Calypso vs mBlock
Calypso
calypso.softwaremBlock
makeblock.comSide by side
| Figure | Calypso | mBlock |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Robotics Education Software | 8.3 (#8) | 8.8 (#3) |
| Purpose | Calypso is a tile-based programming framework for teaching robot logic and behavior with Cozmo. | mBlock 5 is a coding platform for robotics, STEM, and coding learning. |
| Support | The site links to a Help Center, curriculum, forum, and contact page. | The maker links to an mBlock user guide, downloads, and resources from its software page. |
| System requirements | The site lists 64-bit Windows 10 or MacOS 10.13 or higher and at least 6GB of RAM as requirements. | The desktop download lists Windows 7 or Windows 10 64-bit and macOS 10.12 or newer; Android requires 6.0+ ARM and iOS requires 10.0+ on the download page. |
Plans
In their own words
mBlock
mBlock 5 is a free coding platform for robotics, STEM, and coding learning. It supports block-based coding and Python, with a one-click switch between the two. Users can create games and animations, then program Makeblock robots and other open-resource hardware. The platform includes AI and IoT features, with integrations described for Microsoft Cognitive Services and Google deep learning. Supported devices listed include CyberPi, mBot Neo/mBot2, mBot, mBot Ranger, Ultimate 2.0, mBot Mega, mTiny, Codey Rocky, and xLight. The Extension Builder allows third parties to develop device and sprite extensions. mBlock is available on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. The web version supports direct Bluetooth or serial connections, but not the Bluetooth dongle. The mBlock Python editor programs devices only for CyberPi, and its Upload mode uses MicroPython rather than third-party Python 3 libraries. The Extension Builder works only in Google Chrome.