pxt-calliope/docs/about.md
2016-06-15 14:04:06 -04:00

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basic.forever(() => {
  basic.showString("Hi!");
})
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
    led.stopAnimation();
    basic.showLeds(`
. . . . .
. # . # .
. . . . .
# . . . #
. # # # .`);
});
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, () => {
    led.stopAnimation();
    basic.showLeds(`
. # . # .
# . # . #
# . . . #
. # . # .
. . # . .`);
});

About

The BBC micro:bit is a pocket-size computer with a 5x5 display of 25 LEDs, Bluetooth and sensors that can be programmed by anyone. The BBC micro:bit was made possible by many partners.

The micro:bit provides an easy and fun introduction to programming and making switch on, program it to do something fun wear it, customize it. Just like Arduino, the micro:bit can be connected to and interact with sensors, displays, and other devices.

Hardware: The Device

Learn about about the hardware components of the micro:bit to make the most of it!

Programming: Blocks or JavaScript

The student can program the BBC micro:bit using Blocks or JavaScript, via the micro:bit APIs:

basic.showString("Hi!");

Compile and Flash: Your Program!

When a user has her code ready, she can connect her BBC micro:bit to a computer via a USB cable, so it appears as a mounted drive (named MICROBIT).

Compilation to ARM thumb machine code from Blocks or JavaScript happens in the browser.

The student is prompted to save the ARM binary program to a file, which she then simply drags to the micro:bit mounted drive, which flashes the micro:bit device with the new program.

Simulator: Test Your Code

Before a student compiles her code for the micro:bit, she can run it using the micro:bit simulator, all within the confines of a web browser. The simulator has support for the LED screen, buttons, as well as compass, accelerometer, and digital I/O pins.

C++ Runtime

The C++ BBC micro:bit runtime, created at Lancaster University, provides access to the hardware functions of the micro:bit, as well as a set of helper functions (such as displaying a number/image/string on the LED screen).

The micro:bit library mirrors the functions of the C++ library. When code is compiled to ARM machine code, the calls to JavaScript micro:bit functions are replaced with calls to the corresponding C++ functions.

Open Source

The editor for the BBC micro:bit is open source on GitHub. Contributors are welcome!