What is a program? What is a block?

A computer can't guess what you mean. A program tells it exactly what to do, one small step at a time, in order: like a recipe.

In Flow2Code you don't type code: each step is a block, with a colour and a name that says what it does. These 8 are all you need to start. There are 18 blocks in all: you'll meet the rest (Choose, more loops, lists, functions and classes) as you go.

• StartWhere every program begins.Every program begins here.More in the guide
• AskAsks the user a question, waits for their answer, and keeps the answer in a value.Ask "What is your name?" and keep the answer as nameMore in the guide
• TellShows a message in the Output tab.Tell "Hello " + nameMore in the guide
• Create ValueMakes a new value with a name, and gives it a starting value.Create Value score = 0More in the guide
• Change ValueGives a value that already exists a new value.Change Value score = score + 1More in the guide
• DecisionAsks a yes-or-no question and follows the Yes arrow (left) or the No arrow (right).Is age >= 18? Then follow YES or NOMore in the guide
• RepeatRuns the blocks on its Repeat arrow a set number of times, then carries on along Done.Repeat 5 timesMore in the guide
• EndWhere the program finishes.The program stops here.More in the guide

• •Tap a block in the Blocks list to add it after the selected block, or drag it onto the canvas.
• •To join two blocks, drag from the dot at the bottom of one block to the other block. Let go on empty space to pick a new block to put there.
• •Click the + on any arrow to slip a new block in between.
• •Run plays the whole program. Step runs just one block, so you can watch it think. Reset starts over.
• •Pick 🐢 Slow, 🚶 Normal or ⚡ Fast to choose how quickly it runs.

Now see it all together. The editor builds Hello World in front of you, block by block, then runs it. Just watch: it takes about 2 minutes.