---
key: mechanic/education--family-30
type: mechanic
id: education--family-30
lang: en
title: 'Algorithms, commands and programming'
summary: >-
  The learner builds an algorithm from commands, runs it and checks the
  executor’s behavior on input data.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/education--family-30/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/education--family-30.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/education--family-30.md
aliases:
  - Algorithms and programming
tags:
  - Educational games
  - 'Action, construction and control'
sourceIds:
  - source-2fb392d4831688b7
sources:
  - id: source-2fb392d4831688b7
    title: Human Resource Machine
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: education
    id: family-30
    title: Educational games
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/education/#family-30'
    categoryIds:
      - action
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Algorithms and programming
    description: >-
      The learner builds an algorithm from commands, runs it and checks the
      executor’s behavior on input data.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/adventure-human-resource-machine-00.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Human Resource Machine
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/375820/ss_5de238ca62f67dc97c940bd6af61c03a4320c981.1920x1080.jpg?t=1692721273
      credit: Tomorrow Corporation
      rights: >-
        Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed
        Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.
      caption: Program commands control transport and calculation
      alt: Program commands control transport and calculation
      markers:
        - x: 84
          'y': 65
          label: The program defines execution order
        - x: 25
          'y': 49
          label: An agent executes commands in the game world
    tips:
      - Test the program with several input sets.
    examples:
      - title: Human Resource Machine
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Educational reference expanded from all 64 families and 749 variants of the
  original children-education taxonomy, with original editorial additions dated
  2026-10-20. Sources support specific methods and examples, not the entire
  classification or its effectiveness.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/education
---
# Algorithms, commands and programming

id: education--family-30
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/education--family-30
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/education--family-30/

The learner builds an algorithm from commands, runs it and checks the executor’s behavior on input data.

## At a glance

![Program commands control transport and calculation](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/adventure-human-resource-machine-00.webp)

[Human Resource Machine](https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.

1. The program defines execution order
2. An agent executes commands in the game world

- Test the program with several input sets.

- [Human Resource Machine](https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/)

## How it works

Specify command sequences

## Variants

### Variants

<a id="family-30-branch-1"></a>

- Specify command sequences <a id="family-30-variant-1"></a>
- Use repetition <a id="family-30-variant-2"></a>
- Use conditions <a id="family-30-variant-3"></a>
- Use variables <a id="family-30-variant-4"></a>
- Create procedures <a id="family-30-variant-5"></a>
- Respond to events <a id="family-30-variant-6"></a>
- Use sensors <a id="family-30-variant-7"></a>
- Perform parallel actions <a id="family-30-variant-8"></a>
- Program character states <a id="family-30-variant-9"></a>
- Create recursive rules <a id="family-30-variant-10"></a>
- Execute algorithms step by step <a id="family-30-variant-11"></a>
- Compare outcomes and costs <a id="family-30-variant-12"></a>

## Design example

Program a robot to collect objects of a specified color.

## Context and limits

A mechanic map for games with explicit learning goals, from first encounters with a topic to professional practice. It covers children, teenagers and adults; choose subject, difficulty, context and controls for the learner. Player actions, subject content, instructional support and assessment are distinct layers. Scores and game completion alone do not establish mastery or skill transfer.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Educational reference expanded from all 64 families and 749 variants of the original children-education taxonomy, with original editorial additions dated 2026-10-20. Sources support specific methods and examples, not the entire classification or its effectiveness.

- [Human Resource Machine](https://store.steampowered.com/app/375820/) (id: source-2fb392d4831688b7)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors