Flowlab vs Pocket Code

Flowlab is a browser-based platform for making 2D games with visual, node-based behavior logic instead of written code. Its editor includes sprite editing, animation, physics, sound tools, shader effects, and visual debugging. Games run as HTML5 in a browser and receive hosted pages that can be shared or embedded on other sites. Paid plans can export games for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac through Flowlab's build service. The Free plan costs nothing and permits three games, five levels per game, and 50 game objects, with no exports. Classroom connections include Clever SSO and roster import, Google Classroom SSO and course import, and LTI for Canvas, Blackboard, and Moodle. Teachers can create student accounts without email addresses and set school-level visibility and community controls. Online multiplayer is limited to browser games. The platform is listed for Android, iOS, macOS, web, and Windows.

Pocket Code is a free Android and iOS app for building programs, games, animations, and stories with visual, Lego-like Catrobat programming bricks. Its blocks include if-else statements, loops, variables, mathematical functions, and access to phone sensors. Users can browse, download, review, and remix community programs in the Explore section and on pocketcode.org. Hardware extensions connect Arduino boards, LEGO Mindstorms robots, Phiro robots, and Raspberry Pi projects. Arduino works over Bluetooth for changing digital and PWM pins and reading analog pins. Mindstorms connects robots over Bluetooth for programming and control, while Raspberry Pi bricks read and set pins for IoT programs. Catrobat presents the app for constructive learning and classroom use, with project-based learning and computer-science topics. A wiki and free English- and German-language MOOC provide learning support. Project hosting is no longer offered as a service, although the media library remains available through the wiki. The nonprofit open-source project is driven by the International Catrobat Association and Graz University of Technology’s Institute of Software Technology.