Root Coding Reviews

Great, but could use some optimization

CoolCow247

I’d like to preface this review with the fact that I’m probably not the target demographic for this type of device. I completely understand that the developers of this app were aiming to “get anyone into coding” and that the robot is not meant for those who are already confident with programming, so take my complaints/suggestions with a grain of salt- this product is fantastic for those learning how to code. Anyways, Here are my personal complaints/suggestions. 1. Please fix the loading times. I’ve written a few hundred lines of code, and now when ever I attempt to open or close the code I am forced to wait several minutes. Every time I open my project in worried that it will never open- I’d appreciate a fix here. 2. Add some sort of function/method define block. The block/writing code hybrid system that is available on the 3rd level of programming can become very tedious to use since there is no copy/paste system or way to create blocks like in Scratch. For example, every single time you want the robot to draw the letter “A” you have to drag out “marker down”,”turn”,”move”,”turn”,”move”, etc. It would be so much easier to have a previously defined function”A” block that I could drag out instead. 3. Make color sensing a logic statement. Working with color scanning would be so much easier if you included it as logic because then you could put it directly into the flow control parameters. It would be a nice quality of life change to see. 4. Add python compatibility. I know that you have already said that you are adding it soon, but I’m going to ask for it again here in hopes to expedite this process. 5. Lower the pay wall for single person enrollment for the root academy. I’d love to be able to use the simulator when I’m on the go, but also don’t want to pay that 5/month fee. Overall, this product is fantastic all the way up until you get into the higher level ranges of coding where it could benefit from a few more features and fixes. Great work to the root team, and I hope to see a few of my suggestions in future updates.

What happened to the user submitted projects?

viper93458

It seems with recent updates, the user contributed projects have disappeared. Are these available somewhere else now?

Game changer

cainering

I’m intimately involved in the world of code whether it’s building algo’s professionally or automating my “smart” home products (another logic puzzle). I’ve been fortunate to pick it up early in my career and soon learned it’s a force to be reckoned with. The whole euphoria that you need to be some kind of computer genius to learn it is completely false. In fact learning a second language was 5x more challenging for me and no I’m not really that great at math. So naturally I’m eager to get my 3 year old daughter started early and i’ve been waiting for something with this type of functionality to hit the market so she’ll stay engaged. It’s prob safe to say I’m an iRobot fanboy since I own all of their products so once I learned they purchased root robotics I immediately pulled the trigger. Plus the site says they plan to add python to the app later on and that’s arguably the language of the future so it was kind of a no brainer for me. Already my daughter’s in love..she calls it baby rooty. So all in all I have zero regrets so far. Yes it’s pricier than the other ones on the market but you’re absolutely getting what you pay for and the educational experience makes it $ well spent. Because of the technology boom in the US there’s currently a workforce skills crises and finally elementary and high schools are finally starting to address so you can bet that coding will be mandatory in the near future as it should be.

Great product!

richkim220

Root is a great learning program for kids and adults. My children love Root and it is easy to learn.

Very impressed!...is there a way to share projects?

surfingisfun

As someone who creates Makerspaces and knows how critical design, UI, and UX have to be to survive in these environments, I am really blown away by the quality and thoughtfulness behind this. It is so approachable and and fun to engage with. Great battery life. SUPER strong magnets to hold it to the whiteboard. The simulator is perfect and just what is needed for testing ideas. Well done designers and dev team! Only question- kids want to share projects! How can we do this? Thanks!