Use cases for visual programming environments today

Visual programming environments (VPEs) provide an intuitive, graphics-based method for interacting with computers, serving as an educational tool to introduce programming concepts to children without requiring knowledge of syntax. These environments, exemplified by tools like Scratch, facilitate computational thinking through visual expressions and are particularly effective in K–12 education. Beyond educational purposes, VPEs are increasingly utilized in fields such as the Internet of Things (IoT), multimedia production, simulation, automation, video game development, and business intelligence (BI), due to their ability to streamline the development process and simplify complex tasks through graphical interfaces. Despite their visual nature, VPEs should not be confused with programming languages like Visual Basic or Visual C#, which, although featuring user interfaces, are primarily text-based. The popularity of VPEs is growing, with major companies like Amazon exploring these environments to enhance low-code and no-code platforms, indicating a promising future for VPEs in various technological domains.