Coding with the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor App

LEGO® MINDSTORMS® Robot Inventor is based on the Scratch platform for simple, user-friendly coding. With coding blocks you can drag and drop to create programs and have your robots follow commands. While the Robot Inventor app and Scratch 3.0 are similar, you can't use programs created in one in the other.  
 

What’s the difference between Download mode and Stream ing mode?   

When you’re using the app in Download mode, pressing the play button will add the program you’re creating into a slot on the hub. You can choose which slot to send the program to by clicking the icon of the hub light grid in the lower right of the programming canvas. You can have up to 20 programs on the hub.

When the app is in Streaming mode, your device will maintain an active connection with the robot’s hub. This means the program you’re creating will stream to the hub when you hit play, but it won’t be downloaded onto the hub itself. This mode is great for tinkering with your program because it lets you make small changes and test them quickly until you’ve got your coding just right. Be careful when streaming, though—you won’t add a copy of your program to the hub, but your robots will follow your programming!

Because Streaming mode keeps an active connection to the hub, it’s the mode to use when you control your robot using the app’s remote control functions. Whether you are customizing your own virtual remote or using an Xbox One or PS4™ DUALSHOCK® controller, you’ll want to be in Streaming mode to keep everything running.
 

Extension blocks

Extensions are groups of programming blocks that can be used to add additional features like having a Bluetooth joystick or gamepad as a remote control . You’ll be able to expand what you can do with your motors and sensors as well as access cloud  data for weather and music extensions.

If you plan on using cloud  data in your program, you’ll need to make sure your device is connected to the internet.