11 KiB
Getting started
~avatar
Are you ready to build cool BBC micro:bit programs?
Here are some challenges for you. Unscramble the blocks in the editor to make real programs that work!
~
Happy face
There are three blocks in the editor (the area to the left). They should look like this:
basic.forever(() => {
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # . # .
. . . . .
# . . . #
. # # # .
`)
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . .
`)
});
When you run this program, you will see a smiley face, then a blank
screen, then a smiley again -- it never stops! (That's because of the
forever block.)
Click Compile to move your program to the BBC micro:bit!
Happy unhappy face
Draw an unhappy face instead of the blank screen. Click on the dots
in the second show leds block until it matches the blocks below.
Now you have an animation (cartoon) that shows a happy face,
then an unhappy one, then a happy one again, forever (or until
you turn off your micro:bit)!
basic.forever(() => {
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # . # .
. . . . .
# . . . #
. # # # .
`)
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # . # .
. . . . .
. # # # .
# . . . #
`)
});
Click Compile to move your program to the BBC micro:bit!
Your turn!
Pile up more show leds blocks to create your animation! Create an
animation with at least 5 pictures. What does this animation show?
basic.forever(() => {
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # . # .
. . . . .
# . . . #
. # # # .
`)
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # . # .
. . . . .
# # # # #
. . . . .
`)
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # . # .
. . . . .
. # # # .
# . . . #
`)
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # . # .
. . . . .
# # # # #
. . . # #
`)
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
# . # . .
. . . . .
# . . . #
. # # # .
`)
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. . # . #
. . . . .
# . . . #
. # # # .
`)
});
Click Compile to move your program to the BBC micro:bit!
~hint
You can find the show leds block in the Basic part of the editor.
~
Button A and button B
This program will show the word ANTEATER on the LED
screen when you press button A.
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
basic.showString("ANTEATER");
});
~hint
The showString block can show letters, numbers, and punctuation
on the micro:bit screen.
~
Now try to unscramble these blocks in the editor so that the micro:bit
shows BANANA when you press button B.
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, () => {
basic.showString("BANANA");
});
~hint
You can find the letter B by clicking the letter A on the
onButtonPressed block.
~
Click Compile to move your program to the BBC micro:bit!
Your turn!
Can you combine these blocks so your program shows your real name
instead of ANTEATER when you press A, but your secret agent
name instead of BANANA when you press B?
Shake
You can find when someone is shaking the BBC micro:bit by checking its accelerometer (it finds whether the micro:bit is speeding up or slowing down).
Unscramble these blocks in the editor to show a frownie when someone shakes the micro:bit. (Ouch!)
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # . # .
. . . . .
. # # # .
# . . . #`);
});
Click Compile to move your program to the BBC micro:bit!
Pins
You can also use the pins as buttons. (The pins are the holes in the
metal stripe at the bottom of the micro:bit board.) For example, hold
the GND button with one hand and touch the 0 pin (called
P0) with your other hand to tell the micro:bit you're pressing it.
Unscramble the blocks in the editor to show a heart when you touch
pin P0.
input.onPinPressed(TouchPin.P0, () => {
basic.showLeds(`
. # . # .
# . # . #
# . . . #
. # . # .
. . # . .`);
});
Click Compile to move your program to the BBC micro:bit!
~hint
Try this experiment: find a friend and hold hands. Touch the GND
pin while your friend presses the P0 pin. You should see the
heart! The electric current is going through your bodies and across
your handshake to make it happen!
~
The amazing coin flipper
~avatar avatar
Are you trying to choose whether to play soccer or go to the movies instead, or which toppings to have on your pizza? Build a coin flipping machine with the BBC micro:bit to choose for you!
~
Here are the blocks to make your coin flipper. When you press button
B, the coin flipper will show either H for heads or T for tails
on the LED screen.
basic.forever(() => {
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, () => {
if (Math.randomBoolean()) {
basic.showString("H");
} else {
basic.showString("T");
}
});
});
~hint
The pick random true or false block randomly tells the if
block true or false. If the pick block
picked true, the if block shows the letter H. Otherwise, it
shows the letter T.
That's it!
~
Keeping score
~avatar
To keep track out of how many guesses you've won, add these blocks to your coin flipper:
~
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
game.addScore(1);
});
input.onButtonPressed(Button.AB, () => {
basic.showNumber(game.score());
});
These blocks mean that if you press button A, you will add 1 to
your score, and if you press A and B together, the micro:bit will
show your score.
When you're done, your coin flipping program should look like this:
basic.forever(() => {
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, () => {
if (Math.randomBoolean()) {
basic.showString("H");
} else {
basic.showString("T");
}
});
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
game.addScore(1);
});
input.onButtonPressed(Button.AB, () => {
basic.showNumber(game.score());
});
});
Flip until your thumbs get tired!
Let's play Rock Paper Scissors!
~avatar avatar
Build a Rock Paper Scissors game with the BBC micro:bit! You can play the game with a friend who has it on a micro:bit. You can also play it with friends who are just using their hands. (The game is built like a coin flipper, but with three choices instead of two.)
~
Step 1: Getting started
We want the micro:bit to choose rock, paper, or scissors when you
shake it. Try creating an on shake block so when you shake the
micro:bit, it will run part of a program.
Clear up the blocks and add the blocks below.
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
})
Next, when you shake the micro:bit, it should pick a random number from 0 to 2
and store it in the variable item.
Add a set block with a variable. Then add a pick random block,
and store the random number in the variable,
like this:
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
let item = Math.random(3)
})
~hint
No one can predict random numbers. That's what makes them great for Rock Paper Scissors!
~
Each possible number these blocks can make (0, 1, or 2) means a different picture.
We will show the right picture for that number on the LED screen.
Step 2: Picking paper
Put an if block after the let block that checks whether
item is 0. Make sure the if block has an else if part
and an else part.
Next, add a show leds block that shows a
picture of a piece of paper:
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
let item = Math.random(3)
if (item == 0) {
basic.showLeds(`
# # # # #
# . . . #
# . . . #
# . . . #
# # # # #
`)
} else if (false) {
} else {
}
})
Step 3: A random rock
Now we are going to add a new picture for the micro:bit to show when another random number comes up.
Make the else if part check if the variable item is 1.
Then add a show leds block with a picture of a rock.
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
let item = Math.random(3)
if (item == 0) {
basic.showLeds(`
# # # # #
# . . . #
# . . . #
# . . . #
# # # # #
`)
} else if (item == 1) {
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # # # .
. # # # .
. # # # .
. . . . .
`)
} else {
}
})
Step 4: Suddenly scissors
Add a show leds block with a picture of scissors to the else part:
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, () => {
let item = Math.random(3)
if (item == 0) {
basic.showLeds(`
# # # # #
# . . . #
# . . . #
# . . . #
# # # # #
`)
} else if (item == 1) {
basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # # # .
. # # # .
. # # # .
. . . . .
`)
} else {
basic.showLeds(`
# # . . #
# # . # .
. . # . .
# # . # .
# # . . #
`)
}
})
~hint
You don't need to check if item is 2 because 2 is the only number left out of 0, 1, and 2.
That's why you can use an else instead of an else if.
~
Your game is ready!
Click Compile to move your program to the BBC micro:bit!
Have fun!
Step 5: Are you the greatest?
Here is a way you can make your Rock Paper Scissors game better.
When button A is pressed,
the micro:bit will add 1 to your score.
Open the Game drawer, and then add the block change score by 1 to your program,
like this:
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
game.addScore(1)
})
Step 6: Prove you're the greatest!
After your micro:bit can add 1 to the score, show how many wins you have.
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
game.addScore(1)
basic.showString("WINS:")
basic.showNumber(game.score())
})
Step 7: Staying honest
Success! Your micro:bit can track wins!
But what about losses?
Use the Game drawer to subtract 1 from your score when you press button B.
Here are all the blocks you will need:
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, () => {
game.addScore(-1)
basic.showString("LOSSES:")
basic.showNumber(game.score())
})
Click Compile to move your program to the BBC micro:bit!
Your turn!
How else can you make your game better? Ever hear of Rock Paper Scissors Spock Lizard?