Course Overview

This track provides links to various MicroPython tutorial for the micro:bit. In these tutorials you will work with your child exploring the different facets of the BBC micro:bit and interacting with the micro:bit using MicroPython. You will write programs in MicroPython exploring the on-board sensors, LED’s, etc, on-board the BBC micro:bit.

About BBC micro:bit

The Micro Bit (also referred to as BBC Micro Bit, stylised as micro:bit) is an ARM-based embedded system designed by the BBC for use in computer education in the UK. The board is 4 cm × 5 cm and has an ARM Cortex-M0 processor, accelerometer and magnetometer sensors, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, a display consisting of 25 LEDs, two programmable buttons, and can be powered by either USB or an external battery pack. The device inputs and outputs are through five ring connectors that are part of the 23-pin edge connector at the bottom of the board. The micro:bit can be programmed using the Microsoft Block code program editor which is similar to the block based language Scratch ideal for 7-12 year olds. The micro:bit can also be programmed using the Makecode editor in Javascript and Python which allows for older kids to learn the Javascript and Python programming language using the micro:bit.

You can read more about the BBC micro:bit at the microbit website.

Also see Kitronik’s resources here – Parents Complete Guide To The BBC micro:bit.

Prerequisites –

1. This tutorial makes extensive use of the BBC micro:bit.
2. If you haven’t purchased a BBC micro:bit yet you might want to head over and pick one up now.
3. We would recommend that you pick up the BBC micro:bit, BBC micro:bit breakout board and a breadboard.
4. The BBC micro:bit breakout board and breadboard makes working with the BBC micro:bit a lot easier.
5. We will be using the official online python editor to write code for all our tutorials.

About MicroPython

MicroPython is a software implementation of the Python 3 programming language, written in C, that is optimized to run on a microcontroller. MicroPython is a full Python compiler and runtime that runs on the micro-controller hardware. The user is presented with an interactive prompt (the REPL) to execute supported commands immediately. Included are a selection of core Python libraries; MicroPython includes modules which give the programmer access to low-level hardware.

MicroPython was originally created by the Australian programmer and physicist Damien George, after a successful Kickstarter backed campaign in 2013. While the original Kickstarter campaign released MicroPython with a pyboard microcontroller, MicroPython supports a number of ARM based architectures. MicroPython has since been run on Arduino platform based products, ESP8266, ESP32 and Internet of things hardware. In 2016 a version of MicroPython for the BBC Micro Bit was created as part of the Python Software Foundation’s contribution to the Micro Bit partnership with the BBC.