Computer Coding For Kids: A Unique Step-By-Step Visual Guide, From Binary Code To Building Games

Description

If you like playing computer games, why not make your own? This book has all you need to build amazing games, including thrilling racing challenges, zany platform games, and fiendish puzzles. Follow the simple steps to become an expert coder, using the latest version of the popular programming language Scratch™ 3.0 in this new edition. Improve your coding skills and create your own games, before remixing and customizing them. Jumpy Monkey will show you how to simulate gravity in your games, or give Dog's Dinner a go to learn about collision detection. Pick up the fundamentals of computer programming in steps that make even the most difficult coding concepts fun and easy to understand. Don't just learn how computer code works - understand why it's done that way. Then share your games online and challenge friends and family to beat each other's scores. Once you 've whizzed through the book, the possibilities are endless! Contents......Page 8 FOREWORD by Carol Vorderman......Page 10 HOW THIS BOOK WORKS......Page 12 1 WHAT IS CODING?......Page 14 What is a computer program?......Page 16 Thinking like a computer......Page 18 Becoming a coder......Page 20 2 STARTING FROM SCRATCH......Page 22 What is Scratch?......Page 24 Installing Scratch......Page 26 Scratch interface......Page 28 Sprites......Page 30 Coloured blocks and code......Page 32 Project 1: Escape the dragon!......Page 34 Making things moves......Page 40 Costumes......Page 42 Hide and seek......Page 44 Events......Page 46 Simple loops......Page 48 Pens and turtles......Page 50 Variables......Page 52 Maths......Page 54 Strings and lists......Page 56 Co-ordinates......Page 58 Make some noise......Page 60 Project 2: Roll the dice......Page 62 True or false?......Page 64 Decisions and branches......Page 66 Sensing and detecting......Page 68 Complex loops......Page 70 Sending messages......Page 72 Creating blocks......Page 74 Project 3: Monkey mayhem......Page 76 Time to experiment......Page 84 3 PLAYING WITH PYTHON......Page 86 What is Python?......Page 88 Installing Python......Page 90 Introducing IDLE......Page 94 Errors......Page 96 Project 4: Ghost game......Page 98 Ghost game decoded......Page 100 Program flow......Page 102 Simple commands......Page 104 Harder commands......Page 106 Which window?......Page 108 Variables in Python......Page 110 Types of data......Page 112 Maths in Python......Page 114 Strings in Python......Page 116 Input and output......Page 118 Making decisions......Page 120 Branching......Page 122 Loops in Python......Page 124 While loops......Page 126 Escaping loops......Page 128 Lists......Page 130 Functions......Page 132 Project 5: Silly sentences......Page 134 Tuples and dictionaries......Page 136 Lists in variables......Page 138 Variables and functions......Page 140 Project 6: Drawing machine......Page 142 Bugs and debugging......Page 150 Algorithms......Page 152 Libraries......Page 154 Making windows......Page 156 Colour and co-ordinates......Page 158 Making shapes......Page 160 Changing things......Page 162 Reacting to events......Page 164 Project 7: Bubble blaster......Page 166 What next?......Page 178 4 INSIDE COMPUTERS......Page 180 Inside a computer......Page 182 Binary and bases......Page 184 Symbols and codes......Page 186 Logic gates......Page 188 Processors and memory......Page 190 Essential programs......Page 192 Storing data in files......Page 194 The internet......Page 196 5 PROGRAMMING IN THE REAL WORLD......Page 198 Computer languages......Page 200 Coding stars......Page 202 Busy programs......Page 204 Computer games......Page 206 Making apps......Page 208 Programming for the internet......Page 210 Using JavaScript......Page 212 Bad programs......Page 214 Mini computers......Page 216 Becoming a master programmer......Page 218 Glossary......Page 220 Index......Page 222 Acknowledgments......Page 226