raspberry Pi Handbook and launched a new publication titled Raspberry Pi Geek.
Check out my Scratch 1.4 book for a thorough Scratch tutorial and example projects that will work on Scratch 1.4.
I’ve been working on a new project for the past couple of months and am happy that I can finally promote it. I’ve been invited to write a column for Raspberry Pi Geek Magazine, a new publication from Linux New Media. In my initial column, I help you create a variation of the class arcade game Breakout.
If you want to create a game in Scratch that has action and consequences, you’ll need determine where your sprites are and what they’re doing at any given time. To help demonstrate how Scratch can sense information about the game in real time, I’ll draw inspiration from the classic arcade game Breakout.
