Visual programming with Alice
Future
The test condition next to while is obviously trivial. Instead, you could have set a more complex condition to tell Nemo to start swimming only if another fish collides with him. Functions are especially helpful in putting together a test condition; you will find them in a tab in the left pane. Functions return values such as Nemo's location, size, or color.
When you hover over one of the functions, Alice marks places in the editor, where you can use them. Just like Nemo, the other objects in the 3D world also have procedures and functions. Alice enumerates them if you click on them in the scene, or if you select them in the oversized drop-down list below the preview.
Finally, note that Nemo consists of several parts that you can move or manipulate independently of one other. If you want the fish to swish its tail, select this.Nemo from the large drop-down list, then move over to the small triangle and opt for this.Nemo.getTail. All the procedures and functions now shown in the list refer only to the tail. In this way, you can animate the tail during the swim.
Conclusions
Programming is not so difficult. With Alice, a few clicks of the mouse are enough to let a fish swim in the sea. This simple animation only scratches the surface of the development environment's possibilities.
If you enjoyed working with Alice thus far, you can simply experiment with the other procedures and functions. You might want to wait for a work-free, rainy weekend for experimentation: Alice is addictive and time flies when you're having fun.
An overview of the user interface is provided by the online help [2], the detailed HowTos, screencasts of the "Alice 3.1 curriculum resources" [3], and various English language books, all of which still reference Alice 2 [4].
Infos
- Alice: http://www.alice.org
- Alice online help: http://help.alice.org/w/page/57584293/Getting%20Started%20with%20Alice%203_1
- Alice 3.1 Curriculum Resources: http://www.alice.org/index.php?page=3.1/download_materials
- Books about Alice 2: http://www.alice.org/index.php?page=documentation
« Previous 1 2 3
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.
-
ZorinOS 17.1 Released, Includes Improved Windows App Support
If you need or desire to run Windows applications on Linux, there's one distribution intent on making that easier for you and its new release further improves that feature.
-
Linux Market Share Surpasses 4% for the First Time
Look out Windows and macOS, Linux is on the rise and has even topped ChromeOS to become the fourth most widely used OS around the globe.
-
KDE’s Plasma 6 Officially Available
KDE’s Plasma 6.0 "Megarelease" has happened, and it's brimming with new features, polish, and performance.
-
Latest Version of Tails Unleashed
Tails 6.0 is based on Debian 12 and includes GNOME 43.
-
KDE Announces New Slimbook V with Plenty of Power and KDE’s Plasma 6
If you're a fan of KDE Plasma, you'll be thrilled to hear they've announced a new Slimbook with an AMD CPU and the latest version of KDE Plasma desktop.
-
Monthly Sponsorship Includes Early Access to elementary OS 8
If you want to get a glimpse of what's in the pipeline for elementary OS 8, just set up a monthly sponsorship to help fund its continued existence.
-
DebConf24 to be Held in South Korea
Busan will be the location of the latest DebConf running July 28 through August 4