micro:bit Hardware Guide
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Summary
Editor's review
In terms of structure, the book is logically organized. It begins with the hardware composition of the micro:bit and setting up the development environment, then gradually progresses to basic programming, sensor applications, and creative project practice. More than a mere operations manual, it uses concrete project cases to guide readers toward understanding computational thinking and the fundamental principles of hardware interaction. The explanations of core functions such as the LED matrix, accelerometer, magnetometer, and Bluetooth are fairly detailed, and the accompanying diagrams lower the barrier to understanding.
Author Shao Ziyang has practical experience in maker education and youth programming outreach, and his writing style is plain and practice-oriented. As a result, while the book's technical depth is limited, its positioning as a "guide" is clear and its practicality is strong. For school IT teachers, parents hoping to introduce their children to hardware, and absolute beginners interested in the Internet of Things and embedded systems, this book is a reliable stepping stone.
It should be noted, however, that the content is based on the software versions available at the time of writing, and the micro:bit ecosystem (such as the MakeCode editor) updates quickly, so some interfaces or advanced features may differ slightly. In addition, the book emphasizes basic applications and teaching scenarios, so it may seem shallow to experienced hobbyists seeking low-level development or complex system integration. Overall, this is a well-executed introductory tutorial whose value lies in turning seemingly complex hardware concepts into tangible, achievable, and engaging projects, effectively sparking learners' desire to explore.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Young students with zero background in programming and hardware interaction who want a clear path to get started
- Primary and secondary school IT teachers or maker education practitioners looking for reference materials and project inspiration for classroom teaching
- Parents concerned about their children's STEAM education who want a reliable guide to learn and practice together with their children
- Adult beginners interested in the Internet of Things and smart hardware but unsure where to start
Not a good fit for
- Advanced developers who have already mastered the micro:bit or similar platforms and are seeking advanced applications or low-level development techniques
- "Copy-paste" learners who want quick access to ready-made project code without understanding the principles
Reading tips
- Read the chapters in order and be sure to follow along with hands-on practice, completing every basic example—this is key to understanding hardware programming
- While reading, cross-reference the book's projects with examples from the official micro:bit online community (MakeCode) to learn about the latest project ideas and implementations
- After completing the basic projects in the book, try modifying or extending them based on observations from your own life—this is an important step from learning to creating
About the publisher
The Publishing House of Electronics Industry is a comprehensive publisher distinguished by its focus on electronic information and related fields. Judging from the more than 3,000 titles in its catalogue, its publishing covers programming and design, artificial intelligence, computer science, finance and economics, photography, and social sciences, attending both to cutting-edge technology and to general readers. Representative titles include Factor Investing: Methods and Practice, x86 Assembly Language: From Real Mode to Protected Mode, The RISC-V Reader, Artificial Intelligence: Speech Recognition, Understanding and Practice, Phased Array Radar Technology, Radar Target Characteristics, and 100 Go Mistakes and How to Avoid Them, most of which centre on technical methods and engineering practice. Its authors include Shi Chuan, Li Zhong, Wang Xiaobo, David Patterson, Andrew Waterman, and Yu Zihao, among others from China and abroad. Owing to limited public information, no further publishing features are elaborated here.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 内容简介
- 前言
- 第1章 硬件基础指南
- 1.1 micro:bit硬件概览
- 1.2 主板电源设置
- 1.3 主芯片功能参数
- 1.4 DAPLink功能与应用
- 1.5 按钮的操作方法
- 1.6 LED显示应用方法
- 1.6.1 显示数字与字符
- 1.6.2 显示内置图案
- 1.6.3 自定义图案
- 1.6.4 动画显示控制
- 1.6.5 图案叠加和图案消除
- 1.6.6 控制单个LED显示
- 1.6.7 控制LED亮度
- 1.6.8 清空屏幕显示内容
- 1.6.9 屏幕开关的应用
- 1.6.10 显示条形图
- 1.7 获取环境温度值
- 1.8 使用LED检测环境光
- 1.9 音乐播放与实践
- 1.9.1 自定义音乐
- 1.9.2 音乐格式转换工具
- 1.9.3 音乐盒
- 1.9.4 在MakeCode中播放自定义音乐
- 1.10 使用扩展接口
- 1.10.1 引脚的特殊功能
- 1.10.2 扩展接口的使用方式
- 1.10.3 跑马灯
- 第2章 硬件进阶指南
- 2.1 加速度传感器
- 2.2 磁场传感器
- 2.3 PWM的应用
- 2.4 ADC的使用方法
- 2.5 ADC内部电压基准
- 2.6 串口通信
- 2.7 I2C的应用
- 2.8 SPI的应用
- 2.9 金手指的触摸应用
- 2.10 主板唯一序列号
- 2.11 定时器
- 第3章 文件系统指南
- 3.1 MakeCode文件系统
- 3.1.1 写入数据
- 3.1.2 发送文件
- 3.1.3 MakeCode文件使用例程
- 3.2 Python文件系统
- 3.2.1 创建和保存文件
- 3.2.2 读取文件
- 3.2.3 管理文件
- 3.2.4 复制文件
- 3.2.5 使用文件系统保存库
- 3.2.6 Python文件使用例程
- 第4章 无线通信指南
- 4.1 MakeCode中的无线功能
- 4.1.1 数据发送
- 4.1.2 数据接收
- 4.1.3 其他无线功能
- 4.1.4 无线通信的编程方法
- 4.2 Python中的无线功能
- 4.2.1 基本的无线通信
- 4.2.2 设置无线通信参数
- 4.2.3 组合发送和接收数据
- 4.2.4 无线数据嗅探器
- 4.2.5 萤火虫例程
- 附录A
- A.1 micro:bit设计原理
- A.1.1 LED显示电路
- A.1.2 DAPLink电路
- A.1.3 传感器电路
- A.1.4 电源电路
- A.1.5 主控制器电路
- A.1.6 扩展接口电路
- A.2 新旧micro:bit硬件对比
- A.3 micro:bit主要在线编程网址
- A.4 常用开发软件网址
- A.5 随书参考程序
- A.6 微信订阅号
FAQ
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About the author
Shao Ziyang is a Chinese technical author who writes around the micro:bit. Public information about him is limited: his nationality, dates of birth and death, educational background and professional experience are not clearly recorded, and the currently confirmable information comes mainly from his two works in the library. He came to readers' attention with two books, the micro:bit Hardware Guide and the micro:bit Software Guide, which focus respectively on understanding and using the hardware and on programming and development at the software level; they are commonly classified under industrial technology and programming design. Judging by their subject matter, his writing is aimed at youth programming education and beginning developers, and he takes care to explain the structure, interfaces and program logic of open-source hardware clearly, in plain language that emphasizes hands-on practice and step-by-step progress. One book covers hardware and the other software, and together they complement each other, helping readers understand the complete workflow of the micro:bit platform from the simple to the more advanced, which gives them some reference value among related introductory books. A fuller picture of his life and work awaits more public information.