Code Builder limitations, suggestions and problems

Hey everyone,

Im a high school student, and i love the fact we can combine cosing and minecraft together with rhe code builder. This really adds another dimension to minecraft and is really amazing. However, recently if started on a project to make the agent your "helper", being able to for example cut down trees, or stripmine; but i found some very annoying problems and limitations to the code builder. In this post i would like to share those and my suggestions!

(I use MakeCode and will refer to that when talking about the code builder)

Problems:

Lag. I use a ipad to code and play Minecraft, but when coding with blocks it gets really laggy when for example dragging the screen. This can be really annoying when coding since everything just becomes so slow in the code editor.

Lack of effiecency. When I for example want to test a block at a coordinate relative to the agent, i need to use this mess of blocks: [if <test for (STONE) at (world (((agent position) get value of (x)) (+) (1)) (((agent position) get value of (y)) (+) (1)) (((agent position) get value of (z)) (+) (1))> then], or in javascript: if (blocks.testForBlock(STONE, world(agent.getPosition().getValue(Axis.X) + 1, agent.getPosition().getValue(Axis.Y) + 1, agent.getPosition().getValue(Axis.Z) + 1))) {}. This is absolute madness. And if you want to test once this is alright, but when you want to check in a 7x7x4 radius around the agent (196 blocks) this takes a long time. And this is probably not the only example of something like this. Suggestions about this will be in the -surprise- suggestions part of this post.

Lack of blocks. This is correlated to point 2, since more blocks would achieve more effient code. All suggestions will be in the suggestions part.

Suggestions (there are alot):

Relative to the agent position block. In positions theres a relative coordinates block and a world coordinates block, but not a relative to the agent coordinates block. Why not? This would greatly help effiecency of my code.

Test for multiple blocks block. When using the test for block block you can only assign one block, when you want to check for 2 blocks that would both output true, you would need to put a or block and then the exact test for block block (including the coordinates) but for another block. A test for multiple blocks or test for block and block block would greatly help. Wow that was alot of "blocks".

Test for block in a area. When trying test for a block in a area i used different variables for the x, y and z coordinates at wich the code checks. This takes ages. I already reduced the search area from 11x11x6 (wich i thought would be pretty small) to a 7x7x4, and it still takes a very long time. A test for block in area would completely fix this. Do note that a output for at what coordinates it is found would be very much necessary.

Make the sizes of the blocks in the menu a fixed size. When i zoom out and then try to get a new block, they are tiny. Which is just weird and probably very easy to fix.

Set weather to block. Why is there a block toggle downfall??? Just add the block set weather to. With the toggle downfall block you cant set the weather to thunderstorm, and if you want the weather to be raining but its already raining you just make the raining stop. Toggle downfall is just weird, please add set weather to.

Saying stuff as the agent. When using the say block, the message in chat will be labeled as <name of player>. But WHY? Can this be changed to agent or code builder or something else? Or even better, make it so you can choose what the label is.

Better player/entity selectors. When using command you can for example do: /kill @a[tag=enemy]. But the tag or type or count or coordinate option isnt in the code builder. This is really annoying and would be a great addition

More roots. Let Me explain this one: what i mean with more roots is for example ⁴√x instead of only being able to do a square root.

If any of these suggestions or problems are already in the code builder, please tell me in the reactions of this post.

I hope some of these suggestions and problems will be adressed in a upcoming update. Sorry for making it this long!

Thanks for reading!

Aleece Landis

September 02, 2021 15:10
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Jelle de Graaf Unfortunately I think the make code/code builder program is really designed for teaching the basics of coding and you seem to have progressed well beyond the basics. You my friend may want to look into developing code blocks for the program (I don't know what is involved in it but I do know there is an avenue to do just that.)

I too have noticed that using the code builder and the agent with minecraft can be rather laggy even on a PC, in fact if I try to take a screen shot of a larger program to post it just crashes make code. I've also noticed that it isn't consistent in what projects it saves and keeps available for me so I have to make sure to back up the projects so that I can re-import them back into the worlds. And just opening the code builder tends to cause minecraft to become unresponsive for a few minutes.

That said. I was struggling with some of this sort of stuff (like how can I run the code or commands from my agent position instead of my own position.) I wound up having to re-write the code using different blocks. Have you tried simply using the execute as blocks? Using those blocks, you can pretty much put any command in that you could use in game and essentially create a function file in code builder.

Now with the issues with code builder and lag, perhaps you want to talk to your teacher about setting you up with a behavior pack you can use to create function files to run your more complex commands in a format that doesn't cause you as many lag problems (if this is for a world you are creating and not some activity being hosted on another computer.)

Jelle de Graaf

September 02, 2021 19:19
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Thanks for the response Aleece, i will try to look into using the execute block but with things like a "while certain block at relative coords to the agent is this" cant really be put in a execute block. And what do you mean with developing blocks?

Regarding the behavior pack pack for functions: i dont really like functions. I generally build maps using command blocks (skywars, parkour, pvp minigames, etc.) and I like them more then functions. But when trying the code builder i ran into problems within the first 1 hour of using it.

Nontheless thx alot for your response!

September 03, 2021 23:50
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Pretty much any command you can type in or put in a command block can be placed into the execute block, you just have to type it in (and therefore need to figure out the correct order/syntax to use so that it will work.) Which is also the case when writing function, which is why you often have to write it in minecraft to see if the command works and if it does, copy and paste it.

I only thought perhaps since you were having issues with delay/lag from code builder that perhaps especially on perhaps less powerful devices, the functions might prove to be a lighter weight way to run more of the commands with less lag.

Anyway, to each their own and in some cases, you may find that one tool to develop your game or method and then later you want to put that work into another form for distribution and the like.

As to the developing blocks, I saw somewhere that it is actually possible to develop new code blocks for use in code builder.

September 04, 2021 06:36
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My problems with function packs are as follows: 1. Everything done in a function can also be done with command blocks. 2. In fuctions you can add weird and complicated redstone circuits to make different commands work together (for example: if one command block gives a output, a different command block should not, but when that command block gets triggered via a different input it should ignore the first command block.) And when you put them in the code builder I can expect a lag fest.

I searched for developing blocks but could only find making blocks for micro:bit makeCode. Do you have a link to a website or youtube video?

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Code Builder limitations, suggestions and problems

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