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‎docs/microbit/accelerometer.md‎

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!!! terms "Terminology"
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- **accelerometer** – a sensor that measures movement and tilt in three directions and can recognise gestures such as shaking.
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- **axis** – an imaginary line, called x, y or z, along which movement is measured.
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- **axis** – an imaginary line, called x, y or z, along which something moves or around which it turns.
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- **milli-g** – the unit for accelerometer readings, where about 1024 milli-g equals the pull of gravity.
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- **gesture** – a movement the accelerometer can recognise, such as shaking, tilting or turning face up.
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- **tuple** – a collection of values written in round brackets, like a list, but whose values can't be changed after it is created.
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- **unpacking** – storing each value from a tuple or list into its own variable in one line, such as `x, y, z = accelerometer.get_values()`.
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/UT35ODxvmS0" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

‎docs/microbit/compass.md‎

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!!! terms "Terminology"
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- **magnetometer** – a sensor that measures magnetic fields, used by the micro:bit as a compass.
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- **magnetic field** – the invisible area of magnetic force around a magnet or the Earth.
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- **calibration** – adjusting a sensor so its readings are accurate, such as tilting the micro:bit until every LED is lit.
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- **heading** – the direction the top of the micro:bit is pointing, measured in degrees from 0 to 359.
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- **calibration** – testing and adjusting a sensor or device so its readings or movements are accurate.
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- **heading** – the direction something is facing, measured in degrees.
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- **nanotesla** – a very small unit for measuring the strength of a magnetic field.
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/a3P6LWwPBqM" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

‎docs/microbit/display.md‎

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!!! terms "Terminology"
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- **LED** – a light-emitting diode, which is a small electronic light; the micro:bit display is a 5 × 5 grid of them.
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- **pixel** – a single dot of light on a display that can be turned on, off or set to a brightness.
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- **coordinates** – a pair of numbers `(x, y)` that give the position of a pixel, with `x` across and `y` down.
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- **method** – a command that belongs to an object, such as the display, and is written after a dot.
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- **parameter** – a value we give to a method inside its brackets to control what it does.
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- **return value** – the information a method gives back to our program after it runs.
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- **string** – a piece of text made of characters, written inside quotation marks.
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- **integer** – a whole number with no decimal point, written `int` in Python.
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- **float** – a number with a decimal point, such as `3.14`.
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- **Boolean** – a value that can only be `True` or `False`.
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- **return value** – the value a function or method sends back to the code that called it.
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- **documentation** – the official guide written by the people who made a code library, explaining every method and its parameters.
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/eRhlaXqT-0w" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

‎docs/microbit/module.md‎

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- how to run code on a schedule with `run_every()`
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!!! terms "Terminology"
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- **module** – a collection of code, such as `microbit`, `music` or `radio`, that we can import into our program.
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- **function** – a named block of code that does a job and can be run whenever we call its name.
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- **define** – to create a new function by giving it a name and the code it runs, using `def`.
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- **background** – running code on a schedule while the main loop keeps doing something else.
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The `microbit` module contains general functions for pausing a program, measuring time and running code on a schedule.

‎docs/microbit/radio.md‎

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- **radio** – a way of sending and receiving messages without wires, using invisible radio waves.
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- **wireless** – communicating between devices without any cables or wires.
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- **group** – a number from 0 to 255 that sets which micro:bits can hear each other's radio messages.
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- **queue** – a line of waiting items where the oldest one is dealt with first, like received radio messages.
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- **None** – a special Python value meaning nothing, such as when no radio message has arrived.
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- **queue** – a collection where the first item put in is the first item taken out, like a line of people waiting.
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- **None** – a special Python value that means nothing, used when there is no value yet.
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/rvymAr6WqrQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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‎docs/microbit/sound.md‎

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!!! terms "Terminology"
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- **speaker** – an output device that turns electrical signals into sound.
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- **microphone** – an input device that detects sound and measures how loud it is.
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- **list** – a collection of values, written in square brackets, that is stored in order under one name.
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- **octave** – a range of musical notes, numbered from 0 (very low) to 8 (very high), where octave 4 contains middle C.
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- **duration** – how long a note or tone lasts.
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- **frequency** – how many times a sound wave vibrates each second, which sets how high or low a tone sounds.

‎docs/micropython/creating-your-program.md‎

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- how to plan, build and test a program step by step
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!!! terms "Terminology"
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- **import** – a line that brings code someone else has already written into our program so we can use it.
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- **setup** – the part of a program that runs once when it starts, for creating devices and giving variables their starting values.
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- **main loop** – the part of a program, inside `while True:`, that repeats forever to read inputs, make decisions and control outputs.
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- **variable** – a named place in memory that stores a value our program can use and change.
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- **indentation** – spaces at the start of a line that show which code belongs inside a loop or `if` statement.
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- **input** – information our program reads, such as a button press, a sensor reading or a radio message.
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- **process** – the step where our program works out what to do with its inputs, using calculations and decisions.
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- **output** – the result our program shows or does, such as using the display, sounds, LEDs or motors.
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- **if statement** – code that makes a decision by running some lines only when a condition is `True`.
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- **comment** – a note in our code, starting with `#`, that explains the code and is ignored when the program runs.
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Every example in this course uses the same structure. We will use it for our own programs too, because it keeps our code organised and makes problems easier to find and fix.
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‎docs/micropython/first-program.md‎

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!!! terms "Terminology"
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- **directory** – another name for a folder that holds files on a computer or micro:bit.
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- **PRIMM** – a five-step way of learning to code: Predict, Run, Investigate, Modify and Make.
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- **library** – a collection of ready-made code, such as the `microbit` library, that we import to use in our programs.
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- **endless loop** – a loop, started with `while True:`, that repeats its code forever until the program is stopped.
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- **library** – a collection of ready-made code that we import to use in our programs.
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- **millisecond** – one thousandth of a second, so 1000 milliseconds make 1 second.
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- **upload** – to copy a file from the computer onto the micro:bit so the program can run without the computer.
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‎docs/micropython/thonny.md‎

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- **microcontroller** – a tiny computer chip used to control devices such as robots, sensors and household appliances.
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- **embedded programming** – writing programs that run on microcontrollers built into devices.
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- **micro:bit** – a small, pocket-sized educational computer with buttons, a display and sensors that we can program.
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- **Thonny** – a beginner-friendly IDE for writing and running Python and MicroPython programs.
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- **IDE** – an Integrated Development Environment, which is an app for writing, running and fixing code.
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- **interpreter** – the program that reads our code and runs it, such as MicroPython on the micro:bit or Python 3 on the computer.
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- **Shell** – the part of the Thonny window that shows messages and printed output from our program.
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During this course we will use **Thonny** to write **MicroPython** programs for the **micro:bit**. This page shows how to set everything up.
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‎docs/reference/debugging.md‎

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- how to find and fix a logic error
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!!! terms "Terminology"
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- **syntax error** – a mistake in how the code is written, such as a missing bracket, that stops Python from running it.
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- **run-time error** – a mistake that makes the program crash while it is running.
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- **logic error** – a mistake where a valid program runs but doesn't do what the programmer intended.
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- **bug** – an unexpected behaviour in a program caused by a mistake in the code.
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- **debugging** – the process of finding and removing bugs from a program.
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- **debugger** – a tool that helps us hunt down bugs by running code one step at a time and showing variable values.
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- **for loop** – a loop that repeats its code once for each item in a list or other collection.
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- **breakpoint** – a marker on a line of code where the debugger pauses the program so we can check the variables.
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- **stack** – the list of functions and modules that are currently running, showing which one called which.
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- **scope** – the part of a program where a variable can be seen and used.
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- **local variable** – a variable that only the current function can see.
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- **concatenation** – joining strings together end to end with `+`.
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!!! tip "Use Python 3, not the micro:bit"

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