Hi all,
I've had this designed for some time but was waiting for feedback to make sure the program works correctly and is well tested. It is now in a very stable state so I feel I can release it to the community.

Basically I have designed a Scratch V2.0 plugin for Arduino. I found that there was already extensions around that worked well but getting them setup was difficult and something I though many teachers may not be able to do so my aim was to make an extension that is as simple as possible to use. Hence the program removes the need to use the Arduino IDE, Arduino code, install python or use command-line tools and basically requires the user to press 3 buttons in turn to get the Arduino to work correctly with Scratch.

In summary:

This is a program I developed to make it as simple as possible to hook an Arduino up to Scratch V2. It removes the need to use the Arduino IDE, Arduino code, python or command-line tools and basically requires the user to press 3 buttons in turn.

Download: http://thomaspreece.com/resources/

Advantages over other Arduino plugins: Very simple, requires no knowledge of Arduino and very little computing knowledge.

Which Scratch Version: Works with Scratch V2.0. Both the online and offline versions are compatable with the plugin.

Which OS: At the moment it only works with Windows XP/7/8 but when I get around to it, I will get it working on Mac too.

What else do I need: You also need Java installed

Also all feedback is greatly appreciated

Hi,
I tested on Windows x64bits and the A4S server doesn't work.

Thanks a lot for your idea and your work,
Sebastien

And I think it should be more easy to understand/modify/update :

• a folder just for A4S
  

• one for ArduinoUploader,
  

• but one specific for firmware : like that everyone can choose its firmware.
  

Your file LanguageFile is easy to translate, thanks a lot. But I tried to translate the A4S.s2e and it changes nothing…

Hi SuperEasy-A4S,
or should i say Thomas Preece? This works perfect, i actually try the A4S from the Github but i am lost when they say to run the server, but using your A4S, it's very easy. You are genius. Thank you for this kind of program, it really helps me alot. I use Windows 7 64bit. Can you suggest how to setup using a motor? I have use a motor driver but sometimes this software drops when you give more power to the motor.
thank you very much.

Hi Thomas,

Very nice work, but I have a little problem.
I have Java 1.8 installed, but the log file indicates that I need 1.7. Is there a way to make it work with 1.8?

thanks.

Just tried it on Win8.1 64bit and it worked fine

Simon

Congratulations on your work, I will use to teach lay people to start programming microcontrollers.
What do I need to write into the Arduino, to run off- line.
Ronaldo Marins

Congratulations on your work, I will use to teach lay people to start programming microcontrollers.
What do I need to write into the Arduino, to run off- line.
Ronaldo Martins

This is marvellous.

I have it working smoothly on 64 bit Windows 7 with a Duemilanove 328 over Bluetooth.
The ability to change baud rates and avoid all the messing that goes with reprogramming Bluetooth modules is a godsend.
Really, well done.

Just out of interest how hard would it be to extend this to the ATtiny?
Apart from including another Firmata sketch how would you let Scratch handle the different pin layout?

Great stuff.

Hi Thomas,

Appreciate your great effort.

But, I failed to make servo to initialize and work.

So, I am trying to recompile latest version of A4S.java from https://github.com/damellis/A4S on Windows7 x64 for A4S.jar

Your input will be highly appreciated.

Yours sincerely,
kk

Hi all,
Sorry for not responding sooner, I don't really visit the forum and I've been fairly busy with other stuff recently. I know many of you above have contacted me via my website form so I know your questions have been answered but I'll try to give a brief answer to the things I feel important.

I hope that scanet has managed to get it working by now, I've not had any reports of it not working on Win7 64bit recently.

And I think it should be more easy to understand/modify/update :
a folder just for A4S
one for ArduinoUploader,
but one specific for firmware : like that everyone can choose its firmware.
Your file LanguageFile is easy to translate, thanks a lot. But I tried to translate the A4S.s2e and it changes nothing…

Very good points you have made. In the newest version I have restructured the code into specific folders to make it a lot easier for anyone to edit and created build scripts that pull all the required files from these folders.

But I tried to translate the A4S.s2e and it changes nothing…
This is important! A4S.s2e does nothing as it is already combined with the ImportBlocks.sb2 and EsploraBlocks.sb2 files. When you load these files it also loads an embedded version of A4S.s2e contained in the sb2 files so changing the external A4S.s2e does nothing.
To change the embedded version you need to download the offline version of Scratch 2.0. Open up the sb2 file. Goto ‘More Blocks’. Next to A4S click the down arrow and click ‘Remove Extension Blocks’. Now hold the Shift key and click the ‘File’ menu. You should now see the hidden option ‘Import experimental Scratch Extension’. Click it. A dialog pops up, navigate to A4S.s2e and open it. Save sb2 file again. You have now embedded your new version of A4S.s2e into the sb2 file.

As for all the other problems, they should of been solved by my newest released version V1.4. Especially problems to do with Servos.

joblog asks ‘Just out of interest how hard would it be to extend this to the ATtiny?’
Not too difficult to do! You can use any arduino compatible chip with SuperEasy-A4S but it is slightly more complicated. You simply need to upload the code manually using the Arduino IDE. The code can be found here. You just need to edit a single line. Find ‘##BaudRatePlaceHolder##’ in the file and replace it with your required Baud Rate. Then upload as normal. After that you can use the chip the same as you would any other chip by going straight to Step 3 and following the instructions.

Anyway if anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me via the form on my website.
Thanks
Thomas Preece

TL;DR:
There is a new version V1.4 that should fix any problems you might encounter using the old versions.

Also forgot to mention (and can't edit first post) that the version for Mac OSX is fully working and available for download.

Hi Thomas

I have contacted you via the contact section on your website. Just wondering if anybody has issues installing A4S on windows 10? I am running windows 10 64-bit and can't seem to get past step 2. ??? Hopefully somebody has an idea how to solve this issue.

W

Hi Thomas and nagelw,

SuperEasy-A4S is running well for me on a DELL 64 bit Windows 10 system (I am using an official UNO controller at COM 10).
(It is an amazingly simple way to work with a Arduino using Scratch!)

I used to like S4A (Scratch For Arduino) but it would not run with Scratch 2 and this one does.

(For Windows 10, the COM number of the controller MUST first appear on the Port: field. The program won't proceed without it. If the Arduino works with official Arduino control program it should work with this program. Try the “Blink” example.)