Test Code
This code will light all pixels connected to the NEO pin on the PropMaker in warm yellow. Upload this code first so you know when you've got the wiring right.
It's also easier (and more fun) to work the pixels into the dress when they're turned on, so you can see what you're getting.
You can access the code and necessary libraries by downloading the Project Bundle.
To do this, click on the Download Project Bundle button in the window below. It will download to your computer as a zipped folder.
# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Erin St Blaine
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
"""Light all the dress NeoPixels yellow for testing."""
import time
import board
import digitalio
import neopixel
NUM_PIXELS = 216
BRIGHTNESS = 0.2
YELLOW = (255, 255, 0)
# Turn on the board's external NeoPixel power.
external_power = digitalio.DigitalInOut(board.EXTERNAL_POWER)
external_power.direction = digitalio.Direction.OUTPUT
external_power.value = True
# Set up the dress NeoPixels.
pixels = neopixel.NeoPixel(
board.EXTERNAL_NEOPIXELS,
NUM_PIXELS,
brightness=BRIGHTNESS,
auto_write=False,
pixel_order=neopixel.BGR,
)
# Light every pixel yellow.
pixels.fill(YELLOW)
pixels.show()
# Keep the program running.
while True:
time.sleep(1)
Upload the Code and Libraries to the RP2040 Prop-Maker Feather
After downloading the Project Bundle, plug your RP2040 Prop-Maker Feather into the computer's USB port with a known good USB data+power cable. You should see a new flash drive appear in the computer's File Explorer or Finder (depending on your operating system) called CIRCUITPY. Unzip the folder and copy the following items to the RP2040 Prop-Maker Feather's CIRCUITPY drive.
- lib folder
- code.py
Your RP2040 Prop-Maker Feather CIRCUITPY drive should look like this after copying the lib folder, and the code.py file.
Plug your lights into the board and power it up, and they should all come on in yellow.
If you need to modify the code (and you likely will at the final step), follow this tutorial to install a code editor and learn to use the serial monitor to debug and calibrate your sensor.
Welcome to CircuitPython! - an Introductory Tutorial
Page last edited July 29, 2026
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