Physical computing for young learners on the micro:bit V2:

• Kid-friendly, icon-based, structured code editor and programming language
• Live, the code is downloaded to the micro:bit on every edit
• Cursor based navigation with keyboard (switch access compatible), mouse, touch, screen reader support
• Accessories (LEDs, servos, …) supported via Jacdac
• Translated in 20+ languages

Web editor

The MicroCode web editor is at aka.ms/m9. We recommend using the keyboard navigation. MicroCode is designed to be friendly to switch access devices.

• Left, Right, Up, Down moves the cursor
  • the Left and Right keys will wrap around in the editor on the same page
  • the Up key on top of the screen will act as back. It will go back the pages until page 1 is in focus, then pressing up will go back to the start screen.
  • the Down key will wrap around the pages
• Enter or Space for A button
• Backspace for B button
• ] or Page Up to go to the next page, [ or Page Down to go to the previous page
• Copy the URL to share your program.

Automatic download to micro:bit V2

When the editor does not detect any micro:bit, it will automatically prompt you with instructions on how to connect.

Once your micro:bit V2 is paired, the web editor will be able to download your MicroCode program to your micro:bit. This happens on every edit, so your program is always up-to-date (and running)!

If your micro:bit disconnects, you will see a micro:bit icon show up on the upper left corner of the editor. Click on that button to reconnect again.

Localization

MicroCode is community translated through Crowdin. Please read on localization to get started.

• Basque (download)
• Catalan (download)
• Chinese (Simplified) (download)
• Chinese (Traditional)) (download)
• Croatian (download)
• Dutch (download)
• English (download)
• German (download)
• Filipino (download)
• French (download)
• French (Canada) (download)
• Italian (download)
• Japanese (download)
• Korean (download)
• Polish (download)
• Portuguese (Brazil) (download)
• Russian (download)
• Spanish (download)
• Spanish (Mexico) (download)
• Turkish (download)
• Welsh (download)

Accessibility

We want to make the editor as accessible as possible; please send us suggestions to improve its accessibility.

Keyboard navigation

MicroCode can be accessed with the keyboard:

• Arrow keys to move cursor
• Enter or Space for A button
• Backspace for B button
• Keep moving the cursor Up to go back a screen, if Backspace is not available; for example, if you are using a 5-input switch panel.
• Keep moving Right or Left to wrap around the user interface; for example, if you are using a 2-input switch panel.

Gamepads

MicroCode supports game console controllers compatible with Web Gamepad.

Screen reader

The editor integrates with existing screen readers, like NVDA.

Tooltip read aloud

By clicking on the tooltip reader button at the bottom of the editor, the tooltips will be read aloud. This may be useful for students who are still learning to read.

Program slots

MicroCode provides three slots for saving user programs for later load/restore. From the editor, click on the disk icon in the upper left to select which slot to save the current program to. From the home screen, select the disk icon to load a program from one of the three save slots.

Sample programs

The MicroCode app has a set of samples built-in. Select the samples button on the MicroCode home page (see below) to reveal the gallery of samples.

Accessories

MicroCode supports Jacdac modules to extend the micro:bit device with LEDs, servos, motors, … In this video, we launch an LED animation when a clap is detected.

micro:bit V2 and Arcade Shield

This functionality is experimental.

Click on the version number in the web app to download the MicroCode hex file to your micro:bit V2. When you plug the micro:bit into the Arcade Shield, MicroCode should start running. Your MicroCode program is always live and runnable. Once you remove the micro:bit from the shield, the program will persist and continue to run.

micro:bit V2 + Arcade Shield

Community pages

• KittenBot MicroCode introduction

Acknowledgments

• Microsoft Garage for kick starting this project during the 2022 Microsoft Hackathon.
• @loretod101 on advising on accessibility features, including switch access support.
• @BillSeiver on feedback for tiles, including the page start tile
• @eliseli_ for the Spanish translation

Contributing

• Post your suggestions or questions at https://forum.makecode.com/c/60.

This project is open source and welcomes contributions and suggestions at https://github.com/microsoft/microcode. Read the developer instructions.