Short Talk: XML Help Screens for Snap! — Creation and Translation

View on Snap!Con

Presented By: Dylan Servilla


Abstract:

Snap*!* inherited Scratch 1.4's help screens, which were static, bitmap images with poor support for translation. Last spring, I implemented a new documentation system which enables help screens to be easily created and translated with a markup language designed for annotating Snap*!* scripts. This talk will provide an overview of how the new help screen system can be used by Snap*!* modders and translators.

In addition to presenting the documentation system itself, I will talk about the experience of creating it, which was done to fulfill my high school's graduation requirement of a STEM internship in lieu of the final month of school. Rather unique for American high schools, this experience is more productive and more fun than being in class with senioritis.