Set up a Raspberry Pi Pico W or Pico to use CircuitPython 

Thanks so much! Lots more to come. Stay tuned and tell others. Cheers!

Thank you! Cheers!

Hi! In the new series I use PyCharm. You can find install videos for this and circus, which u also use, at the top of bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. I’m about 30 lessons into the update but have started with the CircuitPlaygrounds and haven’t gotten to the Pico yet. But you should be able to use the install videos to get set up. Check them out. PyCharm requires a bit more install work but is much better at error flagging and code completion. And circup automates adding and updating libraries. These are going to make things so much easier for my students. Good luck!

I actually have the sunfounder thales kit which has some of the inherent stuff you mentioned. But I haven't learned a thing. They want you to just copy and paste code which teaches you nothing. So I'd like to try some of your projects.

NeoPixel libraries should work with LEDs of type WS2812, WS2811 and SK6812. I regularly buy off-brand LEDs from AliExpress or Amazon. Sometimes the RGB order differs but there is an optional parameter in neopixel.NeoPixel that you can use to tinker with the order. I do find Adafruit products are of great quality and I haven’t seen any third parties with alligator clip neopixel wires at the end, which are very nice when working with CircuitPlaygrounds. As an example of third party LEDs - I just got these ones - they work great and are about $17 for a stand of 350, but I had to strip the end and solder on better connectors to make this usable. They are more like Adafruit’s NeoPixel strands rather than strips, but smaller. They work nicely for wearables or when you want more bend in a project. mastodon.world/@gallaugher/110327569305359631

Great - if you have a Pico, you can actually also do a bunch of the early examples we use with the CircuitPlayground Bluefruit, but you'll need to make some changes for LEDs vs. onboard LEDs, or sensors that you plug in. The overall playlist starts at bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. Also, there is an open google drive on my website gallaugher.com for the PhysComp course. You'll find Keynote slides in there with challenges & solutions. If you're a Windows User you can create a free iCloud account & open Keynote slides with a browser. Good luck!

Are you using an earlier version of macOS Ventura? If so you need to update your OS. github.com/raspberrypi/pico-feedback/issues/314

You're in luck. I'm publishing revisions of the playlist for my Fall course. The first lesson at bit.ly/circuitpython-lessons contains a link to the parts list I use in my course. You can find links to all of the parts & where I buy them in that list. Be sure to subscribe as new lessons will be rolling out regularly over the next few weeks. Hack on!

@@profgallaugher Sorry miscommunication where can I buy it(preferred link)

@@profgallaugher The link doesn't work

Hi - that first intro video should have a link for: "docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p-zBSb9YzSaXyVASQG2HEhE-65scySzCsKFr_IQolN4/edit?gid=0#gid=0" If you open that link you'll see a link for all of the products. The link for the Pico W (get the one with soldered on headers) is: www.adafruit.com/product/5544. Also note that I start using the $25 CircuitPlayground Bluefruit - you'll see those videos starting at bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. In some ways that's an even better board for beginners since it has so many things built in (lights, sensors, a low-quality speakers, buttons, etc). That board is at: www.adafruit.com/product/4333 Cheers!

Hi - that first intro video should have a link for: "docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p-zBSb9YzSaXyVASQG2HEhE-65scySzCsKFr_IQolN4/edit?gid=0#gid=0" If you open that link you'll see a link for all of the products. The link for the Pico W (get the one with soldered on headers) is: www.adafruit.com/product/5544. Also note that I start using the $25 CircuitPlayground Bluefruit - you'll see those videos starting at bit.ly/circuitpython-tutorials. In some ways that's an even better board for beginners since it has so many things built in (lights, sensors, a low-quality speakers, buttons, etc). That board is at: www.adafruit.com/product/4333 Cheers!