For BBC (BBC), I believe that most comrades are unfamiliar, especially in the era of hateful learning English, some of BBC broadcasts is a lot of predecessors practicing English listening material, however, let people fall glasses , BBC push development board - micro-programmable computer micro: bit, what is this ghost?
The cause of things is actually like this. For a few days, the hand got a foreign development board, just as follows.
I didn't care at the time, but later, the manufacturer of the development board was actually BBC. At first, I thought it was just renowning the BBC in my impression, but it turned out that this is just my favorite idea, Micro: bit manufacturer actually Truth is the BBC in my memory (British Broadcasting Company), then the problem is coming, why BBC pushes Micro: Bit? What kind of development board is this? easy to use? With these questions, I decided to understand some micro: bits.
Because the board is purchased directly from abroad, it is basically a full English. In addition to Micro: Bit board, the entire development platform has included a MicroSB data cable, a battery-powered box, and a battery. It is said that the design is the design is to consider using a button battery, and then directly card in the student's clothes, as a portable programming DIY platform, then confirming that this way is unsafe to replace it now.
Carefully investigate the "background" of Micro: Bit, found that this stuff is still not small, it is jointly collaborate by BBC and a lot of big wrists (including Microsoft, Samsung, ARM, Nordic Semiconductor and Huikang Foundation, etc.). And its practical use, quite similar to the Raspberry Part, encourage children and young people to learn programming and other technologies. As the British local students, I can get some micro: Bit every year, and as someone else's children, think If you want to experience, you can only spend money, the tax price is about 24 pounds, the price is not cheap, almost catch up with the price of the Raspberry.
Micro: Bit
However, I have to say, Micro: Bit board itself is quite good, but also more exquisite, only 43mm * 52mm, portability is very convenient, and the favorite feelings.
Don't be deceived by Micro: Bit board, the function of the board is relatively large, with a low-power Bluetooth communication chip, support USB2.0 OTG function NXP microcontroller, accelerometer, magnetometer, etc. .
NRF51822 low-power Bluetooth chip / MMA8652 three-axis accelerometer / MAG3110 three-axis magnetometer
It is necessary to say that the NXP KL26Z microcontroller, the role here is not the main control of the board, but is the support of the ARM Mbed development environment, depending on the function of the microcontroller USB2.0 OTG, implement the Drag and DROP type U Download, after all, for teen learning programming, the easiest download method is too copied.
NXP KL26Z microcontroller
The back surface is a matrix of two programmable mechanical buttons, 25 red LEDs, and the plate also has a 23PIN gold finger interface (which is 25Pin, but two PIN feet are no signal connection).
Micro: Bit is like this, although the board looks simple, but the onboard resources are still relatively rich, including:
Nordic NRF51822 Low Power Bluetooth Chip: 16MHz ARM Cortex-M0, 256KB Flash, 16KB RAM
NXP KL26Z microcontroller: 48MHz ARM CORTEX-M0 +, support USB2.0 OTG
NXP MMA8652 triaxial accelerometer
NXP MAG3110 three-axis magnetometer
25 red LED composition 5 * 5 matrix
3 mechanical buttons, including two user buttons a reset button
MicroSB power / download interface, power interface, 23PIN gold finger signal interface, including SPI, PWM, I2C, and maximum support 17 GPIO
Development environment
The article has been mentioned at the beginning, and Micro: Bit is mainly for teen friends to learn programming technology, so the corresponding development language is not the C / C ++ type we are well known, or a relatively simple graphical interface programming tool, of course, as Micropython is more Advanced development language, can be said, Micro: Bit support development language type is also relatively abundant, giving a different diverse choice, and is also ideal for communication education.
Main four development methods:
JavaScript
Microsoft Block Editor
Microsoft TouchDevelop
Micropython
JavaScript
JavaScript is supported by Code KingDoms, which is also a dedicated to letting younono use computational thinking to learn programming languages.
The latest JavaScript has "evolved to" JavaScript Blocks Editor, "support graphics editing, and supports text editing. And you can see the preview display of Micro: BIT run in the left interface, as shown below
Support from graphical editing into text code editing
Micro: BIT actual operation status
In addition, JavaScript also provides specialized learning courses. This can be the same as our general development board routine. It has a special explanation, which is very rich, and it is a textbook for learning purposes.
Microsoft Block Editor
Microsoft's Block Editor is also based on graphical editing tools. It is familiar with Blockly, knowing that this is a graphical open source editing tool that Google is launched. Microsoft should be rejected by this blockly modification. The specific operation is quite simple.
You can also support conversion into code
Microsoft TouchDevelop
Microsoft's TouchDevelop is a text editing tool, but you can guess it from naming everyone. It is very suitable for touch operation development, which is ideal for developing mobile platforms like mobile / tablet, but relative to graphics tools, Microsoft TouchDevelop It seems more complex.
Micro: actual operating status on BIT
Micropython
Python also is a computer scripting language, in fact, the Python used on Micro: BIT is Micropython, which is a spiotic Python, based on ANSI C (C language standard), and then followed the Python specification, mainly In order to be able to achieve the underlying operation in the embedded hardware (which refers to the microcontroller level).
In the development of Micro: Bit board, the online editing tools of online Micropython are also available, and the operation is very simple, you can save the source code file xx.py or you can download the generated Micro: BIT development board execution .HEX file.
If it is a friend who is more familiar with JavaScript or Python, it is more convenient to use these two development languages. If it is a complete newbie, it is recommended to use Microsoft Blockly Editor or JavaScript Blocks Editor, and for teen friends, this graphic programming tool is easier. Decade understand, and it also supports the conversion of the code.
Mobile phone programming
Micro: Bit's four development languages make the board itself more charm, but also learning entertainment education, but just like this is not to make me admire, BBC undoubtedly makes Micro: Bit more human, more general, more convenient, For example, it can be programmed through the current smartphone and support the Andriod system and iOS system.
The hand is temporarily only iPhone, so iOS is an example, see how mobile phone programming is?
Micro: Bit App interface is simple and intuitive, experienced, the main use of the function is to create code and download code, which is very different from the PC version, very good. The premise of mobile phone programming is to pair with Micro: BIT development board, establish a Bluetooth connection.
The process of Bluetooth connection is still full of fun, unlike general intelligent product equipment pairs.
First, the Bluetooth connection step is very easy to operate through interesting APP boot animation, and especially interesting is two points in pairing.
In the pairing process, you need to enter the Pattern implemented on the 5 * 5 LED matrix, as follows
The input is correct before entering the next step, basically in order to prevent casual connection and the uncertainty of the connection when multiple boards appear.
The other is Bluetooth pairing, it is necessary to provide a pairing code, and the loop code is also displayed by the LED matrix of 5 * 5 on Micro: Bit.
Bluetooth pairing, we can create a FLASH programming by creating a code, and the steps to create code are the same as the PC, which is the four development tools provided before.
The specific process is no longer described here. The following is the creation of the code to perform download through wireless Bluetooth, taking into account the connection of Ble, the download speed is actually very slow, but in fact even in the PC's download mode is also very slow .
3 LEDs in the middle of the 5 * 5 LED matrix in the middle of the download are constantly bright.
Download completion prompt
Finally, you can see that Micro: Bit runs the program that is transmitted through Bluetooth.
And don't forget, Micro: BIT itself provides peripheral mobile power interface, when you complete your program, you can display it through an external power supply.
Use Micro: Bit feelings, can only say too much! From the beginning, I saw the hardware holding an unforgettable attitude, and then witnessed a variety of development tools. It can be said that MICRO: BIT is not surprised from surprise to disappointment. Process, in my opinion, Micro: Bit has been over from hardware itself, and now has changed the point of view, counting hardware plus this complete set of perfect development tools, and the price of £ 24 is not expensive.
summary
For young people's learning programming, some foreign developed countries are much higher than domestic, and if they are English natives themselves, Micro: bit is I experienced numerous education for young people learning programming. The product can be said to be the most "perfect", which not only contains proprietary learning courses, but also a variety of development locale experiences. If your home has a child, you are interested in buying a special set of Micro: Bit, or you can go to Micro: Bit official website to experience these online development tools, I believe I will give you a lot of surprises.
Original declaration: This article is originally created by the panel network, declined!
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