Raspberry Pi Pico - Getting Started with MicroPython REPL (on Windows)

Let's take our first steps with the Raspberry Pi Pico development board. We'll load MicroPython onto the Pico and then program it using the interactive REPL.

CoolTerm works with Windows, Mac and Linux

You can now write programs and access the REPL using the MicroPython editor Mu. At the time of filming, Pico was not supported by Mu.

Core Electronics is located in the heart of Newcastle, Australia. We're powered by makers, for makers. Drop by if you are looking for:

[artbecker]

This is the best Pico getting started video I have seen, out of more than a dozen. Some are merely infatuated with taking something out of a cardboard box, while all of them did nothing more than read the spec sheet out loud. You, on the other hand, actually showed us how to do something. Thank you. I used Putty in serial mode to get the REPL.

[madnar]

Used Roger Meier's stuff for ages - he does amazing work! So useful for many different applications

[skaramicke]

This is so cool! I haven’t seen a touch typist since a secretary in school 15 years ago

[DrDepperLP]

Wow! Thank you so much for this. I just spent 3 hours trying to follow the PDF made by raspberry pi and couldn't seem to get anything to work. Followed this and I had everything working in 10 minutes. Should have just come here first 😭

[MeierUTube]

CoolTerm tip:
Enabling the "Filter ASCII Escape Sequences" and "Handle BS and DEL Characters" options in the CoolTerm connection settings allows you to use CoolTerm in "Raw Mode" as opposed to "Line Mode". This gives you the same look and feel you get from the Python interpreter running on a PC. However, you will lose the ability to use the UP arrow to recall previously used commands as MicroPython on the Pi Pico doesn't appear to be supporting the UP/Down arrows.

[matthewalexander]

I really enjoyed your video even though it's a year old it gave me a huge boost of confidence and excitement watching your video reason being years ago I actually bought a Raspberry Pi device similar to yours and it got misplaced in some boxes so by watching your video it gave me this bolt of energy to go and look for it and to do what I wanted to do years ago now I know my device is probably again years old but thanks for the video and just get me excited to get back to working in starting on I should say with my Raspberry Pi device I look forward to watching your other videos in the future as well friend. Also it was very easy to listen to you and follow you you did a great job of explaining things and your video work was just really good so great job on everything regarding your video

[shirazazad]

Wonderful intro video. Thanks Micheal

The code didn't work initially but it worked with the following:

from machine import Timer
from machine import Pin

tim = Timer()
led = Pin(25, Pin.OUT)

def tick(timer):
global led
led.toggle()


tim.init(freq=3.5, mode=Timer.PERIODIC, callback=tick)

[freeelectron]

Got my Pi Pico from Core and now have a flashing green led thanks to this video. :) Now for the real stuff...

[colingrabham]

Well done Michael! Looks awesome. Love to get my hands on some soon. I'll stay tuned to see about uploading persistent code. Cheers!

[prabhakardeo]

The pico is on stock, unlike the Raspberry Pi of course
This is very very very useful

[dasdunetechnologies]

REPL is cool but WebREPL through Wifi is cooler. I use it to update or debug my ESP8266s around my house. (Lights and water control)

[PeterLunk]

Ok got that ordered ofcourse...
But can't wait for a version with wifi :P

[pedrovelazquez]

In 3 weeks I will have mine. I am learning now thanks to you!

[tohcp]

It is simple and step by step learning, so good to the beginner like me, keep it out

[yurialtunin]

used this video to start with Pt2040 zero and it worked!

Does the Timer class require that the tick function has the argument timer? The argument is not being used inside the function.

[sirguylittle]

While I am waiting for my order to arrive I've been having a quick look through of the Official Raspberry Pi Pico Guide digital download 'Getting Started with MicroPython on Raspberry Pi Pico'.
It seems that Thonny is the simplest option and comes with Raspberry Pi OS or can be downloaded for other OSes. You can write your MicroPython code in live mode or save it as a .py file directly to the Pico.

[kiransalan]

hi, I am dragging and dropping uf2 file onto rp2 drive, it dispears but I can't find micro python from drop down in Thornny in Interpretor drop down in options. can you help?

[Starlite]

THANK YOU !!! Oh my GOD !! I've read DOZENS of "Quick Start Guides" and "For the Absolute Beginner" tutorials and they ALL start with, "To get started type THIS into your Pi Pico" without it ever crossing ANY of their BUTT- STUPID minds that they haven't explained WHERE to type it in !! I'm not kidding. They go through the whole, hold the "BootSel" button down, plug it in, it shows up here, drag this file onto it and wait for it to reboot thing. Then the VERY next thing is "Now type THIS in". WHERE !?!?!?!?!??! God it's so frustrating how utterly stupid software people almost always are. Any 10 year old can learn to program. Doing software requires zero brains and the 100 get started tutorials out there for this demonstrate that perfectly. Thank you for NOT being an idiot

[stevetobias]

Very cool.
Have ordered my Pico from Core but won't have it till sometime in March.
Looking forward to playing with it.