New video for Broken Shell

21 January 2020


To mark the release of my album Artificial through streaming sites and mainstream digital music stores, I released this new video of Broken Shell (see below) shortly before Christmas. The song is one that I wrote many years ago using an acoustic guitar, and which takes on a new life in this electronic version. Among the instruments used is the Novation Mininova. Among the apps used to make the video is Retrospecs, which creates images and videos using retro computer resolutions and colour palettes, and Rotor, which synchronises video clips to music. I tried using the Amstrad CPC screen settings for this video but it wasn’t clear enough, so I went for an early 90s PC style.

Artificial is now available to stream or buy at Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, iTunes, Tidal, and most other places you’re likely to go for your music. For a limited time, you can also download it with a “you choose the price” offer (minimum £1) at Bandcamp. The version on Bandcamp includes an extra song, and a PDF booklet with selected lyrics. I've added a page to my online shop with links where you can find Artificial online.

Find out more about Artificial and see more videos here.

Permanent link for this post | Blog Home | Website Home | Email feedback


Scratch Programming in Easy Steps, 2nd Edition, is out now

15 January 2020


Book cover: Scratch Programming in Easy Steps The 2nd edition of Scratch Programming in Easy Steps has recently been published, bringing this popular book up to date with the latest version of Scratch which launched last year.

Scratch 3 brought a number of changes, including compatibility with a wider range of devices and support for tablets. The extensions feature was introduced. It not only enables the language to be extended to work with third-party services and add-ons, but also simplifies Scratch by moving the Pen and Music blocks out of the standard Blocks Palette. The updated book not only covers the Pen and Music extensions (which were previously part of the core language), but also covers the Text to Speech, Video Sensing, micro:bit and Raspberry Pi Sense HAT extensions.

As with the previous edition, the aim of the book is to give readers a good understanding of how Scratch works, and to give them projects they can use to explore its capabilities. I've covered as much of the language as possible, so readers finish with a good understanding of how they can use the language to make their own programs.

The new edition has been updated throughout with new guidance and screenshots for Scratch 3. There are also several new and enhanced projects:

  • Evil Robot is a redesign of the Hangman word game from the first edition, which has been extremely popular with readers. Now, readers have a chance to experiment with the vector art editor as they create the image of the robot that gradually builds with every wrong guess. I've come to consider the usual gallows image to be in bad taste, and was keen to move away from that in this new edition.

    Evil Robot screenshot from Scratch Programming in Easy Steps

  • Feeding Time uses the Sense HAT on the Raspberry Pi to control a sprite on the screen. You move the sprite by tilting the Raspberry Pi, and fire donuts at dinosaurs using the joystick. The Sense HAT is an official add-on for the Raspberry Pi that adds a number of sensors and input devices to it.

    Feeding Time screenshot from Scratch Programming in Easy Steps

  • Balloon Floater is a game that uses the micro:bit to control a balloon as it navigates a narrow passage. The micro:bit is a cheap computing device that features a grid of red LEDs, a simple electronics interface and motion sensors. You can program it using a Windows PC or Mac.

    Balloon Floater screenshot from Scratch Programming in Easy Steps

  • Space Opera demonstrates the Sound and Music blocks by showing you how to build an on-screen instrument that you can control using the keyboard to play the guitar or by clicking or tapping to play the drums or keyboard. In creating this project (which replaces Cosmic Chorus in the previous edition), I took the opportunity to make it as touch-friendly as possible, so you can use most features on a tablet device.

    Space Opera screenshot from Scratch Programming in Easy Steps

  • Gran Ama's Anagrams Quiz is a new addition to the shorties section, providing a customizable word game that challenges you to decipher scrambled words.

    Gran Ama's Anagrams Quiz screenshot from Scratch Programming in Easy Steps

  • Space Swarm has been updated with improved custom graphics. In this edition of the book, three of the projects now include instructions for creating custom art so readers can practise using the vector art editor, which is the new default in Scratch 3.

    Space Swarm screenshot from Scratch Programming in Easy Steps

  • Penguin Patter is one of the shorties at the end of the book. These one-to-three page projects have been popular with readers. Penguin Patter has been upgraded with the ability to speak using the Text to Speech extension, as has Evil Robot.

    Penguin Patter screenshot from Scratch Programming in Easy Steps

The book also still includes Spiral Rider (showing how to use the pen and sprites together), Super Dodgeball (which introduces cloning), Quiz Break (a maths quiz which demonstrates operators), Going Batty (which uses the webcam), Clap-O-Meter (which uses the microphone), Keepy-Uppy (simple Breakout clone), Shop Cat (arcade game), Abstract Artist (random art generator), Maze Mania (a simple 2D maze navigation script), and Photo Safari (a whack-a-mole game). There is a chapter dedicated to drawing with the Scratch pen too, giving readers a foundational understanding of how to move sprites and use coordinates.

The previous edition of this book covered both Scratch 2.0 and Scratch 1.4, to ensure that readers could get good results on the Raspberry Pi. Now that Scratch 3 runs well on the latest Raspberry Pi models, there's no need to cover the older versions and this book focuses exclusively on Scratch 3. As a result, it's been possible to make greater use of features that were not available in Scratch 1.4, such as My Blocks which helps to structure your programs. It's also easier to read the book now that just one version of Scratch is covered.

The first edition of this book has been hugely popular with young readers and their teachers, and with parents. I'd like to thank everyone who has supported Scratch Programming in Easy Steps over the years, and I hope it will continue to introduce people of all ages to the joys of Scratch programming.

The 2nd Edition of Scratch Programming in Easy Steps is out now. I've collected some links of places where you can order the book here, and you can, of course, also order it through your local bookshop. To find out more, visit the homepage for Scratch Programming in Easy Steps.

You can also find my Scratch resource centre here, collecting together tutorials, sprite packs and more.

Permanent link for this post | Blog Home | Website Home | Email feedback


Dip into the blog archive

June 2005 | September 2005 | January 2006 | March 2006 | April 2006 | May 2006 | June 2006 | July 2006 | August 2006 | September 2006 | October 2006 | November 2006 | December 2006 | February 2007 | March 2007 | April 2007 | May 2007 | June 2007 | July 2007 | August 2007 | September 2007 | October 2007 | November 2007 | December 2007 | January 2008 | February 2008 | March 2008 | April 2008 | May 2008 | June 2008 | July 2008 | August 2008 | September 2008 | October 2008 | November 2008 | December 2008 | January 2009 | February 2009 | March 2009 | April 2009 | May 2009 | June 2009 | July 2009 | August 2009 | September 2009 | October 2009 | November 2009 | December 2009 | January 2010 | February 2010 | March 2010 | April 2010 | May 2010 | June 2010 | August 2010 | September 2010 | October 2010 | November 2010 | December 2010 | March 2011 | April 2011 | May 2011 | June 2011 | July 2011 | August 2011 | September 2011 | October 2011 | November 2011 | December 2011 | January 2012 | February 2012 | March 2012 | June 2012 | July 2012 | August 2012 | September 2012 | October 2012 | December 2012 | January 2013 | February 2013 | March 2013 | April 2013 | June 2013 | July 2013 | August 2013 | September 2013 | October 2013 | November 2013 | December 2013 | January 2014 | February 2014 | March 2014 | April 2014 | May 2014 | June 2014 | July 2014 | August 2014 | September 2014 | October 2014 | November 2014 | December 2014 | January 2015 | February 2015 | March 2015 | April 2015 | May 2015 | June 2015 | September 2015 | October 2015 | December 2015 | January 2016 | February 2016 | March 2016 | May 2016 | July 2016 | August 2016 | September 2016 | October 2016 | November 2016 | December 2016 | January 2017 | July 2017 | August 2017 | October 2017 | November 2017 | January 2018 | February 2018 | August 2018 | October 2018 | November 2018 | December 2018 | January 2019 | March 2019 | June 2019 | August 2019 | September 2019 | October 2019 | January 2020 | February 2020 | March 2020 | April 2020 | May 2020 | June 2020 | September 2020 | October 2020 | December 2020 | January 2021 | February 2021 | May 2021 | June 2021 | October 2021 | November 2021 | December 2021 | January 2022 | February 2022 | March 2022 | May 2022 | July 2022 | August 2022 | September 2022 | December 2022 | March 2023 | April 2023 | May 2023 | June 2023 | October 2023 | November 2023 | January 2024 | February 2024 | Top of this page | RSS

Credits

© Sean McManus. All rights reserved.

Visit www.sean.co.uk for free chapters from Sean's coding books (including Mission Python, Scratch Programming in Easy Steps and Coder Academy) and more!

Discover my latest books

100 Top Tips: Microsoft Excel

100 Top Tips: Microsoft Excel

Power up your Microsoft Excel skills with this powerful pocket-sized book of tips that will save you time and help you learn more from your spreadsheets.

Scratch Programming in Easy Steps

Scratch Programming IES

This book, now fully updated for Scratch 3, will take you from the basics of the Scratch language into the depths of its more advanced features. A great way to start programming.

Mission Python book

Mission Python

Code a space adventure game in this Python programming book published by No Starch Press.

Cool Scratch Projects in Easy Steps book

Cool Scratch Projects in Easy Steps

Discover how to make 3D games, create mazes, build a drum machine, make a game with cartoon animals and more!

Raspberry Pi For Dummies

Raspberry Pi For Dummies

Set up your Raspberry Pi, then learn how to use the Linux command line, Scratch, Python, Sonic Pi, Minecraft and electronics projects with it.

Earworm

Earworm

In this entertaining techno-thriller, Sean McManus takes a slice through the music industry: from the boardroom to the stage; from the studio to the record fair.

Walking astronaut from Mission Python book Top | Search | Help | Privacy | Access Keys | Contact me
Home | Newsletter | Blog | Copywriting Services | Books | Free book chapters | Articles | Music | Photos | Games | Shop | About