Installing Scratch
Before you can use Scratch, you need to install it on your computer. The installation process varies, depending on whether you use Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X. Instructions for installing Scratch on both of these operating systems are provided in the sections that follow. You will find the installation files needed to install Scratch 1.2.1 on this book’s companion CD-ROM. Alternatively, you can download a copy of Scratch from the Scratch website by executing the following steps:
1. | |
2. | The Download Scratch page appears. Fill in the optional form to receive updates about Scratch. |
3. | Click on the Continue to Scratch Download button. The web page shown in Figure 1.2 displays. Click on the appropriate link for your operating system. |
The Windows download file is provided as a self-extracting executable named ScratchInstaller.exe. The Mac OS X installation file is provided as a Mac OS X disk image file named MacScratch.dmg. Both of these installation files are approximately 30MB in size, so to download them you will want to use a broadband Internet connection.
Note
There is no official Linux version of Scratch currently available. However, a user-adapted version of Scratch, along with instructions for installing it, is available at http://tcpdpodcast.org/scratch.html.
Installing Java on Windows
While Mac OS X comes with Java already installed, Windows does not. Fortunately, installing Java on Microsoft Windows is both free and easy. To do so, go to http://java.com/en/download as shown in Figure 1.3 and click on the Free Java Download button.
Figure 1.3. Java is required to view and execute Scratch projects loaded onto the Scratch website.
Once the online installation process begins, you will need to complete the following steps to finish installing Java:
1. | After clicking on the Free Java Download button, you may be prompted by a Windows security window for permission to allow the installation process to continue. If so, click on the Continue button. |
2. | |
3. | Finally, a Java Setup Wizard will appear, requiring that you accept the Java License Agreement. Click on the Accept button and then follow the rest of the wizard’s instruction to complete the installation process. |
Installing Scratch on Windows
Scratch installs on Microsoft Windows like any other Windows application. The following procedure outlines the steps involved in completing Scratch’s install process:
1. | Double-click on the ScratchInstaller.exe file. |
2. | If prompted for confirmation, click on Run to allow the installation process to begin. |
3. | If a security message displays, click on Allow to give permission for the installation process to continue. |
4. | The Scratch Setup Wizard will then appear, as demonstrated in Figure 1.4. Click on Next and follow the instructions provided by the wizard to complete the installation process. |
5. | Once the Scratch Setup Wizard has completed the installation process, you will need to click on the Finish button to close the wizard. Scratch will then automatically start, as demonstrated in Figure 1.5. In addition, a shortcut for Scratch will be added to the Windows desktop. |
Note
In addition to being able to start Scratch by clicking on its desktop shortcut icon, you can click on Start > All Programs > the Scratch folder > and then the Scratch icon.
Installing Scratch on Mac OS X
To install Scratch on Mac OS X, double-click on the MacScratch.dmg archive file to open it. Inside you will see a folder named Scratch. Drag and drop the Scratch folder to your Applications folder (or to any other location that you want) to install it. The contents of the Scratch folder are shown in Figure 1.6.
To start Scratch and begin working with it, double-click on the Scratch icon, which is represented as a cartoon image of a cat. Within a few moments, the Scratch IDE should appear, as shown in Figure 1.7.
Note
The first time you start Scratch, Mac OS X may display a popup dialog window prompting you for confirmation that you want to run Scratch, because it is an application downloaded from the Internet. Click on the Open button to allow Scratch to start. This popup dialog window will not display upon subsequent startups.