micro:bot Kit Experiment Guide

Contributors: D___Run___, TheDarkSaint, bboyho, Ell C

Installing the moto:bit Extension in MakeCode

To make the most out of the moto:bit with the least amount of coding, use the Microsoft MakeCode extension we wrote for the moto:bit board.

Extension

If you have used Arduino before, you probably know about a thing called a library; which is a collection of code that extends the functionality of the core programming language. MakeCode extension work the same way.

There are some amazing differences between Arduino libraries and MakeCode extensions. One of them is that MakeCode extensions include JavaScript functions, which you can use when programming in text, as well as all of the blocks you need to program using the block method. This makes learning and using new extensions straightforward and shortens the time to awesome when setting out to build the project of your dreams.

Installing a MakeCode Extensions

To install or add a new extension to your MakeCode toolbox (the list of different block groups), click on "Advanced" and then on "Add Extensions." This should be the last item on the list.

From here you can search for "SparkFun" or "SparkFun moto-bit," and it should show up as a public extension in the list. Go ahead and click on it.

This will add all of the blocks to your toolbox. In general, this is a bit tricky as, depending on how the extension was written, it may either have its own toolbox or just add blocks to the existing ones. Take a look at your toolbox; for the moto:bit you should see...

Great! You have now installed the moto:bit extension and are ready to use the board as well as the components that come in the micro:bot kit. As a side note, for every new MakeCode project that you make, you will have to load extensions over again. Not a big deal, but noteworthy! Now, let's put your extension to good use and get your robot moving!!!