http://wiki.vfiack.fr/ 2011-06-12T14:10:45+02:00 http://wiki.vfiack.fr/ http://wiki.vfiack.fr/lib/images/favicon.ico text/html 2011-05-13T21:46:13+02:00 vfiack http://wiki.vfiack.fr/blocks:getting_started?rev=1305315973&do=diff The IDE is made of several parts : FIXME image [IDE Description] A: The menu and the toolbar The menu and toolbar are used to manipulate documents, control program execution, and edit the code. B: The code area The code area is where you can see and edit your scripts. You can add call to blocks from the block list (C) by drag'n'drop, and edit parameters and other properties with the property editor (D). text/html 2009-01-01T00:24:37+02:00 vfiack http://wiki.vfiack.fr/blocks:start?rev=1230765877&do=diff Blocks is a block-oriented graphical programming language. Programming is simply a matter of dragging and droping blocks. Blocks can be used as : * an education language, either for non-programmer or to teach algorithmics * an extension language for Java applications * an autonomous script language. text/html 2008-12-31T23:20:24+02:00 vfiack http://wiki.vfiack.fr/blocks:type_equivalence_with_java?rev=1230762024&do=diff Blocks Java * Object text String integer int boolean boolean block org.blocks.runtime.Block other Object If needed and possible, values are automatically converted from one type to the other. text/html 2008-12-31T23:19:54+02:00 vfiack http://wiki.vfiack.fr/blocks:use_blocks_from_java?rev=1230761994&do=diff You can use Blocks from Java in two major ways : * execute a script with some arguments, and get the result or some variable * execute a particular block with some parameters This can be done either through our own API, described below, or with the javax.script API from JSR 223. text/html 2008-12-31T23:14:24+02:00 vfiack http://wiki.vfiack.fr/blocks:tutorial:arguments?rev=1230761664&do=diff Introduction When doing an autonomous script, you may want to get arguments from the command line rather than asking the user to type them in an InputDialog. These will be see as predefined variables : * $0 => blocks file name * $1 => first argument * $2 => second argument * ... * $n => nth argument. text/html 2008-12-31T23:13:52+02:00 vfiack http://wiki.vfiack.fr/blocks:tutorial:block_parameters?rev=1230761632&do=diff Introduction We saw that call parameters are being executed before the call, with their result used as the value for the parameters. Block parameters are a different beast : they are called by the block, not before. A good example of a block needing block parameters is the Test one. If a test is true, it executes one block. If this test is false, it executes the other one. You can pass any block to a block parameter, or you can create an anonymous one that will only be used for this parameter… text/html 2008-12-31T23:13:23+02:00 vfiack http://wiki.vfiack.fr/blocks:tutorial:call_parameters?rev=1230761603&do=diff Reuse the last exercise * We will reuse the code written for the last exercise * If you don't have it, open the Help>Tutorial>4. Slots menu * We have a call to the hello block, with a name typed in Add a call parameter * Instead of hardcoding a name, we want to let the user type his own name * In the block list, select the org.blocks.api.gui package * Drag the InputDialog block directly on the name parameter * When running, InputDialog will be called, and it's result passed to… text/html 2008-12-31T23:12:54+02:00 vfiack http://wiki.vfiack.fr/blocks:tutorial:slots?rev=1230761574&do=diff * Create a new file * Add a new block (named hello) * In your new block, add a name slot with the Add Slot button * Select your slot, and restrict its type to text * When your block will be called, it will see name as a variable * Put a Print block with a message like “Hello, ” * Put a PrintLine block using the name variable for the message parameter. text/html 2008-12-31T23:10:45+02:00 vfiack http://wiki.vfiack.fr/blocks:tutorial?rev=1230761445&do=diff The idea is to have “one blocks file => one concept to see”. You can open the tutorial code from the Help>Tutorial menu. Core concepts * The obligatory Hello World * Defining and using variables * Creating blocks * Slots * Call parameters * Block parameters and anonymous blocks * Command line arguments text/html 2008-12-31T23:06:35+02:00 vfiack http://wiki.vfiack.fr/blocks:documentation?rev=1230761195&do=diff * Getting Started - description of IDE gui * Tutorial * Use Blocks from Java * Type equivalence with Java