Free Logo-based coding environment with simple interface, extensive built-in help, and educational focus
Free Logo-based coding environment with simple interface, extensive built-in help, and educational focus
Vote (2,083 votes)
Program license Free
Developer Softronix
Version 6.5b
Works under Windows
Vote
(2,083 votes)
Developer
Softronix
Works under
Windows
Program license
Free
Version
6.5b
Pros
- A Freeware Logo environment
- Designed with students in mind
Cons
- Limited usefulness beyond education
MSWLogo provides a Logo-based coding environment for Windows.
Logo is a programming language based on LISP. It distinguished itself from other programming languages at the time by being more graphics- and logic-oriented than just pure numbers. MSWLogo is a Logo environment that runs in Windows. It’s also freeware, which means that you can use it as much and for as long as you like at no cost and without obligation.
MSWLogo has a very simple yet highly effective user interface. It’s easy to use and is fairly welcoming to new users. The UI consists of three windows: a display screen; an edit and control box; and a status screen. One the display screen you have menus: File, Bitmap, Set, Zoom and Help.
The built-in help is perhaps the most impressive aspect MSWLogo. The help is extensive and entirely available locally. There’s not only full-blown help for the program itself but the language itself as well as other resources, including an entire book that had been published on the topic. If you want to learn Logo, you’ll find everything you need right here.
MSWLogo fully supports three-dimensional geometry, which not all Logo environments do. In the edit window, you have access to commands such as Halt, UnTrace, Pause, NoStatus, Step, Reset, Execute and Edall. The details in the status window are organized into various categories: Pen, Orientation, Turtle, Color and Kernel. That’s all you need to do everything supported in the original orientation and more.
Logo is a programming language designed for educational purposes back in 1967. It still has its uses today but those uses beyond educating young students are limited. There’s not just a lot you can do with it as a programming language for mature coders.
Pros
- A Freeware Logo environment
- Designed with students in mind
Cons
- Limited usefulness beyond education
Pros
- Simple and easy for the beginner
- Tons of video guides and tutorials
- Great way to introduce programming to kids
Cons
- Limited and can only do so much
MSWLogo, an exceptionally simple programming environment for Logo, was originally intended to educate. When you consider that purpose, the software does exactly what it says it will do. It does not take much to learn, and many programming experts have recommended MSWLogo for kids with no programming experience as a jumping off point. The chief function of this application is to create charts and graphs, but you can also create programs and games with a little extra effort.
The developers did not try to hide the fact that MSWLogo was intended for children. You can tell based on the "help" icon that is a cartoon turtle that will react to your commands. The turtle is also a great way to build a child's interest in programming. For adults who are annoyed by it, you can hide the turtle easily. Another advantage of MSWLogo being designed for kids is the navigable and easy-to-use interface.
If you ever feel confused about MSWLogo, you have plenty of tutorials and video guides to help you along the way. MSWLogo gives you a lot of options to help you figure out the software much faster. You should however, understand the purpose of this software. This program was intended to introduce children to programming in a fun way. It is not intended for those who want a more intense-programming language. Because of its simplicity, you will not get the same level of depth that you get with C++ or Java. The simplicity of MSWLogo proves both one of its greatest weaknesses and its strengths. After you have conquered the basics of the program, the problem is that there is not much left to it, and you may want to move onto a more advanced program to continue to develop as a programmer.
With some programming languages, people struggle to learn them because of the deep complexity. On the other hand, MSWLogo was designed for the purpose of education, and it does not take much to learn the software. When looking for a close comparison to MSWLogo, one of the closest resemblances is MS Basic. You have a lot of video guides and tutorials that let you design your own squares and graphs. When it comes to formats, the software supports both BMP and LGO.
MSWLogo interprets the language based on Logo, and it uses a GUI front end. When you look at its core, it could be compared to Brian Harvey's UCBLogo. The advantage of this software is that it is a freeware that does not have restrictions. MSWLogo will be compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, XP, and Vista. It will work on either 64-bit or 32-bit setup. The biggest problem with MSWLogo is its limitations after you have learned it. There is only so much that you can do with this software.
Pros
- Simple and easy for the beginner
- Tons of video guides and tutorials
- Great way to introduce programming to kids
Cons
- Limited and can only do so much
