# Need help? Ask us anything! \[CLOSED\] \[12/21/2020 - 1/8/2021\]

**URL:** <https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189>\
**Category:** Arcade\
**Tags:** makecode-helpdesk\
**Created:** [December 21, 2020, 10:21pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189 "2020-12-21T22:21:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 15\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![SerhiiBukher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/serhiibukher/32/2900_2.png) [@SerhiiBukher](https://forum.makecode.com/u/SerhiiBukher)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/42 "2021-01-05T17:13:34Z")

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Thank you wery much!!!

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**Author:** ![DahbixLP](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/dahbixlp/32/4760_2.png) [@DahbixLP](https://forum.makecode.com/u/DahbixLP)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/43 "2021-01-05T17:25:07Z")

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Did it work?

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**Author:** ![jacob\_c](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/jacob_c/32/1532_2.png) [@jacob\_c](https://forum.makecode.com/u/jacob_c)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/44 "2021-01-05T17:34:05Z")

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Chill question for the next Help Desk stream:

What consoles do you currently own? What consoles have you owned in the past? Playing any “old” games still?

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**Author:** ![richard](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/richard/32/5417_2.png) [@richard](https://forum.makecode.com/u/richard)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/45 "2021-01-05T18:40:31Z")

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@UnsignedArduino few things:

1. You can test packages in the regular editor. Just switch to javascript, create a new file, paste your code into that file, return to blocks. Any blocks defined in any file that isn’t main.ts will show up in the toolbox
2. On line 3, it should be `Math.FastRandom`
3. For the randomElement function, you need to define it like this:

```auto
  randomElement(elements: any[]): any {
      return this._rng.pickRandom(elements)
  } 

```

1. Instead of using `%` in your block definitions, use `$`. You can change all instances of `%Random(rng)` to be `$this` and then set the default variable name by adding another line like this:

```auto
   //% block="$this 50/50 chance"
   //% this.defl=rng
   randomBoolean() {
       return this._rng.randomBool()
   }

```

The reasons for using $ instead of % are kinda tough to explain, but just know that you are much less likely to accidentally break your extension in the future when changing code if you use $

1. It’s usually recommended to add a `//% blockId="extensionname_functionname"` to your functions but totally optional

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**Author:** ![richard](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/richard/32/5417_2.png) [@richard](https://forum.makecode.com/u/richard)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/46 "2021-01-05T18:42:58Z")

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@jacob_c haha i love that question! might take me more than one stream though…

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**Author:** ![SerhiiBukher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/serhiibukher/32/2900_2.png) [@SerhiiBukher](https://forum.makecode.com/u/SerhiiBukher)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/47 "2021-01-05T19:21:38Z")

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Yes!!! 🙂

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**Author:** ![DahbixLP](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/dahbixlp/32/4760_2.png) [@DahbixLP](https://forum.makecode.com/u/DahbixLP)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/48 "2021-01-05T19:33:01Z")

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Nice! How did it work though? What did you do so that it worked?

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**Author:** ![omnisImperium](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/omnisimperium/32/2728_2.png) [@omnisImperium](https://forum.makecode.com/u/omnisImperium)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2021, 11:32pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/49 "2021-01-05T23:32:02Z")

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Hello! Is there any way I can use Python to make extensions for makecode arcade? I think that currently, makecode arcade only supports TS/JS to make extensions, but I am not very familiar with either, though I am working on learning them. I have a little bit more experience with python.

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**Author:** ![SerhiiBukher](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/serhiibukher/32/2900_2.png) [@SerhiiBukher](https://forum.makecode.com/u/SerhiiBukher)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/50 "2021-01-06T19:59:52Z")

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I’m was copying the empty UF2 files 🤦‍♂️

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**Author:** ![DahbixLP](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/dahbixlp/32/4760_2.png) [@DahbixLP](https://forum.makecode.com/u/DahbixLP)\
**Post date:** [January 6, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/51 "2021-01-06T20:01:33Z")

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Oh… Well that explains a lot! Glad that I could help you!

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**Author:** ![livcheerful](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/livcheerful/32/3509_2.png) [@livcheerful](https://forum.makecode.com/u/livcheerful)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/52 "2021-01-08T18:31:19Z")

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We’ll be answering questions today [on stream](https://www.twitch.tv/msmakecode) at 1PM PST! Tune in live if you want, but don’t worry if you can’t – we’ll post the video with links after 🙂

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**Author:** ![UnsignedArduino](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/unsignedarduino/32/592_2.png) [@UnsignedArduino](https://forum.makecode.com/u/UnsignedArduino)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/53 "2021-01-08T18:56:04Z")

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- What is your favorite/easiest thing to draw in Arcade? Hardest?
- And when will you add flipping and rotating in the official image editor?
- When is the next release coming? (Several weeks? Months? I’m just wondering)

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**Author:** ![UnsignedArduino](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/unsignedarduino/32/592_2.png) [@UnsignedArduino](https://forum.makecode.com/u/UnsignedArduino)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/54 "2021-01-08T19:09:09Z")

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And also, @system has a cake emoji - is today the forum anniversary?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![UnsignedArduino](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/unsignedarduino/32/592_2.png) [@UnsignedArduino](https://forum.makecode.com/u/UnsignedArduino)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 7:41pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/56 "2021-01-08T19:41:40Z")

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It automatically updates, the editor will say `Download complete - reloading` or something like that.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![livcheerful](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.makecode.com/livcheerful/32/3509_2.png) [@livcheerful](https://forum.makecode.com/u/livcheerful)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://forum.makecode.com/t/need-help-ask-us-anything-closed-12-21-2020-1-8-2021/5189/57 "2021-01-11T17:17:29Z")

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THANKS EVERYBODY for your questions! The stream is posted here! [Arcade Advanced Stream #180 - Help Desk!](https://forum.makecode.com/t/arcade-advanced-stream-180-help-desk/5444)

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