mBlock for Linux #5
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+100! |
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We are heavy Linux users too. It would be great to have a Linux Package. Thks. |
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the scratch2.0 is based on adobe air2, so be mblock. But it seems that adobe no longer support linux desktops. Maybe in browser scratch-x could be an option to linux users. |
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Scratch 2.0 Offline is also available for Linux, so mBlock should be too. |
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I'm not familiar with Adobe Air but mBlock and Scratch seems different in some regards. For scratch there is only one file Scratch-XXX.air, that is not the case of mBlock or I missed something? A simple tutorial to run mBlock on Linux will be nice. |
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Yes, this would be great, I now have the two robot kits but cannot do Best regards / Saludos Cordiales / Distinti Saluti / Avec mes meilleures Matthias Burkhardt Gesendet mit Oneplus One / Cyanogenmod 12
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mBot is surely usable without Scratch by just using the Arduino IDE and programming C code. However it is difficult to find all related C libraries and firmware hidden somewhere in the sources. It would help to package a repository with C libraries and a brief tutorial only. |
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Arduino IDE 1.6 supports 3rd party hardware - official adding |
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+1 to the Linux Support. The most of the brazilian schools are using Linux. So, if the idea is help children to learn programming, and the most of the schools can use Linux, mblock should try to support linux. |
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Dear friends, The scratch provides support for Linux. https://scratch.mit.edu/scratch2download/ Why don't try to give a version or explain to want to develop one how to create a version of the mblock. You could explain in the wiki how the windows and macOS version were created. What adaptation needed has done to the code to get the versions. Let the community help too. |
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I also need Linux support for using mBlock with our STEM classes. I can use the windows version myself, and plan the exercises, but in class, we only use Ubuntu machines. I agree with @evaletolab: It seems that mBlock software does not use adobe AIR at all. So their lack of Linux Support should not hinder us here. On the other hand, I have not found the build instructions yet, how Mac and Windows binaries are built. Reviewing these would help us better understand the requirements. I don't think these instructions are intentionally hidden. It's under GPL-2.0, and this license clearly says that build scripts shall be included. |
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Linux support is also a must have for me. I managed to run mBlock under Ubuntu with Wine, but I never made mBlock list any serial port, so it's not possible to communicate with the mbot or orion board using USB wire. |
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My kids cannot do anything because of lacking Linux support. The lack of support is a mess, |
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Totally agree with you, same here! The worst thing is that they are now Am 22.09.2015 10:22 vorm. schrieb "olivier evalet" <notifications@github.com
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Just saw that scratch is available for ubuntu in the Software center! So why is no package for mbot available for ubuntu ? Some comment would be highly appreciated. Regards |
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So much reply! OMG! TECH SUPPORT IS THAT BEST! |
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Please, provide support for Linux Regards, Daniel |
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Hi Buggi, To be honest, I suspect the issue is that they have limited programming resources to work on mBlock. Scratch is written in ActionScript and takes proprietary tools to build, so it may simply be a case of aiming at their largest perceived market. I’m wondering (and may investigate when I get some free time) whether or not it would simply be a case of replacing the Arduino executables from the Windows or OS X platforms with ones for Linux. I sent a pull request that they’ve applied to the Makeblock-Library that corrects an issue involving case-sensitive file names (which is not a problem on Windows, but is for any flavor of Unix). To make the development easier and more open, I’ve suggested that they port their code to Snap4Arduino which will give the same graphical block-based environment but it is based on Node.js and Javascript which should make getting contributions much easier given the popularity of Node.js/Javascript these days. I don’t really know of too many people who want to learn ActionScript and those I know really dislike it. Hopefully the Scratch team will consider porting to something like that for the next major version of Scratch. Regards, Chuck
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Useless without linux paquage |
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The biggest issue I see is that Adobe discontinued support for Air on Linux which is what the offline editor is based on. I've made a somewhat pointed comment to the Scratch team about that, but they consider their app to be primarily browser-based, so I don't look for changes there any time soon. Over the holiday, I'm investigating doing a port to Snap! 4.x for Arduino which is based in HTML/CSS/Javascript to eliminate proprietary tools and have a better shot at running on most platforms. Of course, you should be able to run mBlock via Wine or in a Windows VM (unless you are running El Capitan on OS X). Alternatively, you should be able to use the Makeblock libraries with the Arduino programming environment under Linux. That does have the disadvantage of forgoing the mBlock graphical environment, but what the heck, you or your child will run into the walls/ceilings/floors in Scratch/mBlock anyway. I've already bumped up against it not supporting lists or a lot of other options when using the mBot header block because the code generation to do so isn't there (another thing I'll be looking into with the Snap4Arduino port). Regards, Chuck |
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Did you try web technologie like blocky : https://developers.google.com/blockly/ Maybe it will help. Thank you for your job i really hope a linux paquage, proprietary software are not a good idea for educationnal purpose. |
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Interesting, I hadn't looked at Blockly in a while. I can do native code generation from either, so I'll look for the path of least resistance (and effort). Thanks for the suggestion! |
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I quickly looked at the mblock software, especially in the ext/libraries directory. There are multiple subdirectories with .s2e files that indicate the communication between mBlock and the hardware is done via cleartext .js and .s2e files. Similar to the A4S approach, this leads me to believe they do serial communication via the .js files and that we should be able to adopt these files so you can use the standard Scratch for linux and load these as experimental extensions? Again, this needs further investigation, but perhaps someone who worked with these extensions before can help here? |
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I'm trying to make mblock work in Linux using wine. It works fine, but I haven't get serial comms working yet. I'm trying some registry tweaks but my serial ports don't even get listed. Has anybody tried using mblock with wine? |
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I'd also like to add my support for Linux compatibility. I bought a mBot for Christmas for my daughter and was shocked that mBlock wasn't supported. Her computer runs Ubuntu so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it now. Quite disappointed it wasn't clearer on the information. I was going to recommend it to friends but won't be able to until there's Linux support. Anyone had success with WINE or other methods? |
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Hi. Run mBot and Wine Scratch 2, but does not recognize serial port with this method:
At the end uninstall everything. |
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As @cmcknight has said, Snap (http://snap.berkeley.edu) and Snap4Arduino (http://s4a.cat/snap) are the solution. I opened long time ago an issue on Scratch github about get rid of its dependency of Adobe AIR (scratchfoundation/scratch-flash#760) but nobody understood me. |
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GNU/Linux support please! |
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👍 @manuti |
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@Makova ya te he visto pajarillo y me he quedado más tranquilo al saber que hay alguien más tratando de echar a andar esto bajo GNU/Linux !!! |
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And one more vote for Linux version. |
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Nothing, @kwendenarmo and @emnik If any of you guys are willing to help me via Skype or something like it, I'd appreciate it. |
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Makeblock issnt interested on a linux version. |
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Not true. mBlock is built as an extension to the Scratch 2 offline editor which is built with Adobe Air. Adobe has no interest in supporting Air on Linux. You can run mBlock in Wine or Virtual Box on Linux. Blaming Makeblock for something completely beyond their control is pointless. Besides, you can program directly in the Arduino IDE on any platform. Sent from my iPhone 8
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That's great. |
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Adobe has always developed for Windows first and the Mac second. Linux has never been a revenue stream so they don't throw resources at it. Regardless, it's not a Makeblock issue, it's an issue for Adobe and the Scratch team. Sent from my iPhone 8
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Yes, the problem is bigger than mBlock. Maybe is time to leave Air as the basis of Scratch and consequently have a solution for mBlock multi platform : Android, Chrome OS, GNU/Linux,... |
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I've suggested a move to Snap might be in order. You get the block-like visual environment but also first class functions and data structures. Plus it's written in the holy trinity (HTML/CSS/Javascript). The offline version requires Node.js as I recall so everyone is invited to the party. Sent from my iPhone 8
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+1 to the Linux Support |
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I cannot see that this is an open source project. I mean look at the libraries, compiled .swfs? thats not open at all. Like OP, Linux only for me and my kids. |
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@cmcknight I want to help getting a Snap!/S4A port of mBlock on the rails. Anyone: Open Source is what we make of it. Instead of attacking mBlock for their lack of Linux Support, use what you have via WINE or a VM (Windows version), and if you can contribute, let's get hacking on our own Linux version. |
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@cmcknight I understand this will be a lengthy process, if you have no time at the moment, and seemingly nobody (@rootless4real?) currently wants/can help.
This last one is where I believe I can already help. |
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You could try using Wine. Depending on what you are using (I'm using Linux mint Sarah aka 16 bit) Go to software manger and install wine. |
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Was about to buy as Christmas present, glad I didn't. Won't buy without some basic Linux support. Lost a potential customer. |
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To be completely accurate, there is no support for mBlock which is based on the Scratch 2.0 offline editor. Adobe chose to drop support for Linux and that is what the Scratch team chose to use as their underlying technology. You can still use the Arduino environment in Linux, our use Wine as suggested to use mBlock.
…Sent from my iPhone 8
On Nov 25, 2016, at 10:34 PM, Austin ***@***.***> wrote:
Was about to buy as Christmas present, glad I didn't. Won't buy without some basic Linux support. Lost a potential customer.
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You can not make open source with the need of a true open source killer (Adobe). |
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I bought this as a Christmas present for my daughter before I found there is no Linux support, will have to think for a workaround like using a VM for programming but it's not a good option. Casting my vote for Linux support! |
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+1 for Linux support! Scratch 2.0 was a bit painful to get working on Ubuntu (http://elementaryos.stackexchange.com/questions/8376/how-to-you-install-adobe-air-on-loki-64bit), but doable. I'm following @vladr github report closely... |
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+1 for linux support. It would make mbot even more awesome! |
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+1 for a mBlock Linux version. Most of the PCs schools run with Linux. |
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You can use visualino I just translated it in french... Much better, building the project it translates it in ino and you can even load arduino from it. |
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From makeblock on Jan 2017 |
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Use visualino, works fine on ubuntu, I translated it in french.
Le 20/01/2017 à 08:44, alucasr a écrit :
…
From makeblock on Jan 2017
"Dear Lucas,
I'm Sorry that we don't have the ‘Block’ program ready for Linux users
yet. Hopefully, we can provide our Linux mBlock in February, with
whitch you can program mBot and our other products with Linux.
Besides, we offer another way to program mBot through Arduino IDE. If
you are familiar with Arduino, you can view
https://github.com/Makeblock-official/Makeblock-Libraries for solutions."
It will be available on the next few months...
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There is a forum entry which indicates that this could work on Ubuntu Linux: http://forum.makeblock.com/t/running-mblock-in-linux/6216 basically you use wine with this script over USB |
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I've never had a problem to comunicate with mblock using the USB... my problem is to connect using Bluetooth
El Miércoles 25 de enero de 2017 20:39, Peter <notifications@github.com> escribió:
There is a forum entry which indicates that this could work on Ubuntu Linux: http://forum.makeblock.com/t/running-mblock-in-linux/6216 basically you use wine with this script over USB—
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English follows... Linux preview version is already available at http://www.mblock.cc/download/ |
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Having a ChromeApp working on Win/Mac/Linux/ChromeOS (not using Flash) would just simplify a lot IMO. Also Electron could be used to build native apps for people who don't want to install Chrome (few people). |
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Ok.. Does anyone know about any good tutorial document on how to use mentioned here SNAP4ARDUINO or VISULIANO. |
and others
When will be a Linux package available?
I supported mBot Project on Kickstarter. But I saw that the software is only available for Mac and Windows, but not for Linux.
As I only use Ubuntu on all Computers, the mBot robots will be useless for me.
As the Software is Open Source, it should be no Problem to also build a Linux Package!
As Linux is the only Open Source operating System of the three, the Open Source mBlock Software should certainly be available for Linux also!!!
I will be Glad to support you with testing Linux packages.
Best Regards
Buggi
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