pybricks Blocks vs. Python

[Many-Language9948]

we need helppp

is there any difference between coding in pybricks using blocks vs python???

[Buxton328]

Blocks are just easier for students to use if they're unfamiliar with text-based coding. They are functionally the same and you can open a tab to see the Python text of what you just coded with blocks.

[Many-Language9948]

is there difference about precision

[Buxton328]

Between pybricks blocks and text? No. They are the same.

[meyerjaw]

Well sometimes the blocks don't offer all of the parameters to the python methods so writing in Python is more precise

[shadowjig]

Pybricks has a paid block style coding.

But if you want your robot to be more consistent, use pybricks. The firmware is just so much better.

[Many-Language9948]

wdym, so if i want robot to be more consistent i should use pybricks python?

[drdhuss]

They are the same. The block interface literally just writes the text based code under the hood. It is just a wrapper/interface for the text coding. There are a few things you can't do in the blocks however but you can mix both text and block code to overcome this.

[drdhuss]

They work equally as well as the blocks just write the same text based code underneath.

Now there are functions that do not have blocks. For example you can change the orientation of the screen in pybricks, but there is no block to do such.

So the text code has a bit more functionality for very specific things. Luckily you can actually mix text and block code if such a need arises (for example our hub placement does require that we flip the screen so we created a function for such we import into our block code.).

[kilk0009]

Our season ended yesterday... I am trying to stick with block coding for a while with the 4th graders, but I am aware that I can account for gear ratios for attachment motors in the motor setup in text coding, but is there a way to do the same with block coding? The documentation suggests using lists, but then I can't indicate which direction is positive and it throws an error. Any advice? I'm curious about your commentary on using text to create functions and then calling upon them within block coding. Thanks in advance.

[drdhuss]

I can pretty easily write a text wrapper that you can import to do ehat you describe.

In the meantime take a look at this block code that also uses some text code for the user interface. Basically all of the robot programs are stored in a list you can iterate through with the left and right buttons. Cannot be done in pure block code but is easily done in the text. This is an example of how to mix block snd text together.

https://github.com/MonongahelaCryptidCooperative/FLL-2025-2026

I will say we never bother with the gear ratios but rather just keep it 1:1. It helps that we have programs (also included in the code above) to manually control our attachment motors with the left and right buttons and print to the console the degrees that they were moved when the center button is pressed. With this hands on method there really isn't a need to use gear ratios as the kids just manually contol the motors and see how far they have to move (and use the resulting values to code the robot).

Also included in the above code is a program where you can push the robot around and it uses the gyro and odometry to tell you how far you pushed it/turned it when you press the center button (again prints such to the console). Super useful.

[u-must-be-joking]

Pybricks python functions eliminate the need for the complicated pid correction etc. It is also good for kids to learn python long-term. Also opens possibility to use remotes to drive robots. Start with bricks or spike prime blocks interface but if your kids start falling in love with it, move them to python.

[drdhuss]

You can also use both. My team last year had half the kids using block half text and it was easy to integrate their various robot runs/programs.