Learn ALICE with Real Code Examples

Alice uses drag-and-drop blocks to create 3D animations and scenes.

Programs are built by controlling 3D objects, characters, and camera views.

Ideal for learning logic, events, object-oriented thinking, and storytelling.

Frequently used in schools for CS introduction.

Helps transition students to text languages like Java or Python.

Object manipulation in 3D space

Animation timelines

Procedures and methods

Variables and parameters

Events for user interaction

Objects with properties and methods

3D scene as a virtual world

Animations controlled by procedures

Events trigger interactions

Loops and conditions for logic

World/ - 3D environment

Objects/ - characters and props

Methods/ - actions created by user

Events/ - triggers

Scene graph - object hierarchy

Create or open a 3D world

Add characters and props

Use drag-and-drop to script behaviors

Adjust camera and animations

Run and iterate

Beginner: animations and stories

Intermediate: simple games

Advanced: multi-object animations

Expert: object-oriented models

Educator: teaching CS fundamentals

Alice vs Scratch: Alice uses 3D; Scratch is 2D.

Alice vs Blockly: Alice is animation-focused; Blockly is general-purpose.

Alice vs Unity: Unity is professional; Alice is educational.

Alice vs Roblox Studio: Roblox uses Lua scripting; Alice uses no text code.

Alice vs Tynker: Tynker focuses on games; Alice focuses on storytelling.

1995 – Early Alice prototypes

2000 – Alice 1.0 release

2006 – Alice 2 with improved UI

2009 – Alice 3 with Java integration

2020–2025 – Ongoing educational enhancements

World: the 3D scene

Object: any 3D item in the world

Method: an action sequence

Event: a trigger for an action

Pose: saved object position/rotation