START A BITMeet the Micro:bit
A small computer you program yourself: 25 lights, buttons A and B, a logo to touch, sensors and a speaker inside, and rings for wires.
It does nothing until you give it a program: you make it in MakeCode and download it.
The Micro:bit is a small computer. Its screen is 25 lights, 5 rows of 5. Tap them: on, off.
Press A, press B, touch the logo. Each one can start its own part of your program.
Sensors inside feel a shake, light and dark and a loud sound. Your program decides what happens then.
A speaker on the back plays notes, tunes and sounds: a giggle, a yawn, a happy sound.
Make the program in MakeCode, press Download. It goes down the cable, and starts by itself.
Buttons and sensors are inputs. Your program decides. Lights and speaker are outputs. Every machine works like this.
x counts across, y counts down, both from 0. plot x 2 y 0 lights the middle of the top row.
Clip wires to the rings: 0, 1 and 2 for your parts, 3V and GND for power.
It runs on the USB cable or a battery pack. Without power it sleeps; the program stays and starts again.
The processor runs your program. Flash keeps the program without power; RAM holds the variables only while powered.
digital write pin P0 to 1 puts about 3 volts on the ring: current flows, the LED lights. 0: no volts.
The gold edge has more pins. Some are busy: pin 5 is button A, pin 11 button B. A breakout board reaches them.
More: get your program onto the Micro:bit video
- Open MakeCode (makecode.microbit.org) in Chrome or Edge and make your program with blocks. The Micro:bit on the left of the screen (the simulator) shows what it will do.
- Connect the real Micro:bit with the USB cable. A small yellow light on the back comes on.
- Press Download. The first time, choose Connect and pick your Micro:bit (BBC micro:bit).
- The yellow light flashes while the program goes over, then your program starts by itself.
- Test it on the real Micro:bit. To start it again from the beginning, press the reset button on the back.
Without the cable: a battery pack (2 × AAA) in the white socket on the back. The program stays on the Micro:bit until you download a new one.
| Inside the Micro:bit V2 | |
|---|---|
| processor | nRF52833, 64 MHz |
| memory | 512 KB flash (the program), 128 KB RAM (the variables) |
| sensors | motion (accelerometer), compass, light (the screen's own lights), temperature, microphone, touch logo |
| outputs | 25 red lights, speaker, pins |
| radio | Micro:bit radio and Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz |
| power | 3 volts: USB cable or 2 × AAA batteries |