Installation

This section will explain how to:

• Install Scratch 2 on your computer
• Install Python on your computer
• Install the micro:bit mu editor
• Install the s2m script on to the micro:bit using the mu editor
• Install the s2m software on your computer

Installing the Scratch 2 Off-Line Editor on Your Computer

Go to the Scratch download page and follow the instructions to install Scratch on your computer.

Special Note For Raspberry Pi Users

If you are using a Raspberry Pi with the Stretch version of Raspbian installed, Scratch 2 comes pre-installed, as well as both Python 2 and Python 3, so you may skip to the section on installing the mu Editor.

Installing Python

s2m is compatible with Python versions 2 (2.7 or greater) and 3 (3.4 or greater). If you already have Python installed on your computer, you can skip to the next step, Installing the mu Editor.

To check if you have Python installed, open a command or terminal window and type

python

If Python is already installed, you will see something similar to this:

To install Python, go to the Python web site and select Downloads and the appropriate version for your computer.

If you are installing on Windows, make sure to select both check boxes at the bottom of the installation dialog box.

Installing the mu Editor

Go to the mu editor download page and download and install the editor for your system.

Installing the s2m micro:bit Script On The micro:bit

Plug your micro:bit into a USB port on your computer. Start the mu editor and then paste this script into the editor. You may also find the script here. This is a "minified" version of the script.

To see a fully commented version of the script, click on this link.

from microbit import*
def loop():
 digital_outputs=[False,False,False]
 while True:
  data=uart.readline()
  sleep(8)
  if data:
   cmd=str(data,'utf-8').rstrip()
   if not len(cmd):
    continue
   cmd_list=cmd.split(",")
   try:
    cmd_id=cmd_list[0]
   except IndexError:
    cmd_id='z'
    continue
   if cmd_id=='d':
    image_dict={"HAPPY":Image.HAPPY,"SAD":Image.SAD,"ANGRY":Image.ANGRY,"SMILE":Image.SMILE,"CONFUSED":Image.CONFUSED,"ASLEEP":Image.ASLEEP,"SURPRISED":Image.SURPRISED,"SILLY":Image.SILLY,"FABULOUS":Image.FABULOUS,"MEH":Image.MEH,"YES":Image.YES,"NO":Image.NO,"RABBIT":Image.RABBIT,"COW":Image.COW,"ROLLERSKATE":Image.ROLLERSKATE,"HOUSE":Image.HOUSE,"SNAKE":Image.SNAKE,"HEART":Image.HEART,"DIAMOND":Image.DIAMOND,"DIAMOND_SMALL":Image.DIAMOND_SMALL,"SQUARE":Image.SQUARE,"SQUARE_SMALL":Image.SQUARE_SMALL,"TRIANGLE":Image.TRIANGLE,"TARGET":Image.TARGET,"STICKFIGURE":Image.STICKFIGURE,"ARROW_N":Image.ARROW_N,"ARROW_NE":Image.ARROW_NE,"ARROW_E":Image.ARROW_E,"ARROW_SE":Image.ARROW_SE,"ARROW_S":Image.ARROW_S,"ARROW_SW":Image.ARROW_SW,"ARROW_W":Image.ARROW_W,"ARROW_NW":Image.ARROW_NW}
    try:
     image_key=cmd_list[1]
    except IndexError:
     continue
    if image_key in image_dict:
     display.show(image_dict.get(image_key),wait=False)
   elif cmd_id=='s':
    display.scroll(str(cmd_list[1]),wait=False)
   elif cmd_id=='p':
    try:
     x=int(cmd_list[1])
    except ValueError:
     continue
    except IndexError:
     continue
    if x<0:
     x=0
    if x>4:
     x=4
    try:
     y=int(cmd_list[2])
    except ValueError:
     continue
    except IndexError:
     continue
    if y<0:
     y=0
    if y>4:
     y=4
    try:
     value=int(cmd_list[3])
    except ValueError:
     continue
    except IndexError:
     continue
    if value<0:
     value=0
    if value>9:
     value=9
    display.set_pixel(x,y,value)
   elif cmd_id=='c':
    display.clear()
   elif cmd_id=='a':
    try:
     pin=int(cmd_list[1])
     value=int(cmd_list[2])
     digital_outputs[pin]=True
    except IndexError:
     continue
    except ValueError:
     continue
    if 0<=pin<=2:
     if not 0<=value<=1023:
      value=256
     if pin==0:
      pin0.write_analog(value)
     elif pin==1:
      pin1.write_analog(value)
     elif pin==2:
      pin2.write_analog(value)
   elif cmd_id=='t':
    try:
     pin=int(cmd_list[1])
     value=int(cmd_list[2])
     digital_outputs[pin]=True
    except IndexError:
     continue
    except ValueError:
     continue
    if 0<=pin<=2:
     if 0<=value<=1:
      if pin==0:
       pin0.write_digital(value)
      elif pin==1:
       pin1.write_digital(value)
      elif pin==2:
       pin2.write_digital(value)
     else:
      pass
   elif cmd=='g':
    sensor_string=""
    sensor_string+=str(accelerometer.get_x())+','
    sensor_string+=str(accelerometer.get_y())+','
    sensor_string+=str(accelerometer.get_z())+','
    sensor_string+=str(button_a.is_pressed())+','
    sensor_string+=str(button_b.is_pressed())+','
    if not digital_outputs[0]:
     sensor_string+=str(pin0.read_digital())+','
    else:
     sensor_string+='0'+','
    if not digital_outputs[1]:
     sensor_string+=str(pin1.read_digital())+','
    else:
     sensor_string+='0'+','
    if not digital_outputs[2]:
     sensor_string+=str(pin2.read_digital())+','
    else:
     sensor_string+='0'+','
    if not digital_outputs[0]:
     sensor_string+=str(pin0.read_analog())+','
    else:
     sensor_string+='0'+','
    if not digital_outputs[1]:
     sensor_string+=str(pin1.read_analog())+','
    else:
     sensor_string+='0'+','
    if not digital_outputs[2]:
     sensor_string+=str(pin2.read_analog())
    else:
     sensor_string+='0'+','
    print(sensor_string)
    sleep(10)
   elif cmd=='v':
    print('s2mb.py Version 1.10 14 April 2018')
   else:
    continue
  sleep(8)
loop()

Flash the script onto the micro:bit by clicking on the Flash button in the editor.

Installing s2m

Open a command a command window and type:

pip install s2m

INSTALLATION NOTE FOR RASPBERRY PI, MAC AND LINUX USERS

You may need to use sudo in conjunction with the version of pip that matches the Python version you are using.

So for Python 2, the install command would be:

sudo pip install s2m

and for Python 3, the install command would be:

sudo pip3 install s2m

This will download and install the program.

Now that all the software has been installed, go to the next section to start using s2m.