Tech Topic Connection: Scratch Programming & The IT

Foundations Behind It

When I first built my Convertible Cruise Simulator using Scratch, I thought I was just playing with visual blocks and animations. However, after digging into the fundamentals of information technology throughout this course, I’ve come to realize that this beginner-friendly tool actually represents the core of computer science in action. From hardware and software to databases and network security, Scratch touches more foundational IT concepts than you might expect.


Computer Science & How Computers Operate

Scratch may be simple, but it introduces key ideas like loops, conditionals, variables, and event-driven programming—concepts at the heart of all modern software. Underneath the colorful interface, it mimics how real computers operate: processing instructions, storing values in memory, and responding to user input. It’s a visual way to understand how computers execute code in a sequence and how logic and structure affect behavior.


Hardware Dependence

Even Scratch relies on the core components of a computer. The CPU handles calculations and logic. RAM temporarily stores sprite data and variable states during runtime. The GPU supports rendering animations and effects. Input devices (like the keyboard) control the simulation, and the display outputs everything to the screen. Without this hardware working in sync, Scratch—and every other application—couldn’t function.


Programming Languages & Execution

Scratch abstracts away traditional programming syntax, but behind the scenes, it follows the same logic path. It interprets commands in real time (just like Python or JavaScript would in an interpreted environment). This helped me understand how higher-level languages are parsed and executed, making the leap to full coding languages much less intimidating.


Application Software in Action

Scratch itself is application software. It runs inside a browser, leverages cloud storage to save projects, and allows users to upload, remix, and share code globally. Throughout the course, I compared other software like Microsoft Office and YouTube to Scratch—each one designed for specific use cases but built on similar application principles. Whether you’re creating a slideshow or a simulation, it’s about how users interact with data and logic to produce meaningful results.


Database Concepts

While Scratch doesn’t use SQL or a formal database backend that’s visible to users, it still uses data structures like lists (arrays) and variables to store and manipulate data. Through this, I started to grasp how databases work—how data must be structured, queried, and modified in real time to support an interactive experience.


Network Architecture & Security

Scratch runs in the cloud, which means it depends on stable internet access, client-server communication, and secure user accounts. This ties directly to what I learned about ping, traceroute, and how data travels over a network (Post 4). Understanding how traffic is routed and what threats like DDoS or phishing look like (Post 6) gave me a deeper appreciation for the invisible backbone supporting even the simplest apps.


Final Thoughts

What started as a fun animation project became my gateway into understanding the bigger IT landscape. Scratch helped me visualize logic flow, while this course filled in the behind-the-scenes mechanics—from hardware and programming to databases and cybersecurity.

Tech isn’t just about writing code or using apps—it’s about understanding how all the pieces connect. And now, thanks to this journey, I see the full blueprint.

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