Blog 8: What can "UCreate" with a Micro:bit and Micro python basics

This is the last one :)

Last summer I created some resources to use with Micro:bit/s for CPC and over the next few months and I will try and share the best bits with the kind permission of CPC. 

You can go and buy a Micro:bit project kit from here: http://cpc.farnell.com/bbc-micro-bit-kits

Here are a series of basic micro python challenges to try out on the Micro:bit, enjoy!

 Challenge 1 Hello world, hello mum!

This does the basic hello world and says a hello to a few more people along the way using a basic list data structure to store the names, try it out:

Key concepts used here are:

• Lists
• Iteration
• Index
• Count controlled loops
• Accessing values stored in a list
• joining together string values
• Casting

Code

import microbit

namesList = ["Nanny June","Daddy","Mum"] #list of 3 names 

index = 0  

microbit.display.scroll("Hello World") #message

while index <=2:

        msg = "Hello "+str(namesList[index]) 

        microbit.display.scroll(msg)

        index = index +1

Challenge 2 using buttons

This challenge is a basic example of getting the Micro:bit to respond to buttons ‘A’ and ‘B’ being pressed. The second example uses the 'A' and 'B' buttons to print out messages to screen.

Testing out using the buttons try this code by creating a test program:

Code:

import microbit

while True:

    if microbit.button_a.is_pressed():

       microbit.display.scroll("This is a ...")

    if microbit.button_b.is_pressed():

       microbit.display.scroll("....test program")

Challenge 3 Random Name scroller

This third program makes use of two lists and uses two lists to display a random name made up of a randomly selected first name then a randomly selected second name.  

Key concepts used here are:

• Multiple lists
• Infinite loops
• Accessing values stored in two lists

Code

import microbit

import random

RandomFirstName = ["Steve","Shannon","Jenny"]

RandomSecondName = ["Debank","Green","Penny","Smith"]

while True:

    microbit.display.scroll(random.choice(RandomFirstName)

    microbit.sleep(1000)#wait 1 sec

    microbit.display.scroll(random.choice(RandomSecondName))

    microbit.sleep(1000)#wait 1 sec

Challenge 4 Shake it random nickname generator

The fourth example is a random nickname generator based on adjectives for body type and random names It uses the majority of the coding concepts previously looked at except it introduces the shake.

Code:

from microbit import *
import random
NameList = ["Paul","Dave","Gem","Rachel","Chris"]
BodyTypeAdjectiveList = ["Sturdy","Bullnecked","Gangling","Heavyset","Lanky","Musclebound"]
while True:
    if accelerometer.was_gesture('shake'):# if shaken then
        RandomNickname = random.choice(BodyTypeAdjectiveList)+" "+random.choice(NameList)
        display.scroll(RandomNickname)

Challenge 5 shake it, dice roller

This simple dice simulation introduces the accelerometer and how to use it to randomly simulate a 6 sided dice.

Code

from microbit import *

import random

DiceNumbers = [1,2,3,4,5,6]#List of 6 possible numbers

while True:

    if accelerometer.was_gesture('shake'):# if shaken then

        msg = "You rolled.. "+str(random.choice(DiceNumbers))

        display.scroll(msg)#show the text 

Challenge 6 Shake the bit, display a random picture

This basically allows you to shake the microbit and this will randomly display one of the library of images. N.B. I have only implemented a few to give a brief idea :)

Concepts covered:

• Lists
• Functions
• Loops
• Accelerometer
• Random library 
• Conditional statements

Code

from microbit import *

import random

"""

List of  possible pictures not sure if it is exhaustive, stored as string so they can be stored in a list

this process is called casting. 

"""

PicNamesList = [str(Image.SAD),str(Image.HEART),str(Image.MEH),str(Image.RABBIT),str(Image.COW)]

"""

I have created a function that groups the code and makes the final program much cleaner

it basically:

*imports the list as a parameter

*creates a temp variable which stores the string representation of the image randomly selected 

*then uses if and elif statements to check which image it should display on microbit

"""

def checkWhichImageIAm(PicNamesList):

    chosenImage = random.choice(PicNamesList)

    if chosenImage == str(Image.SAD):

        display.show(Image.SAD)

    elif chosenImage == str(Image.HEART):

        display.show(Image.HEART)

    elif chosenImage == str(Image.MEH):

        display.show(Image.MEH)

    elif chosenImage == str(Image.RABBIT):

        display.show(Image.RABBIT)

    elif chosenImage == str(Image.COW):

        display.show(Image.COW)

  

while True:

    if accelerometer.was_gesture('shake'):# if shaken then

        checkWhichImageIAm(PicNamesList)# run check which image am I function

That's it!