Instructions for running most of Scratch under Linux

While we are anxiously waiting for MIT to create a “real” Linux version of Scratch, I was able (with their help) to cobble together a version that mostly works. Installing it is easy.   Withing a few weeks, Nathan Neff created an installer that automates the entire installation process!  It has been tested on both SUSE and Debian-based versions of Linux, and likely works with other distros as well.

1. Download and expand the tarball Scratch.tar.tgz to your desktop
2. Open the terminal program and navigate to the scratch_installer folder
3. Execute the scratch_install.pl script.  This will place all the needed files in your home folder, and create a Scratch icon for the desktop.

Known issues:
The “presentation” mode button does not work because it uses a plug-in I haven't got yet. There are probably a few other glitches, but the original code is so well crafted that Scratch is amazingly crash-proof!

IMPORTANT! Be sure to save your creations before quitting. This version does NOT warn you if your file is not saved!

By the way, I put Scratch in my username folder so I can delete it easily when MIT releases the true Linux version at the end of 2007 just by dragging the old one into the trash.

Please feel free to send me your cool Scratch programs if you'd like them posted on my site. I'm especially interested in anything you may have done relating to K-12 education, or projects done by children in that age range.

Enjoy!