← Teacher guide Markdown for Prepare

Drive with a model: cheat sheet

AI robots · Find each block in the MakeCode toolbox (the category is at the end of each line).

robot start

Picks which robot you have. Put it first, in on start, before any other robot block. Robot › robot … start.

robot.elecfreaksCuteBot.start()
The block

robot motor stop

Stops both wheels. End every move and every program that should finish with it.

robot.motorStop()
The block

robot play tone

Plays a note on the robot's buzzer: a frequency (262 is middle C) for a time in milliseconds.

robot.playTone(262, 500)
The block

show icon

Shows a ready-made picture. Basic › show icon; click the picture to choose another.

basic.showIcon(IconNames.Heart)
The block

show arrow

Shows an arrow pointing a direction. Basic › more › show arrow.

basic.showArrow(ArrowNames.West)
The block

animation

Pictures inside forever repeat, in order. Each pause holds the picture before it.

basic.forever(function () {
    basic.showIcon(IconNames.Heart)
    basic.pause(500)
    basic.showIcon(IconNames.SmallHeart)
    basic.pause(500)
})
The block

set variable

Puts a value in a variable, throwing the old value away. Make the variable in Variables first.

let count = 0
The block

if

Runs the blocks inside only when the condition is true; does nothing when it is false. Logic.

if (condition) {
    blocks
}
The block

else if

Another question, asked only if the ones above were false. The first true one wins.

} else if (condition) {
The block

radio send string

Sends a word to every other micro:bit in the group. Radio.

radio.sendString("hi")
The block

running time

Milliseconds since the micro:bit switched on. Take one from a later one to time something. Input › more.

input.runningTime()
The block

letter at

The letter at a place in a text. Places start at 0, as in a list. Text (char from … at).

message.charAt(0)
The block

robot motor tank

Sets the left and right wheel speeds, from −100 to 100. Same speeds go straight, opposite speeds spin, different speeds curve. The robot keeps going until another motor block.

robot.motorTank(50, 50)
The block

robot set color

Sets the robot's lights to a colour. Click the colour to choose another; black turns them off.

robot.setColor(0xff0000)
The block

on logo pressed

Runs its blocks when you touch the gold logo on the front of the micro:bit (V2 only; on a V1, use on shake). Input › on logo pressed.

input.onLogoEvent(TouchButtonEvent.Pressed, function () {
    
})
The block

show string

Scrolls a word or message across the screen. Basic › show string.

basic.showString("Hello")
The block

forever

Runs the blocks inside again and again. Blocks in on start run only once.

basic.forever(function () {
    blocks
})
The block

on button pressed

Runs the blocks inside every time the button is pressed. Choose A, B or A+B. Input.

input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, function () {
    blocks
})
The block

on shake

Runs the blocks inside every time the micro:bit is shaken (or tilted, if you choose another gesture). Input.

input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, function () {
    blocks
})
The block

counter

Set the start value once, in on start. change adds to whatever the variable holds now.

let count = 0
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, function () {
    count += 1
    basic.showNumber(count)
})
The block

if else

Exactly one part runs: the first when the condition is true, else the second. Click + on an if block.

if (condition) {
    blocks
} else {
    blocks
}
The block

radio set group

Picks a channel (0 to 255). Only micro:bits in the same group hear each other. Radio.

radio.setGroup(1)
The block

on radio received string

Runs each time a word arrives; receivedString holds it. Radio.

radio.onReceivedString(function (receivedString) {
    blocks
})
The block

time it

Store running time at the start; later, running time − start is how long it took (ms).

start = input.runningTime()
basic.showNumber(input.runningTime() - start)
The block