diff --git a/libs/core/buttons.cpp b/libs/core/buttons.cpp
index a319aa75..127b9f66 100644
--- a/libs/core/buttons.cpp
+++ b/libs/core/buttons.cpp
@@ -16,17 +16,35 @@ enum class ButtonEvent {
     Down = 4,
 };
 
+/**
+ * Patterns for lights under the buttons.
+ */
+enum class LightsPattern {
+    Off = LED_BLACK,
+    Green = LED_GREEN,
+    Red = LED_RED,
+    Orange = LED_ORANGE,
+    GreenFlash = LED_GREEN_FLASH,
+    RedFlash = LED_RED_FLASH,
+    OrangeFlash = LED_ORANGE_FLASH,
+    GreenPulse = LED_GREEN_PULSE,
+    RedPulse = LED_RED_PULSE,
+    OrangePulse = LED_ORANGE_PULSE,
+};
+
 namespace pxt {
 
 void *buttonPoll(void *);
 
 class Button {
   public:
+    void *ptr;
     int id;
     bool wasPressed;
     bool isPressed;
     int timePressed;
     Button(int ev3id) {
+        ptr = 0; // make sure we're not treated as ref-counted object
         id = ev3id;
         wasPressed = false;
         isPressed = false;
@@ -121,7 +139,30 @@ Button *getButton(int id) {
 }
 }
 
-//% noRefCounting fixedInstances
+namespace control {
+
+/**
+* Determine the version of system software currently running.
+*/
+//%
+String deviceFirmwareVersion() {
+    return mkString(HardwareVersionString());
+}
+
+}
+
+// TODO rename this? move it somewhere?
+namespace output {
+/**
+ * Set lights.
+ */
+//% blockId=setLights block="set lights %pattern"
+void setLights(LightsPattern pattern) {
+    SetLedPattern((uint8_t)pattern);
+}
+}
+
+//% fixedInstances
 namespace ButtonMethods {
 /**
  * Do something when a button (`A`, `B` or both `A` + `B`) is clicked, double clicked, etc...
diff --git a/libs/core/enums.d.ts b/libs/core/enums.d.ts
index 9d19edfc..90b5ca0b 100644
--- a/libs/core/enums.d.ts
+++ b/libs/core/enums.d.ts
@@ -16,4 +16,22 @@
     Down = 4,
     }
 
+
+    /**
+     * Patterns for lights under the buttons.
+     */
+
+    declare enum LightsPattern {
+    Off = 0,  // LED_BLACK
+    Green = 1,  // LED_GREEN
+    Red = 2,  // LED_RED
+    Orange = 3,  // LED_ORANGE
+    GreenFlash = 4,  // LED_GREEN_FLASH
+    RedFlash = 5,  // LED_RED_FLASH
+    OrangeFlash = 6,  // LED_ORANGE_FLASH
+    GreenPulse = 7,  // LED_GREEN_PULSE
+    RedPulse = 8,  // LED_RED_PULSE
+    OrangePulse = 9,  // LED_ORANGE_PULSE
+    }
+
 // Auto-generated. Do not edit. Really.
diff --git a/libs/core/shims.d.ts b/libs/core/shims.d.ts
index efb3bfb9..359cfd64 100644
--- a/libs/core/shims.d.ts
+++ b/libs/core/shims.d.ts
@@ -38,10 +38,18 @@ declare namespace input {
     //% block="button exit" weight=95 fixedInstance shim=pxt::getButton(5)
     const buttonExit: Button;
 }
+declare namespace output {
+
+    /**
+     * Set lights.
+     */
+    //% blockId=setLights block="set lights %pattern" shim=output::setLights
+    function setLights(pattern: LightsPattern): void;
+}
 
 
 
-    //% noRefCounting fixedInstances
+    //% fixedInstances
 declare interface Button {
     /**
      * Do something when a button (`A`, `B` or both `A` + `B`) is clicked, double clicked, etc...