Snap! is a drag and drop programming environment developed by Jens Mönig and Brian Harvey. Snap! is a descendant of Scratch and adds a number of key features like creating custom blocks, recursion, and running in a browser. This page will describe how to connect to your Finch and start programming in Snap!

As of May 2021, we have updated the software for Finch 1 with Snap! so that it runs directly in the browser. You no longer need to download and install a separate program.

Using Snap!

You will be programming your Finch in a browser-based web application. Snap! for Finch requires the Chrome browser. You can install that here.

To use the BirdBrain Snap! web app, you must make sure the Chrome settings allow third-party cookies.

Plug in your Finch with the USB cord. Then go to snap-legacy.birdbraintechnologies.com.

Click Find Robots. Your Finch robot will appear. Click on the name of the robot and then click Connect

A pop-up window will appear, allowing you to select the level of Snap! that you wish to use. Levels 1-3 are for K-3 students who are getting started with Snap!. These levels contain simplified Finch blocks that we call Snap! Jr. Level 4 is for students ready to use all the features of the Finch in Snap!.

Now you are ready to begin programming the Finch in Snap! You can access lessons and activities here for Snap! Jr. and here for Snap! Level 4.

Troubleshooting

If you become disconnected while programming your Finch, close the Connection Failure pop-up and then click the Find Robots button and reconnect.

Running Offline

You can use Snap! online or offline. To use Snap! offline with the Finch, install it on your computer using the orange install button.

Updating Old Code

If you have programs that were written in Snap! using the BirdBrain Robot Server or the Finch Connection App, you can load these programs in the new web app, but they won’t run. However, you can easily update your code!

Download this file that contains the new blocks. Load your old program in the web app, and then go to File/Import. Select the file you downloaded (FinchBlocksWebApp.xml). This will overwrite the old versions of the blocks with the new versions. Now your program should run! Make sure to save the new version of your program.

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