Easy entry to microcontroller programming
Python
As mentioned, the core of the Nibble is the ESP8266, on which you also can install MicroPython [10]. Thonny [11] would be a suitable IDE. Detailed instructions on how to install MicroPython can be found on the project page [12]. You will want to use the G2 image [13] for the ESP8266.
However, MicroPython has no manufacturer support, which means no installation documentation. Even online, you can hardly find any support on this topic. I failed to find a working driver for the display even after a thorough search, and querying the push buttons also turned out to be difficult. As a look at the schematic of the Nibble shows, these are queried with an additional I2C port expander, so I would advise against trying to use MicroPython on the Nibble.
Conclusions
The Nibble kit really contains everything you need to build it. The core ESP8266 component makes the Nibble extremely flexible and also helps to integrate other projects, such as controlling a robot or developing a multiuser game. The Arduino IDE offers access to a large number of libraries, so the Nibble could also be integrated into a smart home. Thanks to the detailed documentation, nothing stands in the way of self-study.
One small downer, however, is that the Nibble cannot be powered over USB, although the batteries are easy to replace. I definitely enjoyed the kit and plan to include the Nibble in some future projects.
Infos
- CircuitMess: https://circuitmess.com
- Nibble kit assembly instructions: https://learn.circuitmess.com/resources/guides/en/nibble-build-guide
- "Sniffing WiFi with an ESP8266 microcontroller" by Martin Mohr, Linux Magazine, issue 250, September 2021, pg. 62, https://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2021/250/ESP8266-for-WiFi-Sniffing/
- Order the Nibble kit: https://www.generationrobots.com/en/403786-nibble-educational-diy-retro-game-console-kit-with-tools.html
- Nibble homepage: https://circuitmess.com/products/nibble-diy-game-console
- Download CircuitBlocks: https://circuitmess.com/pages/circuitblocks
- CircuitBlocks tutorial (download): https://api.circuitmess.com/user-8/1627479759411-nibble-coding---first-steps-pdf.pdf
- Sample programs on GitHub: https://github.com/CircuitMess?q=nibble
- Nibble circuit diagram (download): https://api.circuitmess.com/user-3/1604071016365-circutmess_nibble_schematic.pdf
- MicroPython: https://micropython.org/
- Thonny: https://thonny.org
- Install MicroPython: https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp8266/tutorial/intro.html
- MicroPython image: https://micropython.org/resources/firmware/esp8266-20220117-v1.18.bin
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