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What's a Raspberry Pi Pico?
What's a Raspberry Pi Pico?
The Raspberry Pi Pico is a tiny computer chip called a microcontroller. It's a microcontroller board, not a microcomputer.
The Raspberry Pi Pico is designed for physical computing projects where it can control components such as LEDs, buttons, sensors, motors and even other microcontrollers.
Think of it like the “brain” of a project. You can connect wires and components to it, and then write simple code to tell it what to do — like blink an LED, play a sound, or react to a button press.
Why is the Raspberry Pi Pico such a great tool to use? Here's a few reasons...
Beginner-friendly — It's designed for learning and experimenting.
Inexpensive — Costs only a few dollars, so it's great for schools and personal projects.
Easy to code — You’ll use MicroPython, a simple programming language made for beginners. You'll simply plug it into your computer.
Real-world connections — It can connect to all kinds of real parts like sensors, LEDs, buzzers, mini screens, buttons, and more.
No screen needed — You don’t need a monitor, keyboard, or mouse to use it — just a USB cable and your computer.
MicroPython and Thonny
MicroPython and Thonny
🐍 What is MicroPython?
🐍 What is MicroPython?
MicroPython is a special version of the Python programming language made to run on small computers like the Raspberry Pi Pico.
It’s easy to read and write (as languages go!), even if you’ve never programmed before.
It lets you control electronic parts like LEDs, buttons, buzzers, and sensors with just a few lines of code,using built in libraries to help you.
💡 Why we use it:
Because MicroPython is simple and designed for small devices, it’s perfect for beginners who want to quickly see their code bring electronics to life.
💻 What is Thonny?
💻 What is Thonny?
Thonny is a program (IDE – Integrated Development Environment) that we use on our computer to write, edit, and run code.
It has a clean, simple layout so you can focus on learning without getting confused.
It connects directly to your Raspberry Pi Pico so you can send your code straight to the board.
💡 Why we use it:
Thonny is easy to use, works perfectly with MicroPython, and makes coding the Pico quick and simple — so you can spend more time creating fun projects.
Getting Set Up and your First Program
Getting Set Up and your First Program
We'll use the video below to help get us set up and started.
There's also a help guide here...
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