I actually have the sunfounder thales kit which has some of the inherent stuff you mentioned. But I haven't learned a thing. They want you to just copy and paste code which teaches you nothing. So I'd like to try some of your projects.
NeoPixel libraries should work with LEDs of type WS2812, WS2811 and SK6812. I regularly buy off-brand LEDs from AliExpress or Amazon. Sometimes the RGB order differs but there is an optional parameter in neopixel.NeoPixel that you can use to tinker with the order. I do find Adafruit products are of great quality and I haven’t seen any third parties with alligator clip neopixel wires at the end, which are very nice when working with CircuitPlaygrounds. As an example of third party LEDs - I just got these ones - they work great and are about $17 for a stand of 350, but I had to strip the end and solder on better connectors to make this usable. They are more like Adafruit’s NeoPixel strands rather than strips, but smaller. They work nicely for wearables or when you want more bend in a project. mastodon.world/@gallaugher/110327569305359631
Great - if you have a Pico, you can actually also do a bunch of the early examples we use with the CircuitPlayground Bluefruit, but you'll need to make some changes for LEDs vs. onboard LEDs, or sensors that you plug in. The overall playlist starts at bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. Also, there is an open google drive on my website gallaugher.com for the PhysComp course. You'll find Keynote slides in there with challenges & solutions. If you're a Windows User you can create a free iCloud account & open Keynote slides with a browser. Good luck!
Check this out. learn.adafruit.com/micropython-hardware-sd-cards/code-storage-on-sd-card BUT If you ran “circup install -a” after installing circup it will automatically include only those libraries required by code.py so it may be useful to delete your entire library folder and just circup for each code example you run. This is what I have my students do, and they can still run lots of concurrent hardware on a pico without including anything they don’t need which would take up space. Earlier lessons in the playlist walk you through circup install. It’s one of the first things my students do each semester.
I was so excited for the new video lessons that I wanted to re-do all of the projects on your previous videos from last year before I began the new ones. Unfortunately, I ran into a problem with Mu. Ive never had it crash on me before, but it kept crashing so I uninstalled it, restarted my computer and reinstalled it. It opened and worked for maybe 5min before crashing again. Its been a few days now and it just tries to load for a minute or two before crashing every time I try to open the application. Has anyone else mentioned this? Is there an alternative than anyone might recommend? I have Thonny for another class, but I liked Mu more. Im still very new to this so thanks in advance to you and anyone in your audience who might be able to help.
Hi! In the new series I use PyCharm. You can find install videos for this and circus, which u also use, at the top of bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. I’m about 30 lessons into the update but have started with the CircuitPlaygrounds and haven’t gotten to the Pico yet. But you should be able to use the install videos to get set up. Check them out. PyCharm requires a bit more install work but is much better at error flagging and code completion. And circup automates adding and updating libraries. These are going to make things so much easier for my students. Good luck!
You're in luck. I'm publishing revisions of the playlist for my Fall course. The first lesson at bit.ly/circuitpython-lessons contains a link to the parts list I use in my course. You can find links to all of the parts & where I buy them in that list. Be sure to subscribe as new lessons will be rolling out regularly over the next few weeks. Hack on!
Hi - that first intro video should have a link for: "docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p-zBSb9YzSaXyVASQG2HEhE-65scySzCsKFr_IQolN4/edit?gid=0#gid=0" If you open that link you'll see a link for all of the products. The link for the Pico W (get the one with soldered on headers) is: www.adafruit.com/product/5544. Also note that I start using the $25 CircuitPlayground Bluefruit - you'll see those videos starting at bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. In some ways that's an even better board for beginners since it has so many things built in (lights, sensors, a low-quality speakers, buttons, etc). That board is at: www.adafruit.com/product/4333 Cheers!
Hi - that first intro video should have a link for: "docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p-zBSb9YzSaXyVASQG2HEhE-65scySzCsKFr_IQolN4/edit?gid=0#gid=0" If you open that link you'll see a link for all of the products. The link for the Pico W (get the one with soldered on headers) is: www.adafruit.com/product/5544. Also note that I start using the $25 CircuitPlayground Bluefruit - you'll see those videos starting at bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. In some ways that's an even better board for beginners since it has so many things built in (lights, sensors, a low-quality speakers, buttons, etc). That board is at: www.adafruit.com/product/4333 Cheers!
Great videos! I'm a newcomer to the pico, and you have the most comprehensive guide I've been able to find on youtube. Thanks for posting these!
Very nice.... great to see something at a sensible pace, as well as spot on for content!
Thanks! This has been the best tutorial i've found for the pi pico
Thanks so much! Lots more to come. Stay tuned and tell others. Cheers!
Could you give me a link for purchasing one on adafruit(just so I'm getting the correct one)?
Will the neopixel library only work with adafruit neopixels or all kinds?
I actually have the sunfounder thales kit which has some of the inherent stuff you mentioned. But I haven't learned a thing. They want you to just copy and paste code which teaches you nothing. So I'd like to try some of your projects.
NeoPixel libraries should work with LEDs of type WS2812, WS2811 and SK6812. I regularly buy off-brand LEDs from AliExpress or Amazon. Sometimes the RGB order differs but there is an optional parameter in neopixel.NeoPixel that you can use to tinker with the order. I do find Adafruit products are of great quality and I haven’t seen any third parties with alligator clip neopixel wires at the end, which are very nice when working with CircuitPlaygrounds. As an example of third party LEDs - I just got these ones - they work great and are about $17 for a stand of 350, but I had to strip the end and solder on better connectors to make this usable. They are more like Adafruit’s NeoPixel strands rather than strips, but smaller. They work nicely for wearables or when you want more bend in a project. mastodon.world/@gallaugher/110327569305359631
Great - if you have a Pico, you can actually also do a bunch of the early examples we use with the CircuitPlayground Bluefruit, but you'll need to make some changes for LEDs vs. onboard LEDs, or sensors that you plug in. The overall playlist starts at bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. Also, there is an open google drive on my website gallaugher.com for the PhysComp course. You'll find Keynote slides in there with challenges & solutions. If you're a Windows User you can create a free iCloud account & open Keynote slides with a browser. Good luck!
my /lib is running out of space.. Grrrr can I move the /lib to flash memory?
Check this out.
learn.adafruit.com/micropython-hardware-sd-cards/code-storage-on-sd-card
BUT If you ran “circup install -a” after installing circup it will automatically include only those libraries required by code.py so it may be useful to delete your entire library folder and just circup for each code example you run. This is what I have my students do, and they can still run lots of concurrent hardware on a pico without including anything they don’t need which would take up space. Earlier lessons in the playlist walk you through circup install. It’s one of the first things my students do each semester.
I was so excited for the new video lessons that I wanted to re-do all of the projects on your previous videos from last year before I began the new ones. Unfortunately, I ran into a problem with Mu. Ive never had it crash on me before, but it kept crashing so I uninstalled it, restarted my computer and reinstalled it. It opened and worked for maybe 5min before crashing again. Its been a few days now and it just tries to load for a minute or two before crashing every time I try to open the application. Has anyone else mentioned this? Is there an alternative than anyone might recommend? I have Thonny for another class, but I liked Mu more. Im still very new to this so thanks in advance to you and anyone in your audience who might be able to help.
Hi! In the new series I use PyCharm. You can find install videos for this and circus, which u also use, at the top of bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. I’m about 30 lessons into the update but have started with the CircuitPlaygrounds and haven’t gotten to the Pico yet. But you should be able to use the install videos to get set up. Check them out. PyCharm requires a bit more install work but is much better at error flagging and code completion. And circup automates adding and updating libraries. These are going to make things so much easier for my students. Good luck!
Yes, I like it. 😀
Can I get a link for this on adafruit??
You're in luck. I'm publishing revisions of the playlist for my Fall course. The first lesson at bit.ly/circuitpython-lessons contains a link to the parts list I use in my course. You can find links to all of the parts & where I buy them in that list. Be sure to subscribe as new lessons will be rolling out regularly over the next few weeks. Hack on!
@@profgallaugher Sorry miscommunication where can I buy it(preferred link)
@@profgallaugher The link doesn't work
Hi - that first intro video should have a link for: "docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p-zBSb9YzSaXyVASQG2HEhE-65scySzCsKFr_IQolN4/edit?gid=0#gid=0" If you open that link you'll see a link for all of the products. The link for the Pico W (get the one with soldered on headers) is: www.adafruit.com/product/5544. Also note that I start using the $25 CircuitPlayground Bluefruit - you'll see those videos starting at bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. In some ways that's an even better board for beginners since it has so many things built in (lights, sensors, a low-quality speakers, buttons, etc). That board is at: www.adafruit.com/product/4333 Cheers!
Hi - that first intro video should have a link for: "docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p-zBSb9YzSaXyVASQG2HEhE-65scySzCsKFr_IQolN4/edit?gid=0#gid=0" If you open that link you'll see a link for all of the products. The link for the Pico W (get the one with soldered on headers) is: www.adafruit.com/product/5544. Also note that I start using the $25 CircuitPlayground Bluefruit - you'll see those videos starting at bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. In some ways that's an even better board for beginners since it has so many things built in (lights, sensors, a low-quality speakers, buttons, etc). That board is at: www.adafruit.com/product/4333 Cheers!
i am getting read only files issue cant flash it.. any solution?
Are you using an earlier version of macOS Ventura? If so you need to update your OS. github.com/raspberrypi/pico-feedback/issues/314
Great job!
Thank you! Cheers!