micro:bit Hardware Guide cover

micro:bit Hardware Guide

Rating 3.8
Word count
44K words
Chapters
80
ISBN
9787121359323

Tags

Summary

This book offers an in-depth exploration of micro:bit hardware, covering its underlying principles, latest features, programming methods, and practical techniques. It also compares the differences between old and new micro:bit hardware versions and introduces WebUSB functionality along with music playback and conversion tips, helping readers gain a better command of micro:bit as a valuable aid for further study. The programming sections focus on the latest versions of MakeCode and Python, presenting programming methods for each micro:bit component in both environments to suit different readers' needs. For ease of learning, download links for example programs are provided in Appendix A. This book is suitable for primary and secondary school teachers and students as well as electronics enthusiasts.

Editor's review

The micro:bit Hardware Guide is an introductory hardware programming guide written by Shao Ziyang and published by Publishing House of Electronics Industry. The book focuses on the micro:bit, a tiny programmable computer launched by the BBC, aiming to provide beginners—especially young people and programming educators—with a systematic and accessible path to learning about hardware interaction.

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

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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

Publishing House of Electronics Industry China · Founded in 1982

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

  1. 版权信息
  2. 内容简介
  3. 前言
  4. 第1章 硬件基础指南
  5. 1.1 micro:bit硬件概览
  6. 1.2 主板电源设置
  7. 1.3 主芯片功能参数
  8. 1.4 DAPLink功能与应用
  9. 1.5 按钮的操作方法
  10. 1.6 LED显示应用方法
  11. 1.6.1 显示数字与字符
  12. 1.6.2 显示内置图案
  13. 1.6.3 自定义图案
  14. 1.6.4 动画显示控制
  15. 1.6.5 图案叠加和图案消除
  16. 1.6.6 控制单个LED显示
  17. 1.6.7 控制LED亮度
  18. 1.6.8 清空屏幕显示内容
  19. 1.6.9 屏幕开关的应用
  20. 1.6.10 显示条形图
  21. 1.7 获取环境温度值
  22. 1.8 使用LED检测环境光
  23. 1.9 音乐播放与实践
  24. 1.9.1 自定义音乐
  25. 1.9.2 音乐格式转换工具
  26. 1.9.3 音乐盒
  27. 1.9.4 在MakeCode中播放自定义音乐
  28. 1.10 使用扩展接口
  29. 1.10.1 引脚的特殊功能
  30. 1.10.2 扩展接口的使用方式
  31. 1.10.3 跑马灯
  32. 第2章 硬件进阶指南
  33. 2.1 加速度传感器
  34. 2.2 磁场传感器
  35. 2.3 PWM的应用
  36. 2.4 ADC的使用方法
  37. 2.5 ADC内部电压基准
  38. 2.6 串口通信
  39. 2.7 I2C的应用
  40. 2.8 SPI的应用
  41. 2.9 金手指的触摸应用
  42. 2.10 主板唯一序列号
  43. 2.11 定时器
  44. 第3章 文件系统指南
  45. 3.1 MakeCode文件系统
  46. 3.1.1 写入数据
  47. 3.1.2 发送文件
  48. 3.1.3 MakeCode文件使用例程
  49. 3.2 Python文件系统
  50. 3.2.1 创建和保存文件
  51. 3.2.2 读取文件
  52. 3.2.3 管理文件
  53. 3.2.4 复制文件
  54. 3.2.5 使用文件系统保存库
  55. 3.2.6 Python文件使用例程
  56. 第4章 无线通信指南
  57. 4.1 MakeCode中的无线功能
  58. 4.1.1 数据发送
  59. 4.1.2 数据接收
  60. 4.1.3 其他无线功能
  61. 4.1.4 无线通信的编程方法
  62. 4.2 Python中的无线功能
  63. 4.2.1 基本的无线通信
  64. 4.2.2 设置无线通信参数
  65. 4.2.3 组合发送和接收数据
  66. 4.2.4 无线数据嗅探器
  67. 4.2.5 萤火虫例程
  68. 附录A
  69. A.1 micro:bit设计原理
  70. A.1.1 LED显示电路
  71. A.1.2 DAPLink电路
  72. A.1.3 传感器电路
  73. A.1.4 电源电路
  74. A.1.5 主控制器电路
  75. A.1.6 扩展接口电路
  76. A.2 新旧micro:bit硬件对比
  77. A.3 micro:bit主要在线编程网址
  78. A.4 常用开发软件网址
  79. A.5 随书参考程序
  80. A.6 微信订阅号

FAQ

Is this book suitable for someone with no programming experience at all?
Very much so. The book starts from the most basic concepts and uses the intuitive, easy-to-understand MakeCode block-based programming environment, guiding zero-background readers to understand programming logic and hardware control by dragging blocks—an ideal starting point.
Will the content in the book become outdated quickly?
The core hardware principles and basic programming concepts will not become outdated. Although software interfaces may change slightly with version updates, the methodology and project ideas taught in the book are universal. Once readers master the basics, they can easily adapt to new versions of the tools.
How is this book different from free tutorials online?
The book provides a systematic, structured knowledge system that avoids the fragmentation of online information. It links knowledge points into a progressive learning path and has been systematically reviewed, making the content more accurate and complete—suitable for readers who want to build a solid foundation.

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About the author

邵子扬 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.

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