scratchbased

Scratchbased is an adjective used to describe something that is built from scratch or based on the Scratch programming environment. In general use, it can refer to software projects developed without relying on preexisting templates or libraries, or to learning resources that teach through Scratch, a block-based programming language developed at MIT. The term is not standardized and its exact meaning depends on context; it may indicate either a construct from the Scratch ecosystem or a ground-up development approach.

The phrase draws on two related ideas: built from scratch (from the beginning with no pre-built parts) and Scratch (the MIT language). When capitalized as Scratch, it usually signals direct relation to the programming environment; when hyphenated as scratch-based it often means based on those Scratch concepts or methods rather than being literally Scratch-branded.

In practice, scratch-based software projects are common in education, where students assemble programs from visual blocks, while scratch-based hardware or prototyping refers to building systems using basic components without custom fabrication. Critics note that the breadth of its meaning can reduce clarity, so authors are advised to define how the term is used in their work.

See also: built from scratch, Scratch (programming language), scratch-built, prototyping.