App Inventor for Desktop Applications?

Chris_Wong · February 10, 2024, 1:24pm

Hi,
Just wanna ask if there are alternatives for app inventor that can be used to build desktop applications. Thanks

Peter · February 10, 2024, 1:30pm

You could try GP blocks. https://gpblocks.org/. You can make Windows, Mac and Linux desktop apps with it. GP blocks was used to make MicroBlocks. https://microblocks.fun/. With MicroBlocks you can use a blockbased program to program microcontrollers.

Chris_Wong · February 10, 2024, 1:46pm

I just went through the interface, seems pretty promising, though I am not sure about its limits. Are there other alternatives that support more features?

Peter · February 10, 2024, 1:56pm

What features do you miss in GP Blocks since you looked it over? You could always try your luck using Google to search for alternatives.

Chris_Wong · February 10, 2024, 2:00pm

I am not sure it has functions other than those in scratch (maybe interactions with the computer?), maybe I can't find it yet. Also I am not sure how to run the program lol.

Chris_Wong · February 10, 2024, 2:15pm

also can it be packaged into exe files, like how app inventor packaged them into apk?

SteveJG · February 10, 2024, 2:25pm

Create an apk using App Inventor, then

Run it in an emulator on your Windows desktop (Bluestacks, Android Studio etc.)
Windows 11 has a feature to run Android apps

You can also code using a scripting language like Delphi Community Edition (Object Pascal) or Visual Basic both of which are relatively easy for a non programmer to learn. There is no need to use a Block language.. These tools create an EXE executable file if that is what you want.

Peter · February 10, 2024, 4:33pm

If you want to program on Linux like me and want to use a basic like language you could use Gambas. Like I said GP is a general purpose language that could make apps that are running with multiple OS and is block based. Nothing wrong with block based languages.