We create applications that run on the BBC micro:bit to expand its reach in schools and out in the world. Micro:bit apps often take advantage of display shields with a small color screen and controls, enabling features that usually require a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop. Micro:bit apps are generally portable and don't require an extra computer or internet connection. As the micro:bit only has 128kB of RAM and 512kB flash, it's a challenge to create apps for this relatively low-resource setting.
Please note, we are NOT developing mobile apps for the micro:bit, which are apps for iPad, iPhone or Android devices that communicate over Bluetooth to a micro:bit. In contrast, micro:bit apps run on the micro:bit itself and can use a display shield to expand the app's I/O interface.
- MicroCode - the first micro:bit app that uses a display shield for visual programming of the micro:bit
- MicroData - a new micro:bit app that turns the micro:bit into a data science tool
Coming...
We develop micro:bit apps using Microsoft MakeCode tooling. Micro:bit apps make uses of MakeCode extensions (libraries) which provide access to display shield technology and user interface layers.
There are three ways to develop micro:bit apps (which are MakeCode programs):
- Recommended: VS Code extension for MakeCode
- MakeCode web app
- You must currently use https://makecode.microbit.org/beta to build a micro:bit app
- Load a micro:bit app into MakeCode using the Import button in the home page and selecting "Import URL"
- Then provide the URL of the micro:bit app's GitHub repo (such as https://github.com/microbit-apps/MicroData)
- MakeCode CLI (compiler)
- Install the MakeCode CLI.
- Attach a micro:bit to your computer using USB cable.
- Clone a micro:bit app repo and cd to it
- invoke
mkc -d, which will produce the micro:bit hex file (in built/mbcodal-binary.hex) and copy it to the micro:bit drive.
Extensions built by this organization include:
- https://github.com/microbit-apps/display-shield
- https://github.com/microbit-apps/user-interface-base
- https://github.com/microbit-apps/MicroGUI
The MakeCode web app (and related assets used by the CLI and VS Code extension) is built from:
- https://github.com/microsoft/pxt-microbit
- https://github.com/microsoft/pxt-common-packages
- https://github.com/microsoft/pxt
The MakeCode compiler links the MakeCode program against the CODAL runtime for the micro:bit, built from:
- https://github.com/lancaster-university/codal-microbit-v2
- https://github.com/lancaster-university/codal-nrf52
- https://github.com/lancaster-university/codal-core
The following repo provides details on how build CODAL