GCompris vs Kodu Game Lab
GCompris
gcompris.netKodu Game Lab
kodugamelab.comSide by side
| Figure | GCompris | Kodu Game Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · Educational Games | 8.9 (#4) | 7.7 (#15) |
| Purpose | GCompris is an educational software suite with activities for children aged 2 to 10. | Kodu is a 3D game development environment designed to teach children basic programming principles. |
| Support | The site lists [email protected] as a contact address. | The maker directs users with questions or support issues to [email protected]. |
Plans
In their own words
GCompris
GCompris is an educational software suite for children aged 2 to 10, with more than 100 activities and more in development. Its activities cover computer discovery, reading, arithmetic, science, geography, games, colors, shapes, Braille and telling time. Designed for learning and training inside or outside the classroom, it works without an Internet connection. Educators can choose activity levels to match each child's skill, and the GCompris-teachers companion lets teachers create customized datasets and receive pupils' results for some activities. The application privacy policy says it does not request or record user-provided information or collect information automatically. GCompris is free and available for Android, Linux, macOS and Windows; downloads also include Raspberry Pi. The download page notes that the latest version is not yet available for macOS. There is no iOS version, as the FAQ says iOS building and publishing requirements conflict with the software's licenses. The project is hosted and developed by the KDE community and released under the GNU Affero General Public License.
Kodu Game Lab
Kodu Game Lab is a free 3D game development environment that teaches basic programming through building interactive worlds. Its tile-based visual language lets creators program characters and game rules, with code evaluated continuously as the world changes. Users can shape terrain and add characters and props without design or programming skills, according to the maker. Kodu runs on the web and Windows, while the PC version accepts keyboard, mouse and touch input. The learning approach combines project work, computer science topics and instant feedback. The site provides training videos, sample lessons, starter worlds and educator resources. Kodu tiles can interact with BBC micro:bit features including its accelerometer, buttons, display and IO pin. A NASA-related resource describes Mars activities involving an autonomous rover. Downloads do not require sign-in or personal information. Optional usage reporting can collect hardware, usage and crash details and can be changed in Options. Community sharing includes creator name, description, version and tags.