MakeCode for Circuit Playground Express
MakeCode is this programming editor that runs in the Google Chrome web browser. It’s has an intuitive interface that’s both block based and text editor.
It works with Adafruit's Circuit Playground Express so you can make interactive projects with the on-board sensors and components. You can drag & drop blocks to make interactive programs using lights and sounds without having to solder or learning a new syntax.
You can alternatively upload code directly to the Circuit Playground Express with WebUSB, see the steps to do so here.
Setup Circuit Playground Express for MakeCode
To get started, we'll need to head over to the Adafruit MakeCode website and follow the steps below.
- Plug in your Circuit Playground Express with a USB Cable
- Press the RESET button. Green light means you're ready to MakeCode
- Download the UF2 file and drop it onto CPLAYBOOT.
Upload and Test Code
Once you have your CPX setup with the MakeCode UF2, try testing it out by uploading the code to the board.
Click the link below to open up the program in MakeCode. Click on the pink edit icon near the top of the title to open the code.
This will create a project in MakeCode and allow you to edit, modify and upload the code to the board.
on start block
when the CPX is turned on do the following
set strip
setup an external neopixel strip on the A1 pad of the circuit playground express
set brightness
adjust the brightness of the LEDs on board the Circuit Playground
strip set brightness
adjust the brightness of the NeoPixel Strip
forever block
Run these operations in a loop
strip show animation
on the CPX, run an animation for specific time
on the strip, run an animation for specific time
on shake block
when a shake is detected, do the following
play tone
play a tone for a specific time
set brightness
adjust the brightness of the LEDs on board the Circuit Playground
strip set brightness
adjust the brightness of the NeoPixel Strip
strip set brightness
adjust the brightness of the NeoPixel Strip
clear
clear CPX animation
clear strip animation
set brightness
adjust the brightness of the LEDs on board the Circuit Playground
strip set brightness
adjust the brightness of the NeoPixel Strip
