.Google drew on extensive earlier research in educational computing as well as internal Google work on online development environments while developing App Inventor.
About MIT App Inventor
A user-friendly, visual programming environment called MIT App Inventor makes it possible for anybody. Including kids, to create fully working apps for smartphones and tablets.
MIT App Inventor beginners may launch their first straightforward app in about 30 minutes. Additionally, our blocks-based tool speeds up the development of complicated. High-impact apps compared to conventional programming environments.
The goal of the MIT App Inventor project is to democratize software development by enabling everyone. Especially young people, to switch from using technology to make it.
The MIT App Inventor Site
Just like other online productivity tools like Gmail and Google Drive,. MIT App Inventor is a web-based application. Before using App Inventor, there is no need to download any software or save work to your hard disk.
The App Inventor team advises using Google Chrome or Firefox. The choice of web browser is crucial. When using App Inventor, choosing a different browser, like Internet Explorer, could lead to errors or other difficulties.
An excellent method to get a sense of what is offered is to browse the App Inventor website. Launch your browser and navigate to appinventor.mit.edu to get started (see Figure 2.2).
Also, word online is that the link to the App Inventor tool is located on the front page, along with numerous online lessons and other useful resources.
Signing In
To begin a session with App Inventor, click the Create button at the top of the home page (see Figure 2.2).
The App Inventor requests authorization to access your Google account. This could be a Google account maintained by a university, company, or another form of institution, or a personal Google account
You must give App Inventor permission to access your Google account after logging in so that it can validate your login details.
When you return to work on apps, you won’t need to repeat this step if you choose to Remember This Approval for the Next 30 Days (see Figure 2.4). However, you only need to renew access at the end of the 30-day period.
Designer
Designing an app starts with the Designer. Here, you design the app’s user interface, or “look and feel.” You also include the elements required to take user input, display output or information to the user, and receive input from the user.
Therefore, you can also define in the Designer which invisible parts of the app, like the dialer, GPS, or SMS, will be used.
Because we are in Designer, you will see that the Designer button in Figure 2.5’s upper-right corner is slightly greyed out. Which editor you are using is indicated by this button and the Blocks button next to it.
The Palette, which is where all of the creation tools are located on the left side of the screen (see Figure 2.5), can be found (the next chapter details the full suite).
Blocks Editor
The behaviour of an app is programmed using the Blocks Editor (see Figure 2.6). The commands that the app uses will be added here. Also, you may access it through the Blocks button on the top right, as was just mentioned.
Programming puzzle pieces are compared to drawers in MIT App Inventor. Every component in the Blocks palette’s Built-in section is regarded as a drawer. The components that resemble puzzles are kept in the drawers.
By joining the puzzle-like parts, the programming is completed. Despite appearing straightforward, App Inventor contains a wide range of potent features that let users create sophisticated applications.
Understanding what occurs inside an application will help you comprehend what creating an app entails.
The AI2 Companion App
Throughout every stage of the development process, App Inventor offers a helpful tool that allows you to continuously observe your app running on an Android device in real-time.
By searching for “MIT AI2 Companion” in the Google Play Store, you can find the MIT AI2 Companion app (see Figure 2.7).
Also, click AI Companion on the Connect tab in App Inventor on your PC to link your app to your smartphone (see Figure 2.8).
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