Step-by-step Tutorial

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

What you need

- Pimoroni Badger2040 or Pimoroni Badger2040W
- Personal computer with Go 1.22 and TinyGo 0.32 installed, and a serial port.

Hardware differences

Badger2040 & Badger2040W are a bit different. The W in Badger2040W is because it has wifi capabilities. Another difference is that Badger2040 has an USB-C connection, while Badger2040W has a micro-USB.

For the badger2040 you’ll need to use --target=badger2040 or -target badger2040
For the badger2040W you’ll need to use --target=badger2040-w or -target badger2040-w

*Note: If you are participating in the GopherCon US TinyGo HackSession you probably be using the badger2040w.

Front side

Back side

Installation

Go

If somehow you have not installed Go on your computer already, you can download it here:

Now you are ready to install TinyGo.

TinyGo

Follow the instructions here for your operating system:

Connecting the Badger2040 to your computer

Plug the Badger2040 into your computer using a USB cable while pressing the white BOOTSEL button on the Raspberry Pi Pico. It should appear as a USB mass storage device.

Quick setup

You can follow the instructions at the webpage to quickly get it working with an image and name of your choice.

Running the code

The TinyGo programs will run directly on the Badger2040’s microcontroller. The procedure is basically:

Edit your TinyGo program.
Compile and flash it to your Badger2040.
The program executes from the Badger2040. You can disconnect the Badger2040 from your computer (plug it into a battery, if it isn’t already), the program executes directly on the microcontroller.

Let’s get started!

Code

step0.go - Built-in LED

This tests that you can compile and flash your Badger2040 with TinyGo code, by blinking the built-in LED (it’s on the back).

tinygo flash -target badger2040-w ./tutorial/basics/step0

Once the Badger2040 is flashed correctly, the built-in LED (on the back) should start to turn on and off once per second. Now everything is setup correctly and you are ready to continue.

step1.go - Built-in LED, A Button

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target badger2040-w ./tutorial/basics/step1

When you press the A button, the built-in LED on the back should turn on.

Challenge: See if you can modify so that the LED turns on if the B button is pressed instead of the A button.

step2.go - Display

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target badger2040-w ./tutorial/basics/step2/

The message “Hello Gophers!” should appear on the display.

step3.go - Display, Buttons

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target badger2040-w ./tutorial/basics/step3/

The display will show some blue circle that represent that buttons on the board. When a button is pressed a ring will be shown around its corresponding circle.

step4.go - Buttons, USB midi interface

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target badger2040-w ./tutorial/basics/step4

Go to any online midi player with USB capabilities, like . Make sure the Badger2040 MIDI is enabled (this website works better in Chrome, other browsers might not detect the Badger2040 as a MIDI device). It should identify itself as “Badger Drum”. Press the buttons and create your melody.

step5.go - Buttons, USB HID interface

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target badger2040-w ./tutorial/basics/step5

Your Badger2040, connected to a computer, will act as a mouse now. Pressing the A&C buttons will move the cursor horizontally, while up&down arrows vertically. B button will perform a left click.

Good job in completing the basic tutorials. Now can check out the examples!

Next steps & ideas

For example:

Add new effects and animations to the badge code, like Multipass from The fifth element movie.
Create your own Rubber Duck attack (examples/rubber-duck).

Not powering up with battery connected

While powered by battery, the badger need one click on any button to get out of low power mode and start running the code.

Official repository:

Badger2040 & Badger2040W | Go Education Project

Step-by-step Tutorial

What you need

Hardware differences

Installation

Go

TinyGo

Connecting the Badger2040 to your computer

Quick setup

Running the code

Code

step0.go - Built-in LED

step1.go - Built-in LED, A Button

step2.go - Display

step3.go - Display, Buttons

step4.go - Buttons, USB midi interface

step5.go - Buttons, USB HID interface

Next steps & ideas

Not powering up with battery connected