pxt-calliope/docs/getting-started.md

Getting started

Are you ready to build cool BBC micro:bit programs? For each challenge, reorder the blocks to recreate the program.

Show leds

Use the blocks below to draw a figure on the screen. You can redo the smiley face or try something else!

basic.showLeds(`
    . . . . .
    . # . # .
    . . . . .
    # . . . #
    . # # # .
    `)

To transfer your code to the BBC micro:bit,

• connect your micro:bit to the computer using the USB cable
• click on Compile
• drag&drop the .hex file into the MICROBIT drive
• wait till the yellow light is done blinking!

Show animation Forever

Show one image after the other to create an animation by snapping them together.

    basic.showLeds(`
        . . . . .
        . # . # .
        . . . . .
        # . . . #
        . # # # .
        `)
    basic.showLeds(`
        . . . . .
        . # . # .
        . . . . .
        . # # # .
        # . . . #
        `)

To transfer your code to the BBC micro:bit,

• connect your micro:bit to the computer using the USB cable
• click on Compile
• drag&drop the .hex file into the MICROBIT drive
• wait till the yellow light is done blinking!

Repeat forever

Use the forever block to repeat your code and have a continuous animation.

Unsuffle the blocks to create a happy, unhappy animation.... or changes the image to make it your own!

basic.forever(() => {
    basic.showLeds(`
        . . . . .
        . # . # .
        . . . . .
        # . . . #
        . # # # .
        `)
    basic.showLeds(`
        . . . . .
        . # . # .
        . . . . .
        . # # # .
        # . . . #
        `)
});

Your turn now!

Use the blocks show leds and forever to create your own custom awesome animation!

Button A and B

Unshuffle the blocks so that the micro:bit shows "YES" when button A is pressed, and "NO" when B is pressed. The key idea is that all the blocks nested under on button ... pressed will run when that button is pressed.

input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
    basic.showString("AAAAA");
});

Try to unshuffle those blocks:

input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
    basic.showString("YES");
});
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, () => {
    basic.showString("NO");
});

Shake

Using the data from the accelerometer, it is possible to detect that the BBC micro:bit is being shaken.

Unshuffle the code to display a frownie when shaken.

input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
    basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # . # .
. . . . .
. # # # .
# . . . #`);
});

Tilting

Aside from shake, it is also possible to detect tilt left and right, logo up and down or face up and down. Let's build a rock paper scissors game where you turn the micro:bit left to display paper, right to display scissors and down to display rock.

Unshuffle and try this code on the micro:bit itself!

input.onGesture(Gesture.TiltLeft, () => {
    basic.showLeds(`
# # # # #
# . . . #
# . . . #
# . . . #
# # # # #`);
});
input.onGesture(Gesture.LogoDown, () => {
    basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # # # .
. # # # .
. # # # .
. . . . .`);
});
input.onGesture(Gesture.TiltRight, () => {
    basic.showLeds(`
# # . . #
# # . # .
. . # . .
# # . # .
# # . . #`);
});

Pins

It is possible to use the pins (big metal bar at the bottom of the board) as button. Hold the GND button with one hand and press the 0 pin (called P0) with the other hand to trigger a pin pressed.

Unshuffle the blocks to display a smiley when pin P0 is pressed.

input.onPinPressed(TouchPin.P0, () => {
    basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # . # .
. . . . .
# . . . #
. # # # .`);
});

Your turn now!

Use the screen, buttons, gestures, pins to create a fun game using the micro:bit.