Minecraft EDU

By Bianca Rivera / Programming / August 2020 Issue

Time to use your python coding skills to automate some of the more dull parts of your minecraft game!

Students attending K12 schools that provide subscriptions to Minecraft: Education Edition (EE) can use the platform to learn block coding and Python. Minecraft: EE makes it fun to learn the basics by using Python to automate large, boring tasks such as mining and building! Equipped with online tutorials and projects that can be completed from home, students can use the software to learn coding independently.

Regular Minecraft players will immediately notice a big difference when they enter Minecraft: EE – the addition of a funny looking character that follows them around and shares their name (my namesake is named BiancaR.Agent)! That character is a coder’s own personal Agent, and he can be programmed to move, make decisions, and complete jobs using code.

Once a coder creates a new world, they must click on the ‘C’ key to start Code Builder, which connects Minecraft: EE to Microsoft MakeCode. Coding can be completed in-game and it’s helpful to put both windows side by side in order to write code and watch the results live. At the beginning, coders are given the option to create a new project or work through one of the many tutorials. We will create a new project to test out some features. Projects must be named, and coders can select a code option to display – let’s go with Blocks, JavaScript and Python.

Coders should note their Agent’s position (which is displayed under the coder’s position). If the Agent has gone missing, he can be quickly teleported. Click on the ‘C’ key, make sure Python is selected, and click on the orange Agent button to look up the Python code. If possible, type in the code rather than dragging it onto the workspace!

Type in:

agent.teleport_to_player()

After clicking on go, you’ll find your Agent looking up at you in admiration, longing for a job to do!

You have quite a few ways to get your Agent to do your bidding. Using Code Builder as your guide, click on the blue Player button and review suggested commands.

Let’s have our Agent build us a bookcase. Agents have their own inventory but first give them some bookcase blocks. Next, locate commands within the Player and Agent toolbox to program him use a loop to build a bookcase.

Type in:

def on_chat():
  for index in range(4):
    agent.place(FORWARD)
    agent.set_item(BOOKSHELF, 1, 1)
    agent.move(RIGHT, 1)
    player.on_chat("bookshelf", on_chat)

Maybe I want to put a floating banner in the sky made of books that says ‘READ!’ That can be programmed in too.

Type in:

blocks.print("Read!", BOOKSHELF, pos(0, 0, 0), WEST)

We can get that Agent to move around (and not just follow us around!). Go back to Code Builder and click on Player. Look up the code for On Chat commands. Next, click on Agent. Look up the code to get the Agent to move forward 10 steps and type it into the workspace. Now we’ll have some personal space!

def on_chat():
  agent.move(FORWARD, 10)
  player.on_chat("move", on_chat)

Getting stuck with the Python code? Simply toggle over to the block-based code to visually plan what you are trying to accomplish! Minecraft: Education Edition is a brilliant way to start learning Python the fun way!