Setting up the MicroPython development environment

Right now, we’ve got the Raspberry Pi Pico plugged into the PC, and it was previously running on Circuit Python.
If you check out the memory, you’ll see that the Circuit Python files are accessible, which means our device is ready for the next steps in the setup process.
It’s an exciting time as we get everything configured for MicroPython!.

Getting your MicroPython firmware on the Raspberry Pi Pico is pretty straightforward! First, you’ll want to head over to the link provided and download the latest version of the firmware, which is 1.18.
Once you’ve done that, just click on the official release or choose the nightly build if you’re feeling adventurous for a beta version.
Next up, press the ‘Boot Select’ button on your Pico and connect it to your PC.
This action puts it into Boot Loader Update Mode, ready for the next step! Now, just copy that UF2 firmware file onto the Pico, and it’ll update and reconnect on its own.
Just a heads up, MicroPython doesn’t show up as a separate memory like Circuit Python does, but if you see the connection, you’re good to go—you’ve successfully updated your firmware!.

Okay, let’s kick off our MicroPython project in Visual Studio! First things first, open Visual Studio and head over to the Extensions section.
Here, you can easily search for and install the MicroPython extension.
Once you’ve got that sorted, you’ll notice three options: stop, lost, and getting started.
Go ahead and click on ‘getting started’ to kick off your new project.
For this example, we’re going to use the email folder as the root folder and name it ‘hello Micro.’ Just a heads-up—don’t forget to set the port to 11F2000, as that’s super important for getting your MicroPython project up and running..

When you’re diving into a MicroPython project, you’ll quickly notice that two files are non-negotiable: the boot file and the main file.
Think of the boot file like the setup loop in Arduino; it only runs once when you power up your project.
After that initial setup, the main script kicks in to handle all the core functions of your project.
It’s also vital to get your MicroPython settings right—this means installing essential components like MP and RCL to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Plus, don’t forget to check your installation paths! You can use commands like ‘location MP’ to verify everything is in order, helping you troubleshoot any setup issues..

Let’s dive into a cool project where we make an LED blink using MicroPython! To get this rolling, you’ll want to leverage the Pin functionality from the machine module.
Start by chaining together commands like “sleep,” “pin wire high,” and then “LED on” to light things up.
Once you’ve saved your script, just hop over to the palette to run it, and watch as it gets downloaded straight onto your Raspberry Pi Pico.
If you need to give your program a quick reboot, hit Control D; and if you want to pause it and switch back to the Python shell, Control C has got your back.
And don’t forget, you can check out all the available pins by importing the machine module and typing dir(machine) in the shell!.

Alright, so here’s the scoop: we’ve successfully installed the MicroPython firmware on the Raspberry Pi Pico and set everything up in Visual Studio.
This is just the beginning, as we’re diving into a bunch of exciting projects with the Pico, all thanks to MicroPython.
Keep an eye out for some awesome example projects that will pop up in a dedicated GitHub repository—don’t worry, we’ll drop the link in the video description for easy access.
So, stick around because there’s plenty more cool content coming your way as we tackle these new projects together!.