# Improving Feedback & Textual Programming for Students — TextlyJava + Tangible Coding Ideas

**URL:** <https://forum.makecode.com/t/improving-feedback-textual-programming-for-students-textlyjava-tangible-coding-ideas/37134>\
**Category:** micro:bit\
**Tags:** extension\
**Created:** [June 5, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/improving-feedback-textual-programming-for-students-textlyjava-tangible-coding-ideas/37134 "2025-06-05T20:35:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![agct](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@agct](https://forum.makecode.com/u/agct)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/improving-feedback-textual-programming-for-students-textlyjava-tangible-coding-ideas/37134/1 "2025-06-05T20:35:18Z")

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Hi MakeCode Team and community,

I wanted to share something I’ve been working on that might be of interest to the MakeCode ecosystem.

I’ve developed **TextlyJava** , a simplified version of Java designed for educational use, which is integrated into **Open Roberta Lab**. The idea is to make the transition between block-based and textual programming easier for students, while providing **clear feedback** in case of **parser or semantic errors** – something that’s often missing in beginner environments.

You can try it [here](https://dev9.open-roberta.org/):

Choose **micro:bit V2** → click on **More Options** → check the box for **“NEPO Java”**.

Once activated, users can build their program using blocks as usual, and then open the **Textly Editor** tab to view or modify the equivalent TextlyJava code.  
Any edits in the Textly tab are automatically reflected when switching back to NEPO blocks.

Please note: the **final version will be released in a couple of weeks** , as there are still a few minor visual bugs on the frontend.

I’d love to explore whether **TextlyJava (or Java itself)** could be brought into MakeCode to give learners the option to toggle between blocks and beginner-friendly text — with better error messages and more educational structure.

I’m also currently experimenting with **tangible programming** using **ArUco markers** , which could allow students to program with physical cards or blocks and see the results live — a more interactive and accessible approach.

I’m really passionate about educational tools and would love to know:  
**Is your team hiring, or is there someone I could talk to about potential collaboration or opportunities?**  
It would be a dream to contribute to MakeCode’s mission and help build more tools that support learning.

Thanks for reading — and happy to answer questions or share code examples if there’s interest!

Best regards,  
**Alvaro Gabriel Calderon Toledo**