Description #
AgentSheets is a visual programming environment that allows students to create interactive simulations and games using agent-based programming. It’s designed to teach computational thinking through “drag, drop, and program” workflows.
History #
AgentSheets was developed by Alexander Repenning in the early 1990s at the University of Colorado Boulder. It was one of the first tools to support “scalable game design” as a method to teach students computational thinking from middle school to college.
Hello World Code #
AgentSheets doesn’t use text-based code; instead, behaviors are created visually using “If-Then” rules. For example:
IF clicked THEN say "Hello, World!"This is set up by dragging an agent (like a frog) into the worksheet and assigning it rules.
How to Run #
Option 1: Online
AgentSheets Scalable Game Design Arcade
Option 2: Local
- Download from: https://www.agentsheets.com
- Requires Java installed
- Run the .jar or .exe file directly
Key Concepts #
- Agent-based modeling
- Visual rule-based programming
- Scalable game design pedagogy
- Computational thinking skills
- Real-time simulation creation
- Conditional logic via GUI
- Event-driven actions
- Drag-and-drop rule builder
- Educational curriculum support
- Game design as a learning tool
Try It Online #
https://www.scdinteractive.com/arcade.html
Fun Facts #
- Used in NSF-funded educational research
- Precursor to AgentCubes, a 3D version of the platform
- Enables transition from game design to STEM modeling
Resources #
Official site
Docs or tutorial
GitHub or interpreter
Community or learning resources
