This is a handout for a workshop at the Milton Keynes Raspberry Jam on 10 November 2018. Code for the workshop is on Github.

In this session, you'll use a Raspberry Pi to program a Micro:bit, and the Micro:bit will control a NeoPixel strip and make it a one-dimensional firework.

Connecting the Micro:bit and Neopixel strip

• Connect the black lead on the Neopixel strip to the GND hole on the Microbit.
• Connect the red lead on the Neopixel to the 3V hole on the Microbit.
• Connect the white lead on the Neopixel to the 0 hole on the Microbit.
• Use the USB cable to connect the Microbit to the Raspberry Pi

Starting the Mu editor

Find the "Start" menu → Programming → mu
Once you've opened Mu, press the Mode button and press "BBC micro:bit"

Program 1: launching the firework

Type this program into the Mu editor. It will do the animation for a firework launching.

Note that Python is really picky about

• spacing and indentation
• upper and lower case letters
• round and square brackets
• colons at the end of some lines
• the difference between zero and oh, and one and ell.

Program 1

When you've typed it in, press "Save" button to save your file then press the "Flash" button to put the program on the Microbit.

When you press the A button on the Microbit, you should see a little light shoot along the strip.

Program 2: making the launch motion-sensitive

Pressing the button is OK, but let's make the firework launch if you shake the Microbit.

Make the changes indicated to your program. You don't need to type the '# Add this line' comments: that's just to show you what to do.

Program 2

Again, save and flash the program. Now try shaking the Microbit and see if it launches a firework.

Program 3: Exploding fireworks

Now to make the firework explode at the top!

Program 3

Again, save and flash your program. You should now have explosions!

Program 4

What you've got is OK, but let's add some animation to the explosion. Let's make it start small and rapidly grow, and then fade over a bit of time.

Program 4

Again, save and flash the program. Cool animation!

Program 5: different colour explosions

Always having the same colour explosion is a bit boring. Let's make every explosion a different colour.

Program 5

Again, save and flash the program. Even cooler animation!

Program 6: speeding up the animation

The animation's a bit slow. We can speed things up by only updating the pixels that change, rather than all of them.

Program 6

Program 7: Microbit display

The Microbit has a small display. Let's use that to show the firework is ready.

Program 7

Program 8: Radio control

The Micro:bit has a radio. Let's use that to make one firework (sometimes) set off another firework.

Program 8

Credits