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| 1 | +--- |
| 2 | +title: Overview |
| 3 | +description: An introduction to Arduino and MicroPython |
| 4 | +author: Francesca Sanfilippo |
| 5 | +micropython_type: basics |
| 6 | +--- |
| 7 | + |
| 8 | +MicroPython is an implementation of the Python programming language, and includes some of the standard Python libraries. It is designed to run on microcontrollers with constrained environments. |
| 9 | + |
| 10 | +In this sequence of guides, you will among other things, learn how to: |
| 11 | +- Install MicroPython on your Arduino board, |
| 12 | +- Install an editor with support for MicroPython, |
| 13 | +- How to make basic scripts that can for example blink an LED, read an analog pin and print things to the terminal (REPL). |
| 14 | + |
| 15 | +You do not need any prior knowledge in either programming with Arduino or MicroPython, but it is recommended to know the basics of Python. |
| 16 | + |
| 17 | +What you need to do it is have a Compatible Board and a Code Editor. You can choose between two alternatives: |
| 18 | +- **Arduino Lab for MicroPython:** an experimental editor from Arduino, designed for simpler projects. |
| 19 | +- **OpenMV:** an editor for more complex projects, such as computer vision. |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +## Python vs C/C++. |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | +If you are experienced with Arduino programming in C and C++ a lot of the presented topics will look familiar to you. |
| 24 | +There's a big difference between how we program an Arduino board with the Arduino IDE, using the Arduino programming language (based on C++), and how we program it using MicroPython. |
| 25 | +- The "Arduino way" requires compiling the sketch before uploading it to your board. The previous code running is replaced by the new one. |
| 26 | +- The "MicroPython way" does not require compiling, as you will have MicroPython installed on the actual board. Code is instead run through an interpreter, line by line. |
| 27 | + |
| 28 | +## Python vs MicroPython |
| 29 | + |
| 30 | +MicroPython was created to work under constrained conditions, like a small environment. The main difference between Python and MicroPython is that MicroPython does not have the full standard Python language, it is only a subset of it. |
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