Hopscotch iOS App to get functions!!!!!!
The Hopscotch team has been hard at work redesigning the app with a brand new look. The new version will make coding easier and even more fun. It’s so awesome, we can hardly wait to show it to everyone!
But before we do, we’ll give you an inside look at the making of Hopscotch’s new design. As an added bonus, you get to meet some cool members of the Hopscotch team, and learn what they’re most excited about in the new version.
Francisco working on Dino and Jody:
“I’m excited about the feature to save scripts as abilities, because they make it easier to understand community projects, and you can reuse them for different characters in the same project.” —Francisco
Sam testing out some code on Frog:
Our founder, Samantha John, explains what she likes best about the new version:
“The redesign puts front and center the power of using iPad inputs in your program- I think kids will have a lot of fun with that!” —Sam
August and Francisco designing the new code blocks:
August traveled all the way from Portland, OR to work side by side with us on this new design. Here’s his take on it:
“We all put a little of ourselves into the redesign. We think everyone will appreciate that, and start to see a bit of their own creativity. The new Hopscotch is all about delight, and we made sure every step of the way was fun and exciting for newcomers, but fresh and much more powerful for existing users.” —August
Jason testing out some code on Dino and Monkey:
“The new Hopscotch lets you make little worlds, where you can create programs for the things that live in them.” —Jason
August and Francisco working on the Movement blocks:
In addition to the new design, the next version of Hopscotch will include some exciting functionality that we’ve all been waiting for. We’ll give you a hint: it’s something fundamental to coding… something that will make it easier to create awesome, complex projects. Can you guess what it is?
We’ll let our founder, Jocelyn Leavitt, reveal the answer, in sharing her favorite part of the new version:
“I’m most excited about the functions! And also the new look.” — Jocelyn
That’s right, Hopscotchers! You asked, and you shall receive. The next release will include functions, making it easier to save and repeat sections of code. Inside Hopscotch, functions will be called “abilities”. You’ll be able to create your own abilities and reuse them for different characters within your project.
As for me, (Oh hi, I’m Diana – the Community Manager that answers your emails and tweets. Nice to meet you!) I’d have to say my favorite thing about the new look is the way the characters start out as pencil sketches in edit mode, and then come to life as full color animations on the stage. It’s almost like watching the making of a Pixar movie,… except that you’re coding your own movie!
The new version of Hopscotch will hit the App Store sometime next month. Stay tuned!
Written by Diana Taykhman
