I happen to run into a coding summer camp for kids building mobile Apps with MIT App Inventor 2(AI2). Last time I was trying to build an App was using Android SDK on Eclipse. Right now, I am amazed by the fact that everything could be done online, visually and with fun.

• Online This is actually a part of MIT education program. https://appinventor.mit.edu/ Another great program is the Scratch, focusing on local program. (https://scratch.mit.edu/) Everything would be done online and you just need to register an account. If the kids have done something in their class, you can see it and finish it at home.

• Visually It is amazing that all the logic can be done visually.

The Designer view works very much like using Visual Studio.

The Blocks view works like building LEGO and it is good to see that these LOOPs and IFs can be presented in a easy way.

• Full functional AI2 is able to use the full functions of the phones, like motion sensor, map, database and internet connection.

• Easily tested There are several ways to test the App. I use two of them.

1. Install a AI companion App on the phone and use it to scan a QR code to connect to the App just build to test it.

2. Or download the APK file to the computer to run it on the Emulator, like BlueStack. We can also donwload the APK and install in on the phone directly, which should be great to show off after the App is finished.

• Limitation

So far this only works for Andriod eco system.

So it is time to make some Apps.So it is time to make some Apps.