The best visual programming language is a tool that you can use instead of going through regular coding. The main focus of the tool is for you to create and manage your codes easily. Not all visual programming languages are the same, which is why you should take time to research on which one is ideal for your needs. One of the best places you can look for information on this tool is online, where there are a wide variety of posts about it.
If you want to learn a new way of creating software it may be time to check out a visual programming language. Many developers these days are switching over to visual programming languages because they allow them to better express their ideas. A big part of this is the fact that a visual programming language would allow users to create code in ways similar to how code is written for other programming languages such as C or Java.
Game Builder
Programming Games Made Fun
Game Builder is a simulation game by Area 120. The game simulates game creation that can be easily understood by everybody. It turns the hard and intimidating programming into a more visual approach. Beginners and experienced programmers can build and play their own games with ease. The game utilizes 3D environments for convenient placement of in-game objects. Users are also provided with intuitive construction tools. One of the fun aspects of this game is that it can host multiple users for collaborations and Game Jam events. The programming aspect implemented in the game is a visual programming system with card-based script writing. Expert programmers can perform live coding via JavaScript. Game Builder comes with Poly for finding and installing free 3D models.
PROS
- 3D environments and visual programming system
- Can host multiplayer programming
- Supports JavaScript
- Poly 3D models
CONS
- May require large system requirements
- May not support other programming languages
- Unity and Unreal Editor are still better 3D game engines
Atom
This is programmer friendly editor software which comes with flexibility and highly customizable. It can be used for multi-platforms and allows editing multiple projects at a time. It comes with powerful built-in package manager and auto completion feature. It allows work with multiple panels to edit code. It allows searching facility across the projects.
Aptana Studio 3
This software enables creating web applications in a quick manner. It helps to work with HTML, CSS etc. It enables integrating with GIT and makes deployment easy with wizard features. It allows executing command line terminal and works as a perfect debugger tool. It allows scripting custom commands to extend capabilities.
Android Studio
Complete Free Development Suite for Android
Android Studio is the official development suite from Android, combining all elements of the app building process. With a code editor, virtual android emulator and code templates, this free development suite aims to provide a streamlined service for app creators.
Complete App Development
Thanks to Android’s expert hand, Android Studio is a great piece of software and a real boon for app developers. Everything is polished to a high level, help and advice are professional and to the point, and template code integration from GitHub is as simple as a Google search. Android Studio’s various functions work together seamlessly, meaning that any changes to code can be seen instantly in the virtual device emulator. This brings a whole new level of immediacy often lacking in other development suites. While this software will not be suitable for an absolute beginner, anyone with a basic coding background will understand it quickly.
Fast and Free
Android have provided a fantastic free tool for their development community which should be used by any serious app creator. Android Studio dramatically increases development time, meaning that the tricky creation of interesting apps is more focused on the creative side rather than wrestling with a number of separate systems. Android have always been a community-focused company but with this release the world of app development is open like never before.
PROS
- Free download
- Complete development suite
CONS
- Only for experienced users
- Sole focus on Android systems
Opera Browser
Create free flowcharts for programming students
RAPTOR – Flowchart Interpreter is a free program developed for the Windows operating system, including Windows XP. Designed to help students visualize their algorithms, RAPTOR – Flowchart Interpreter provide visual support and helps new programmers trace the execution through the use of flowcharts. These flowcharts are proven to help student create better algorithms than by using traditional language or written flowcharts alone. For new students or those that are still developing the basics of programming, RAPTOR is one of the most useful tools available.
Create successful algorithms
For beginner or introductory programming students, creating accurate and successful algorithms can be a challenge without the aid of instructions or written flowcharts. Unfortunately, these flowcharts can sometimes prove to be satisfactory at best and not helpful to those who are in the earliest stages of programming. RAPTOR – Flowchart Interpreter, however, provides visually superior flowcharts that students prefer and result in more successful and accurate algorithms. Students can trace the execution through the flowchart visually and required syntax is kept to a minimum.
Perfect for beginners
RAPTOR – Flowchart Interpreter stands head and shoulders above writing flowcharts or traditional language by providing students with a visual cue. In fact, RAPTOR has different modes. By default, students begin in Novice mode that has a single global namespace for variable. From there, they can move up to Intermediate and Object-Oriented modes that feature more comprehensive support.
Author’s review
PROS
- Create more successful algorithms
- Provides a visual aid when programming
CONS
- Only supported on Windows
- Visually outdated for newer OS
Kodu
Game programming environment for kids
Brought by Microsoft, Kodu is a game utility that is designed especially for kids to effectively learn basic programming principles. This 3D game development platform enables the young creators to build the world’s terrain filled with characters and props which you will then program its behaviors and games rules using a visual programming language.
Users can freely download it on the Microsoft Store but, if you own an older version of Windows, you can download the desktop build that it provides on its developer’s page. Bear in mind though that it requires Microsoft .NET Framework for this to successfully work.Play Video
What is the Kodu app?
Kodu is a Microsoft experiment that’s still in development. This means that you should expect a few bugs and the odd crash, but other than that it’s perfectly usable. Actually, what you’ll find here is going to be radically different from any other coding editor. It’s a kid-oriented programming environment that allows any users to build their own games, without writing a single line of code.
Moreover, it features an eye-catching design that makes it feel like a game by itself. It includes lessons and sample games to get you started and make things even easier. You’ll find a handful of ready-made objects, characters, and obstacles, which you can arrange with a keyboard and mouse as well as program it with a special card system.
How does Kodu work?
Once you’ve launched the Kodu Game Lab, you’ll be greeted by an elegantly designed user interface with few options displayed. To start creating a game, just click the ‘New World’ button which will lead you to an interface that presents a single block of green terrain. The game development tools are displayed at the bottom of the screen while placed on the top-left corner are the controls.
If you wish to add characters and objects in your world, just hover your mouse and click on the ‘Object Tool’ button that’s illustrated in a small robot head. Then, click on any empty part of the green terrain, it will prompt a pie menu. It’ll then allow you to add objects like rock, apple, pipe, tree, underwater creatures as well as characters that users will be able to control.
Great to begin with
Kodu is an intuitive children-oriented game tool with which users can easily create their own videogames without any coding skills required. There are some obvious limitations to Kodu, as it’s intended for kids with little or no experience in coding. Nevertheless, it’s a fun and colorful way to get them started in the hobby of making video games.
PROS
- Original visual programming environment
- Powerful yet easy to use editor
- Includes lessons and sample games
- Can also be run on an Xbox360
CONS
- Limited selection of objects
- Still in development stage
Alice
Create Animation and Learn Programming with Alice
Alice is a programming environment designed to make the creation of animation easy. It can be used by wide variety of age ranges and has an educational as well as creative dimension.
The Simple and Educational Way to Animate
With Alice, even beginners can create CGI animated clips by using characters, backgrounds and props from a pre-existing library and placing them into animated narratives through simple programming. Alice also includes a character-building system for those who feel confident designing their own animated figures. It is suited to anyone who wants to make a quick piece of CGI animation, but it is particularly suited to educational environments. A wide range of students, be they children or older users, can understand Alice and use it either for fun, or as a way of learning about the wider field of programming.
Learn Programming while you Tell Stories
Creating animated stories is a fun pursuit for users of many ages, and thanks to Alice, it can also serve as an introduction to programming. Users of many different ages who want to learn about animation or programming can benefit from Alice.
PROS
- Accessible interface.
- Has a good variety of ready-made models.
- A quick way of creating animation.
- Can be used to teach programming.
CONS
- Smaller children will find it complicated.
- Lacks the capabilities of professional animation software.
- Some ready-made models are rather crude.
- Character-builder is limited.
Conclusion:
A beginner in programming can understand and use this visual programming language to create a program showing any information on graphics. This visual programming language is designed as an easy learning and simple program making tool for programmers and non-programmers. It’s easier than other visual programming languages to learn because it allows you to express your thoughts without writing countless lines of code just to show the information.