🐍 Python cheatsheet

Just the basics to get coding using MicroPython on the BBC microbit python.microbit.org

Features

import microbit library

Import every class, function and variable

from microbit import *

Import only the display class

from microbit import display

Import the microbit library

import microbit

Buttons

Was a button pressed?

buttona.was_pressed()

Is a button currently pressed?

buttonb.is_pressed()

Accelerometer

Gestures: up, down, left, right, face up, face down, freefall, 3g, 6g, 8g, shake

Was the micro:bit shaken?

accelerometer.was_gesture("shake")

Is the micro:bit currently falling?

accelerometer.is_gesture("freefall")

What is the value of the accellerometer x axis?

accelerometer.get_x()

 Compass

Run the compass calibration routine

compass.calibrate()

What is the compass heading from 0 - 360 degrees?

compass.heading()

What is the field strength on the y axis in nano teslas?

compass.get_y()

Music

Play happy birthday

music.play(music.BIRTHDAY)

Create an array called tune of "NOTE OCTAVE:DURATION" then play it.

tune = ["C4:4", "D4:4", "E4:4", "C4:4", "C4:4", "D4:4", "E4:4", "C4:4",
        "E4:4", "F4:4", "G4:8", "E4:4", "F4:4", "G4:8"]
music.play(tune)

Play a pitch (Frequency(Hz), Duration(ticks))

music.pitch(440, 6)

Set the tempo

music.set_tempo(ticks=4, bpm=120)

Radio

Import the radio module

import radio

Turn the radio on or off

radio.on()

Send a string via radio

radio.send('duck')

Return whatever radio message was received

radio.receive()

Input/Output pins

Is a pin currently being touched?

pin0.is_touched()

Return the current value on a pin

pin1.read_analog()

Write a value to a pin

pin2.write-digital(1)

LED Display (text, image)

Images: HEART, HEART_SMALL, HAPPY, SMILE, SAD,CONFUSED, ANGRY, ASLEEP, SURPRISED, SILLY, FABULOUS, MEH, YES, NO, CLOCK12, CLOCK11, CLOCK10, CLOCK9, CLOCK8, CLOCK7, CLOCK6, CLOCK5, CLOCK4, CLOCK3, CLOCK2, CLOCK1, ARROW_N, ARROW_NE, ARROW_E, ARROW_SE, ARROW_S, ARROW_SW, ARROW_W, ARROW_NW, TRIANGLE, TRIANGLE_LEFT, CHESSBOARD, DIAMOND, DIAMOND_SMALL, SQUARE, SQUARE_SMALL, RABBIT, COW, MUSIC_CROTCHET, MUSIC_QUAVER, MUSIC_QUAVERS, PITCHFORK, XMAS, PACMAN, TARGET, TSHIRT, ROLLERSKATE, DUCK, HOUSE, TORTOISE, BUTTERFLY, STICKFIGURE, GHOST, SWORD, GIRAFFE, SKULL, UMBRELLA, SNAKE

Scroll a string across the display

display.scroll('hello world')

Show an image on the display

display.show(Image.DUCK)

Return the light level from the display

display.read_light_level()

Temperature

What is the current temperature?

temperature()

Neopixels

Import the Neopixel module

import neopixel

Initialise a strip of Neopixels (pin, number of Neopixels)

neopixel.Neopixel(pin0, 10)

Send the current colour data to the Neopixels

neopixel.Neopixel.show()

Pause

Sleep for a number of milliseconds(ms)

sleep(500)

 

Coding concepts

Variables

Set the compass heading to a variable

direction = compass.heading()

Set the received radio message to a variable

incoming = radio.receive()

Loops

while True:
     display.show(Image.HEART)
     sleep(10)
     display.show(Image.HEART_SMALL)
    sleep(10)

Conditions

if accelerometer.was_gesture("shake"):
    display.scroll('shake')
elif accelerometer.was_gesture("face down"):
    display.show(Image.HAPPY)
else:
     display.clear()

MicroPython Easter Eggs

import love()