Computer Languages and Scratch

As a gamer, I’ll admit I’ve spent more time than I care to confess impatiently waiting for Grand Theft Auto VI to finally drop. Every delay felt like torture. Seriously, how long could it possibly take to make a game? But after building my own small program in Scratch, I had a humbling revelation: even simple projects require careful planning, problem-solving, and attention to countless tiny details. If creating a short animation can present unexpected challenges, it’s no wonder that building a massive, living world like the GTA universe takes years. This project not only improved my technical skills but also gave me a new respect for the complexity of programming and the different types of languages that make such creations possible.

Scratch Project: Dinner Time!

For this assignment, I created a Scratch program called Dinner Time! The program is a short animation featuring a character being called home for dinner and flying through the sky to get there. Clouds drift in the background during the opening scenes, but in the third background, they disappear as the character lands in the forest. This required me to carefully control sprites and backgrounds so they appeared or disappeared at the right times. At first, I struggled with managing these transitions
—removing the clouds from only one scene took more trial and error than I expected. Eventually, I realized I needed to plan out the sequence of events in detail before coding, just as Chapter 10 of the textbook recommends. Scratch’s drag-and-drop interface made the process approachable, but I learned that one misplaced block could completely change how the program behaved.

Through this project, I gained insight into how programming is less about “writing code” and more about logical thinking, planning, and problem-solving. Even small projects have many moving parts, and overlooking a single step can cause unexpected issues.

Comparing Programming Languages

Working in Scratch was a beginner-friendly introduction, but it also highlighted the differences between language types discussed in the textbook. Scratch removes syntax rules, allowing beginners to focus on logic. By contrast:

• Compiled languages like C, C++, and Java are translated into machine code before running. They’re fast and efficient, but require more setup and technical knowledge.

• Interpreted languages like Python, JavaScript, and Ruby run line-by-line, making them easier to debug but slower overall.

• Assembly language interacts directly with hardware, offering maximum speed but little portability and a steep learning curve.

• Query languages (like SQL) are specialized for working with databases, retrieving and managing information efficiently.

Compared to these, Scratch feels simple—but it teaches the same logical structure that applies across all programming languages.

Learning the Languages

Based on my style of learning, Python seems like the easiest next step. Its English-like syntax makes it approachable for beginners, yet it remains powerful enough to build complex applications. Each type of language has its place:

• Compiled languages excel in performance-heavy applications like video games.

• Interpreted languages are great for web apps, automation, and prototyping.

• Assembly is critical for embedded systems and device drivers.

• Query languages power data-heavy industries that rely on reporting and analytics.

Takeaways

What began as a simple Scratch project turned into a lesson in patience, planning, and respect for the craft of programming. I now understand that behind every polished game or software program lies months—sometimes years—of planning, testing, and revision. Developers aren’t just writing code; they’re orchestrating thousands of elements to work together seamlessly. Whether in Scratch or Python, the programmer’s ultimate goal is the same: to bring ideas to life in a functional, elegant way. Now, instead of just waiting impatiently for GTA VI, I can appreciate the immense time, skill, and dedication it takes to build something truly epic.

References
FreeCodeCamp. (2020, January 10). Interpreted vs compiled programming languages: What’s the difference? https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/compiled-versus-interpreted-languages/
Miller, S. (2025, April 8). What Is Python Used For? Codecademy Blog. https://www.codecademy.com/resources/blog/what-is-python-used-for
Scratch project: Dinner Time! https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1205230105/editor
TestOut Corp. (2024). CertMaster Learn Tech+. http://www.testout.com