Let’s take a quick tour and check out what is available to us!
1.
Projects
— A cloud storage system connected to your computer with no account setup
required.
2.
Share
— Allows you to share your project code in a number of different ways with your
friends!
3.
Blocks/JavaScript
— Choose your own adventure by programming in blocks (default) or in
JavaScript.
4.
Program Space
— This is where the magic happens and where you build your
program…where you “make code.”
5.
Zoom/Undo-Redo
— Sometimes you need to undo things, or zoom out and look around;
these are the buttons for that.
6.
Name & Save
— Name your program and save it (download it) to your computer.
7.
Download
— Similar to Save, download your program as a .hex file and drag it into your
micro:bit.
8.
Block Library
— All of the options in terms of program building blocks, which are color-
coded by function.
9.
Simulator Hide/Show
— You can hide/show the simulator if you would like.
10.
Simulator
— You don’t need hardware! MakeCode has a real-time simulator! As you change
your program, you can see what it will do on this virtual micro:bit!
Phew! Now you have a choice: block- or text-based programming?
Blocks or Text
For this guide and the majority of the content that you will find on SparkFun for the micro:bit, we will
be using block-based programming examples.
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But, if you so choose, there is a JavaScript option to use as well. The choice is yours, and the good
news is that you can switch back and forth from one to the other in the same program; one will
populate the other, which is really nice if you are new to programming!
Simulator
MakeCode includes a simulator for the micro:bit, meaning if you don’t have your micro:bit in hand
you can still write code for it. Or if you want to try out an idea before you upload it to your micro:bit,
you can do that too!
