The Official BBC Micro:bit User Guide

The Official BBC Micro:bit User Guide

by Gareth Halfacree
Released October 2017
Publisher(s): Wiley
ISBN: 9781119386735

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Book description

The go-to guide to getting started with the BBC micro:bit and exploring all of its amazing capabilities.

The BBC micro:bit is a pocket-sized electronic development platform built with education in mind. It was developed by the BBC in partnership with major tech companies, communities, and educational organizations to provide kids with a fun, easy, inexpensive way to develop their digital skills. With it, kids (and grownups) can learn basic programming and coding while having fun making virtual pets, developing games, and a whole lot more. 

Written by internationally bestselling tech author Gareth Halfacree and endorsed by the Micro:bit Foundation, The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide contains what you need to know to get up and running fast with the BBC micro:bit. Learn everything from taking your first steps with the BBC micro:bit to writing your own programs. You'll also learn how to expand its capabilities with add-ons through easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions. 

·         Set up your BBC micro:bit and develop your digital skills

·         Write code in JavaScript Blocks, JavaScript, and Python

·         Discover the BBC micro:bit’s built-in sensors

·         Connect the BBC micro:bit to a Raspberry Pi to extend its capabilities

·         Build your own circuits and create hardware

The Official BBC micro:bit User Guide is your go-to source for learning all the secrets of the BBC micro:bit. Whether you're just beginning or have some experience, this book allows you to dive right in and experience everything the BBC micro:bit has to offer.

Table of contents

    1. Cover
    2. Foreword
    3. Introduction
      1. Who This Book Is For
      2. What This Book Covers
      3. How This Book Is Structured
      4. What You Need to Use This Book
      5. Conventions
      6. Contact Me
    4. Part I: An Introduction to the BBC micro:bit
      1. Chapter 1: Meet the BBC micro:bit
        1. A Tour of the Board
        2. Breaking It Down
      2. Chapter 2: Getting Started with the BBC micro:bit
        1. Handling the BBC micro:bit
        2. Powering the BBC micro:bit
        3. Greetings from the BBC micro:bit
        4. Resetting the BBC micro:bit
      3. Chapter 3: Programming the BBC micro:bit
        1. USB Connectivity
        2. The Code Editor
        3. About Flash Memory
    5. Part II: Coding for the BBC micro:bit
      1. Chapter 4: Programming Languages
        1. About Programming Languages
        2. The Three Main BBC micro:bit Languages
        3. Comparing Programming Languages
        4. Choosing a Programming Language
        5. Other Programming Languages
      2. Chapter 5: JavaScript Blocks
        1. Introducing the JavaScript Blocks Editor
        2. Program 1: ‘Hello, World!’
        3. Program 2: Button Inputs
        4. Program 3: Touch Inputs
        5. Program 4: The Temperature Sensor
        6. Program 5: The Compass Sensor
        7. Program 6: The Accelerometer Sensor
        8. Program 7: The Fruit Catcher Game
        9. Further Steps
      3. Chapter 6: JavaScript
        1. Introducing the JavaScript Editor
        2. Program 1: ‘Hello, World!’
        3. Program 2: Button Inputs
        4. Program 3: Touch Inputs
        5. Program 4: The Temperature Sensor
        6. Program 5: The Compass Sensor
        7. Program 6: The Accelerometer Sensor
        8. Program 7: The Fruit Catcher Game
        9. Further Steps
      4. Chapter 7: Python
        1. Introducing the Python Editor
        2. Program 1: ‘Hello, World!’
        3. Program 2: Button Inputs
        4. Program 3: Touch Inputs
        5. Program 4: The Temperature Sensor
        6. Program 5: The Compass Sensor
        7. Program 6: The Accelerometer Sensor
        8. Program 7: The Fruit Catcher Game
        9. Further Steps
    6. Part III: Advanced BBC micro:bit Projects
      1. Chapter 8: The Wireless BBC micro:bit
        1. The BBC micro:bit Radio
        2. Program 1: One-to-One Communication
        3. Program 2: One-to-Many Communication
        4. Program 3: Radio Groups
        5. Testing the Group Feature
        6. Using the BBC micro:bit with a Smartphone or Tablet
      2. Chapter 9: The BBC micro:bit and the Raspberry Pi
        1. About the Raspberry Pi
        2. Connecting the Raspberry Pi to the BBC micro:bit
        3. Reading from the BBC micro:bit
        4. Using the BBC micro:bit Display
        5. Practical Example: A CPU Monitor
      3. Chapter 10: Building Circuits
        1. Electronic Equipment
        2. The Input-Output Pins
        3. Your First Circuits
      4. Chapter 11: Extending the BBC micro:bit
        1. Extending via Breakout Boards
        2. Robotics and the BBC micro:bit
        3. Other BBC micro:bit Add-Ons
      5. Chapter 12: The Wearable BBC micro:bit
        1. Advantages of the Wearable BBC micro:bit
        2. Conductive Thread
        3. The Rain-Sensing Hat
      6. Chapter 13: Additional Resources
        1. The Micro:bit Educational Foundation
        2. Official Teaching Resources
        3. Third-Party Teaching Resources
        4. Code Clubs
    7. Part IV: Appendices
      1. Appendix A: JavaScript Blocks Recipes
        1. Chapter 6: Hello, World! (Non-looping)
        2. Chapter 6: Hello, World! (Looping)
        3. Chapter 6: Button Inputs (Single Button)
        4. Chapter 6: Button Inputs (Two Buttons)
        5. Chapter 6: Touch Inputs
        6. Chapter 6: Temperature Sensor (No Formatting)
        7. Chapter 6: Temperature Sensor (with Formatting)
        8. Chapter 6: Compass Sensor
        9. Chapter 6: Accelerometer Sensor (Single Icon)
        10. Chapter 6: Accelerometer Sensor (Two Icons)
        11. Chapter 6: Accelerometer Sensor Data
        12. Chapter 6: Fruit Catcher Game
        13. Chapter 8: One-to-One Communication (BBC micro:bit A)
        14. Chapter 8: One-to-One Communication (BBC micro:bit B)
        15. Chapter 8: One-to-Many Communication (BBC micro:bit C)
        16. Chapter 8: Radio Groups Communication (BBC micro:bit A)
        17. Chapter 8: Radio Groups Communication (BBC micro:bit B)
        18. Chapter 8: Radio Groups Communication (BBC micro:bit C)
        19. Chapter 10: Reading a Button Input
        20. Chapter 10: Writing to an LED Output
        21. Chapter 10: Fading an LED via PWM
        22. Chapter 10: Reading an Analogue Input
      2. Appendix B: JavaScript Recipes
        1. Chapter 6: Hello, World! (Non-looping)
        2. Chapter 6: Hello, World! (Looping)
        3. Chapter 6: Button Inputs (Single Button)
        4. Chapter 6: Button Inputs (Two Buttons)
        5. Chapter 6: Touch Inputs
        6. Chapter 6: Temperature Sensor (No Formatting)
        7. Chapter 6: Temperature Sensor (with Formatting)
        8. Chapter 6: Compass Sensor
        9. Chapter 6: Accelerometer Sensor (Single Icon)
        10. Chapter 6: Accelerometer Sensor (Two Icons)
        11. Chapter 6: Accelerometer Sensor Data
        12. Chapter 6: Fruit Catcher Game
        13. Chapter 8: One-to-One Communication (BBC micro:bit A)
        14. Chapter 8: One-to-One Communication (BBC micro:bit B)
        15. Chapter 8: One-to-Many Communication (BBC micro:bit C)
        16. Chapter 8: Radio Groups Communication (BBC micro:bit A)
        17. Chapter 8: Radio Groups Communication (BBC micro:bit B)
        18. Chapter 8: Radio Groups Communication (BBC micro:bit C)
        19. Chapter 10: Reading a Button Input
        20. Chapter 10: Writing to an LED Output
        21. Chapter 10: Fading an LED via PWM
        22. Chapter 10: Reading an Analogue Input
      3. Appendix C: Python Recipes
        1. Chapter 7: Hello, World! (Non-looping)
        2. Chapter 7: Hello, World! (Looping)
        3. Chapter 7: Button Inputs (Single Button)
        4. Chapter 7: Button Inputs (Two Buttons)
        5. Chapter 7: Touch Inputs
        6. Chapter 7: Temperature Sensor (No Formatting)
        7. Chapter 7: Temperature Sensor (with Formatting)
        8. Chapter 7: Compass Sensor
        9. Chapter 7: Accelerometer Sensor (Single Icon)
        10. Chapter 7: Accelerometer Sensor (Two Icons)
        11. Chapter 7: Accelerometer Sensor Data
        12. Chapter 7: Fruit Catcher Game
        13. Chapter 8: One-to-One Communication (BBC micro:bit A)
        14. Chapter 8: One-to-One Communication (BBC micro:bit B)
        15. Chapter 8: One-to-Many Communication (BBC micro:bit C)
        16. Chapter 8: Radio Groups Communication (BBC micro:bit A)
        17. Chapter 8: Radio Groups Communication (BBC micro:bit B)
        18. Chapter 8: Radio Groups Communication (BBC micro:bit C)
        19. Chapter 9: Reading the Accelerometer (BBC micro:bit)
        20. Chapter 9: Reading the Accelerometer (Raspberry Pi)
        21. Chapter 9: The BBC micro:bit as a Display
        22. Chapter 9: A CPU Monitor
        23. Chapter 10: Reading a Button Input
        24. Chapter 10: Writing to an LED Output
        25. Chapter 10: Fading an LED via PWM
        26. Chapter 10: Reading an Analogue Input
      4. Appendix D: Pin-Out Listing
    8. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: The Official BBC Micro:bit User Guide
  • Author(s): Gareth Halfacree
  • Release date: October 2017
  • Publisher(s): Wiley
  • ISBN: 9781119386735