Windows 10: Free download? Minecraft included?

The fees charged for its Windows operating system licences are a significant revenue earner for Microsoft. So, it might seem an unlikely prospect.

And yet, early in 2014 Microsoft reduced its licence fee to manufacturers of low-cost PCs. While in April 2014 it announced free licences for smartphones and tablets with screen sizes smaller than 9 inches.

Of course, Apple did just this in 2013 when it made its OS X Mavericks available on the Mac App Store as a free upgrade for all Mac users running Snow Leopard or above. And offered the same deal when OS X Yosemite launched in 2014.

Minecraft Giveaway?

And what are Microsoft's plans for Minecraft after its $2.5 billion acquisition?

There's been a wall of silence so far. Although Minecraft modding integration with Microsoft's .NET development platform, toolset and coding languages seems likely.

But could this hugely popular game be included for free in a Home or Community Edition of Windows 10?

Maybe the Microsoft event scheduled for the 21st January 2015 will shed some light on Minecraft's future?

Read more Microsoft analysis posts.

Minetest - Free Open Source Minecraft

Minetest is a construction game inspired by Infiniminer, Minecraft and similar games where players can create and destroy various types of blocks in a LEGO-like three-dimensional world.

Here's a few key Minetest facts:

• open source - GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL)
• download for on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Android
• play a single player game
• explore the collection of blocks and items
• have fun crafting and smelting
• beware of the hostile mobs
• apply texture packs for blocks, items and mobs
• join a multi-player game on a Minetest server
• experiment with downloadable mods
• host your own server
• create your own texture packs
• create your own mods in in C++ or Lua
• compile Minetest from source

See more Minecraft posts.

Microsoft and Minecraft: New Possibilities

Microsoft's purchase of Minecraft was certainly a surprise. But what does it actually mean for the Minecraft community?

Gamers have little to fear. It makes no sense to make radical changes to this global phenomenon and risk losing its revered position among kids, parents and educators. There might even be new materials, animals, creatures and social interaction options.

As far as modders it's potentially good news too. This purchase could lead to a whole new collection of cool technology, tools and gaming enhancements.

Here's just a few of the Minecraft modding possibilities:

New Languages. While Java is almost certain to remain, Microsoft's .NET technology would enable developers to use multiple languages on the same project. The C# language syntax has a striking similarity to Java, so the learning curve would be minimal. While a Visual Basic or JavaScript option might attract a whole new generation of Minecraft modders.

New Tools. Microsoft Visual Studio development environment is, quite rightly, recognised as a leader in ease-of-use, productivity and multi-language flexibility. Both novice and experience developers would benefit from such an advanced tool. So, maybe Microsoft will release a free community edition of Visual Studio specifically for Minecraft modding activities.

New Platforms. The Raspberry Pi edition of Minecraft, with its built-in Python hacking API, has been a huge success. Microsoft could take this concept and roll it out to PCs and various mobile platforms. This new product could offer enhanced gameplay features, a larger and more powerful API and the choice of development language.

Azure Hosting. Microsoft could release tools which make it a simple operation to build a Minecraft modding server on its Windows Azure cloud network. This would free up modders from having to create their own internet-connected PC setup.

Read more Microsoft analysis posts.

Start Coding: Raspberry Pi Projects

The availability of a fully functioning Linux computer for under £30 has attracted enormous worldwide interest. The result is a profusion of guides, tutorials and helpful resources for anyone wishing to dip their toes into the coding waters.

While a Pi supports dozens of languages the Raspberry Pi Foundation chose Python as its default development language.

With over 2.5 million boards now in circulation there's a wealth of Python resources (including my own Learn Python on the Raspberry Pi tutorial). Even if you're not a Pi owner much of this material is applicable to PCs running Windows, Mac OS X or Linux.

Once you've acquired a few basic Python skills why not try your hand at the Pi version of Minecraft. After a quick and easy installation process you can begin building using just a few lines of Python code.

With it's built-in, multi-pin General Purpose Input Output (GPIO) connector the Raspberry Pi is ideally suited to maker projects. The Python and Scratch languages both have simple GPIO interfaces for experiments with LEDs, sensors, integrated circuits and much more.

Once your creation is complete you could demonstrate the fruits of your efforts at a local Raspberry Pi Jam event or hardware hacking convention. These are great places to meet like minded individuals and discover new ideas.

Scripting Projects ← Start Coding Series → Maker Projects

Raspberry Pi JavaScript with Nashorn and Java 8

Would you like to write programs on your Raspberry Pi using the popular JavaScript language?

Well you can. Oracle's latest Java 8 release has a built-in JavaScript engine, known as Nashorn.

Here are a few of Nashorn's capabilities:
• run standalone JavaScript programs (no web server required)
• run JavaScript interactively from the command line
• access the complete Java library
• interoperate with existing Java code and APIs
• enjoy high runtime performance from the Rhino-based technology

That's a powerful feature set. For example, you could hack a Minecraft Pi Edition game in JavaScript by calling the functions defined in Mojang's Java API.

Oracle's technetwork site has an informative how to use Nashorn article. There's loads of code examples plus details of using the jjs command line tool, embedding JavaScript commands in Java programs and how to interact with JSON.

Benjamin Winterberg's blog post is another useful source in information.

The official Nashorn scripting reference documention is hosted on the Oracle docs website.

More Raspberry Pi Coding, Tips and Tricks

Raspberry Pi-Friendly Java Code Editors

Oracle's Java 8 has a number of new features to excite Raspberry Pi owners, as I mentioned in my Oracle Java 8 for Raspberry Pi post.

However, you'll still need a good code editor. Unfortunately some of the traditional Java IDEs (for example Eclipse and Netbeans) are large, memory-hogging applications.

In the posts below I describe a few Pi-friendly alternatives:

• Raspberry Pi Java with Geany
• Raspberry Pi Java with Dr Java
• Raspberry Pi Java with Greenfoot
• Raspberry Pi Java with BlueJ
• Raspberry Pi BlueJ Learning Videos
• Raspberry Pi Minecraft with BlueJ

More Raspberry Pi Coding, Tips and Tricks

Raspberry Pi Minecraft with BlueJ

Mojang created a special Raspberry Pi version of Minecraft specifically to encourage game hacking. This free version of the game includes Python and Java API's.

The API and Demo packages contain numerous classes. But what's a good tool for navigating the code?

Well, a visual way to begin Minecraft hacking in Java is with the BlueJ editor.

A recent Michael Kolling's Oracle Java Magazine article demonstrates how to install and run the Pi-friendly BlueJ 3.14 on your Raspberry Pi.

Open the API root source file folder as a Non-BlueJ Project. Now you'll have a class diagram for each package and a syntax-highlighting editor to browse the code. You can do the same for the Demo source code.

The images below give a flavour of how it will look.

The main 'pi' package:

The pi.event package:

The pi.demo package:

Source code for the LowLevelDemo class:

Javadoc for the Log class:

More Raspberry Pi Coding, Tips and Tricks

Raspberry Pi Java with BlueJ

So the Raspberry Pi has a new performance-enhanced port of Oracle Java programming language.

But some of the traditional Java IDEs like Eclipse and Netbeans are large, memory-hogging applications. Is there a more Pi-friendly alternative?

The BlueJ Java programming environment aims to teach the fundamentals of object orientation (OO) design. While similar in concept to the closely related Greenfoot project BlueJ is targeted at students or anyone wishing to explore modern programming concepts through experimentation.

A graphical programming interface helps to visualise the high-level OO design, as opposed to just diving into the code. Behind the scenes there a full source code editor with built-in compiler, syntax-highlighting, scope-visualisation and auto-completion, plus an interactive testing mode.

It's an ideal solution when working with an unfamiliar set of Java classes, such as Mojang's Minecraft API for the Pi.

A recent Michael Kolling's Oracle Java Magazine article demonstrates how to install and run the Pi-friendly BlueJ 3.14 on your Raspberry Pi.

Alternatively, if your Pi is running the Raspbian image the BlueJ website has a Debian-specific .deb file download. After downloading move to the download directory, then execute this command in a terminal window:

$ dpkg -i bluej-314.deb

Below is a screenshot of BlueJ in action:

More Raspberry Pi Coding, Tips and Tricks

Hack Minecraft with Python on the Raspberry Pi

Mojang recently released their free Minecraft: Pi edition - complete with hackable Python API.

Would you like to learn how to hack Minecraft with Python on your Raspberry Pi?

This week's Micro Mart magazine (issue 1257) contains the first of my two part mini-series on Pi Minecraft hacking.

Part one guides you through Minecraft installation before demonstrating how to interact with a live running game with Python's interactive mode and simple statements.

Part two dives further into the API with a step-by-step tutorial on creating a Minecraft hack module.

Here are a few extracts from part one:

There are many reasons to try Minecraft hacking. It's a visually interactive way to experiment with the Python language and so an ideal coding project for the novice Python coder.

Mojang's supplied Python application programming interface (API) ensures you're able to make dramatic physical changes to the Minecraft world with through code-driven crafting. With this API even a small program can offer a surprising amount of game functionality.

And, of course, it's great fun.

The Python modules that implement this package consist of the main minecraft module (minecraft.py), plus the block management (block.py), event handling (event.py), utility (util.py), coordinate conversion (vec3.py) and client-server communication (connection.py).

Are you starting to see the potential of Mojang's Python API? Using these API function calls you can dramatically change your world.

So, let your imagination run free. Python code can rapidly generate new landscapes, construct homes, build defences, plant crops, and so much more.

Also see my Learn Python on the Raspberry Pi tutorial.

Minecraft: Pi Edition Installation

Minecraft: Pi Edition is a free and Python-hackable version of Mojang's hugely successful Minecraft game, specifically created for the Raspberry Pi.

It's based around the Pocket Edition of Minecraft, a low cost version for smartphones and tablets running Apple's iOS or Google's Android operating system.

However, rather than the usual 'apt-get install' command it you'll need to download and unpack a zipped file.

How it is done? Boot up your Raspberry Pi, start the Raspbian's LXDE graphical interface, connect it to the internet and follow these steps.

Open a new terminal window

From the LXDE Desktop menu on your Raspberry Pi and select the 'Other->Terminal' option.

Ensure you're in the home directory

At the terminal command prompt type in this line and press enter (in Linux the tilde '~' character equates to the home directory):

$ cd ~

Download the Minecraft file

Now download the game file from the web using this wget command:

$ wget https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.minecraft.net/pi/minecraft-pi-0.1.1.tar.gz

Unpack the downloaded Minecraft file

Next unpack file with this tar command (which creates a new directory called mcpi):

$ tar -zxvf minecraft-pi-0.1.1.tar.gz

Start the Minecraft game

Start the game using this command (which opens a new window):

$ ./mcpi/minecraft-pi

Unfortunately, as I discovered myself, you cannot run Minecraft from an ssh session or via a remote desktop viewer, such as TightVNC - which is a shame.

Visit my Raspberry Pi page for news, reviews, advice and tutorials.

Raspberry Pi Potpourri: March

Struggling to keep up to date with the fast moving Raspberry Pi world?

Then why not buy the Micro Mart magazine this week and read the March issue of my monthly series covering Raspberry Pi news, community events, hardware, software, games and tips.

Here are a few extracts:

Limor Fried, or Ladyada as she's known on the web, is the CEO of New York-based AdaFruit Industries. AdaFruit provide electronic components, project kits, and masses of helpful device-hacking open-source designs, construction tutorials and general tips.
...
High on the AdaFruit kit popularity front is the MintyBoost. It's a portable USB charging device, built from a few electronics components housed inside an Altoids tin - perfect for delivering an emergency power boost to your mobile phone.

The Model A board has been available from the Premier Farnell/element14 and RS Components for a number of weeks now.
...
This slightly stripped-down version of the Model B is likely to be a big seller. After all, a $25 Linux-based computer, perfectly suited to software coding, gaming and project construction, has to be the bargain of the decade.

If you're just beginning to create electronic circuit layouts you might like to mockup and evaluate your designs first. If so, hop over to CircuitLab's website to create a virtual circuit board layout and simulate its behaviour. The website also includes a list of quick-start circuits to browse and edit.

I mentioned Mojang's Minecraft: Pi Edition - the special, hackable version of Minecraft for the Raspberry Pi - in my January potpourri. Now Mojang have replaced the previous beta version with a full version of the game.

Visit my Raspberry Pi page for news, reviews, advice and tutorials.

Raspberry Pi Potpourri: January

Are you looking to make the most of your Raspberry Pi computer?

Then take at Micro Mart magazine this week to see the first of my monthly article series covering Raspberry Pi news, community events, hardware, software, games and tips.

Here are a few extracts:

The Model A board is an even cheaper entry point to Raspberry Pi computing. The goal was to produce a $25 board, to complement the $35 Model B. To achieve this price a few components are missing. Nevertheless, there are some advantages to owning a Model A.

The Pi Store is a joint venture involving IndieCity (indiecity.com) and Velocix (velocix.com). A client app runs on the Raspberry Pi as an X application. The latest update to the official Raspbian image already contains the store app.

If you have an older image the app can be downloaded by typing the commands below into a terminal window on your Internet-connected Raspberry Pi:

$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install pistore

A blog post in late 2012 from Mojang, the Stockholm-based indie games development company, confirmed it is working on a Raspberry Pi version of Minecraft (minecraft.net). Dubbed the Minecraft: Pi Edition it's a port of the existing Minecraft: Pocket Edition.

Interestingly, and totally in keeping with the Raspberry Pi theme of open software, this will be a 'hackable' version of the game.

Visit my Raspberry Pi page for news, reviews, advice and tutorials.