Microsoft MicroCode

Microsoft MicroCode is a MakeCode Arcade application that allows the creation, modification, and execution of simple reactive programs for microcontroller-based target devices such as the BBC micro:bit and Jacdac brains. MicroCode has a tile-based language and editor, inspired by Kodu Game Lab, for creating programs using just the 4-way direction pad and A and B buttons supported by Arcade-compatible devices. The language is parameterized by a set of Jacdac services that represent the set of hardware features of the target device (the device to be programmed). The programs are compiled into the bytecode of the Jacdac virtual machine and persisted in the flash memory of the target device.

Developing

• npm install -g makecode
• in this repo, run mkc init
• run mkc serve
• head to http://127.0.0.1:7001 for simulator
• run mkc build -d to compile and deploy to device

To bump and refresh the github pages javascript,

sh ./bump.sh
sh ./release.sh

then commit the generated files.

To load the local editor in a Jacdac devtools page,

https://microsoft.github.io/jacdac-docs/clients/javascript/devtools?jacscript=1#http://127.0.0.1:7001

Micro:bit features

We are working to expose most of the micro:bit's main features in MicroCode:

• LED screen
  • design and display icons and animations
  • plot the value of a sensor
• User input
  • buttons A and B
  • capacative touch on micro:bit logo, pins 0, 1 and 2
• Accelerometer
  • respond to accelerometer events
  • access to X, Y, Z values
• Sensors
  • temperature
  • light level
  • compass
• Music
  • play tones via the speaker
• Radio
  • set group
  • send and receive messages
• Data
  • record data to flash
  • display data

Jacdac

MicroCode integrates with Jacdac in several ways

• the MicroCode program is compiled to the bytecode of the Jacdac virtual machine (JDVM), which can be run on the same micro:bit or exported to other micro:bits
• the MicroCode editor recognizes a small set of Jacdac modules, when connected, providing programming tiles for those modules

Editor

Tile-based Language

Following Kodu, the MicroCode language is defined in terms of pages, where a page has a list of rules, and each rule consists of a When section and a Do section, each with a list of programming tiles. The When section begins with a sensor tile, followed optionally by one or more filters on the sensor. The Do section begins with an actuator, followed optional by one or modifiers to the actuator.

Sensors

A sensor tile can refer to a hardware feature as simple as a button with two states (up, down), a thermometer represented by a floating point (or fixed point) value, or an accelerometer with a set of possible events. A sensor could also refer to a GPIO pin, a timer, microphone, radio, or other means for the program to receive notification of a state change or an event. It is also possible for a sensor to refer to an internal program variable, modified by some other part of the user's program (self-notification). Most sensors are modelled either by a discrete variable or a continuous variable.

Filters

Filters follow a sensor and specify conditions under which program execution can proceed to the Do section.
If no filters are present, each sensor tile has a default filter that determines whether or not execution proceeds. For example, if the sensor tile refers to a button, with no following filter, the default filter may be that a 'pressed' event for the button was just received. If, on the other hand, a filter following the sensor tile for a button specifies the 'down' event, that will take precedence.

Filters may be parameterized based on the kind of sensor (discrete or continuous)

Actuators

Modifiers

Contributing

This project welcomes contributions and suggestions. Most contributions require you to agree to a Contributor License Agreement (CLA) declaring that you have the right to, and actually do, grant us the rights to use your contribution. For details, visit https://cla.opensource.microsoft.com.

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This project has adopted the Microsoft Open Source Code of Conduct. For more information see the Code of Conduct FAQ or contact [email protected] with any additional questions or comments.

Trademarks

This project may contain trademarks or logos for projects, products, or services. Authorized use of Microsoft trademarks or logos is subject to and must follow Microsoft's Trademark & Brand Guidelines. Use of Microsoft trademarks or logos in modified versions of this project must not cause confusion or imply Microsoft sponsorship. Any use of third-party trademarks or logos are subject to those third-party's policies.