Get started with MicroPython on Raspberry Pi Pico

You might think of computers as things you stick on your desk and type on, and this is certainly one type of computer, but it’s not the only type. In this book, we’re looking at microcontrollers – small processing units with a bit of memory that are good at controlling other hardware. You probably have lots of microcontrollers in your house already. There’s a good chance your washing machine is controlled by a microcontroller; maybe your watch is; you might find one in your coffee machine or microwave. Of course, all these microcontrollers already have their programs and the manufacturers make it hard to change the software running on them. A Raspberry Pi Pico, on the other hand, can be easily reprogrammed over a USB connection. In this book, we’ll look at how to get started with this hardware, and how to work with other electronic components. By the end of the book, you’ll know how to create your own programmable electronic contraptions. What you do with them is up to you.