How to build a tower in Minecraft using Python – tutorial for kids

Constructing a building in Minecraft is easy using the Python language. You shouldn’t consider it difficult: even a beginner child can handle the first steps. And we are offering a free lesson on building through code: it will help us create a full-fledged tower and place it in the Minecraft virtual universe.

Python is a fairly common and popular programming language used for various purposes. Creating mods for games is one of the relevant areas. It is Python that has proven itself well as a tool for creating and managing in-game objects in Minecraft, a sandbox with survival and RPG elements. Modern children and teenagers love it very much, which is perceived negatively by some parents: they believe that hours spent at the computer playing the game are a waste of time.

We are in an online school Pixel We believe that the hobby of gaming can be used as the basis for learning programming using text languages. Using the Minecraft game as an example, Python is a good and common tool used by beginners and experienced programmers. The prospects for owning it are enormous: so-called Pythonists are able to engage in testing, machine learning, web development, game creation and more.

And we offer a free lesson in virtual construction through code. It is suitable even for beginners. A training video was specially attached at the end: it will help if the text instructions seem complicated. Additionally, we combined parts of the code and presented a full-fledged program: use it if the step-by-step guide does not lead to the expected result.

Let's get to the point and figure out how to build a tower in Minecraft using Python. Let's start with the basics and move on to more complex things: first we'll figure out how to install the necessary environments on a PC or laptop, and then we'll start importing libraries, declaring variables, using blocks, etc.

Step No. 1: download and install the necessary programs

You will first need to download Minecraft and Python. We recommend doing this taking into account the operating system and the PC you are using.

We explained in introductory videos where you need to download and how to install the programs necessary for building a tower. Here are the video versions for PC or laptop OS users:

Step No. 2: write the code

Let's continue the lesson of creating a high tower on a map in Minecraft with the main part and write the required code. Let's call our project this: Minecraft Tower.

Moving on: to complete the project, you will need to import the mcpi library, apply a number of variables and take additional steps. Are you ready? Then let's go:

We import the library we need. This is mcpi. You will need to write the following code:

import mcpi.minecraft as minecraft

We declare the first and quite important variables for the command that will be used to perform actions in the game universe, and for the character’s coordinates. We write the following:

mc=minecraft.Minecraft.create()
pos=mc.player.getTilePos()

We introduce additional important variables where the ids of the required blocks will be stored. Here is a new part of the code that will help you make a tower in Minecraft:

#Строительные блоки
base=49
mid=1
spire=112
window=20

Don’t know where you can find the identifiers (id) of the blocks we are interested in? Look video tutorial for building a house in Minecraft: He will help you figure it out.

We introduce new variables. In the project we are running, they will be intended for character coordinates, tied to various directions. This will help position the tower close to the player, but not too close. It is important that the virtual character is not inside the structure being created. A new part of the program will help achieve this goal:

#Устанавливаем координаты
x=pos.x+1
y=pos.y
z=pos.z+1

We use the setBlocks function. A Pixel school teacher talked about it in the video tutorial presented above and dedicated to building a virtual house. The function we have outlined will be useful for creating the base, middle and spire of our Minecraft Tower. Here is an additional piece of general code that will need to supplement the lines already written:

#База
mc.setBlocks(x,y,z,x+4,y+16,z+4,base)

#Середина
mc.setBlocks(x+1,y+16,z+1,x+3,y+19,z+3,mid)

#Шпиль
mc.setBlocks(x+2,y+19,z+2,x+2,y+21,z+2,spire)

We are creating additional elements, because there are still some things missing. Did you guess it? These are windows. Let's use the familiar setBlocks function again. In order not to write the required command several times and not to duplicate similar lines, we introduce a new construction in the form of a counter loop for i in range. Each subsequent repetition will increase the y coordinate by 4 game units, due to which the windows we create will begin to appear higher relative to the previous ones. Let's write:

#Окна
for i in range(4):
mc.setBlocks(x+3,y+2,z+4,x+1,y+3,z,window)
y=y+4

We launch the resulting program. If it is written correctly and does not contain errors, we will see the following:

So, we figured out how to build a tower in Minecraft. If something doesn’t work out or the program doesn’t work as expected, we suggest moving on to the next section.

Bonus: entire tower code

Here is the program for building the entire tower:

import mcpi.minecraft as minecraft
mc=minecraft.Minecraft.create()
pos=mc.player.getTilePos()

#Строительные блоки

base=49
mid=1
spire=112
window=20

#Устанавливаем координаты

x=pos.x+1
y=pos.y
z=pos.z+1

#База
mc.setBlocks(x,y,z,x+4,y+16,z+4,base)

#Середина
mc.setBlocks(x+1,y+16,z+1,x+3,y+19,z+3,mid)

#Шпиль
mc.setBlocks(x+2,y+19,z+2,x+2,y+21,z+2,spire)

#Окна
for i in range(4):
mc.setBlocks(x+3,y+2,z+4,x+1,y+3,z,window)
y=y+4

Use this code to get the result.

Video about building in Minecraft for beginner children

If you want to come up with the script yourself, take a look video instructions: in it, a Pixel school teacher told how to build a beautiful tower in Minecraft.

You can improve your coding skills in Python in the Minecraft universe on our online course for children from 9 to 13 years old.

Today's lesson has come to an end. Therefore, we want to find out if you managed it: be sure to tell us if it worked, and if not, then share in the comments what you encountered more difficulties with. This will help us create more detailed and clear free lessons for children interested in gaming and programming.

The material was prepared by Pixel school teachers. We have children and teenagers who are passionate about IT, learn to write code, create 3D models, games and websites.