Documentation
GoBadge
Step-by-step Tutorial

Step-by-step Tutorial

What you need

- GoBadge aka Adafruit PyBadge
- Personal computer with Go 1.18/1.19 and TinyGo installed, and a serial port.

Installation

Go

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

https://go.dev/dl/

Now you are ready to install TinyGo.

TinyGo

Follow the instructions here for your operating system:

https://tinygo.org/getting-started/

Connecting the GoBadge to your computer

welcome to gopher badge

Plug the GoBadge into your computer using a USB cable. There may be one provided in your starter kit.

Make sure that the GoBadge is on.

on off switch

Running the code

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

  • Edit your TinyGo program.
  • Compile and flash it to your GoBadge.
  • The program executes from the GoBadge. You can disconnect the GoBadge 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 PyBadge with TinyGo code, by blinking the built-in LED (it’s on the back).

tinygo flash -target gobadge ./step0

flashing the board

Once the PyBadge is flashed correctly, the built-in LED labeled “D13” (on the back) should start to turn on and off once per second. Now everything is setup correctly and you are ready to continue.

step 0

step1.go - Built-in LED, START Button

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target gobadge ./step1

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

start button

Challenge: See if you can modify ./step1/main.go so that the LED turns on if the SELECT button is pressed instead of the START button.

step2.go - Neopixels

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target gobadge ./step2

step 2 location

The 5 neopixels should light up green and red alternatively.

step 2

step3.go - Neopixels, Buttons

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target gobadge ./step3

The 5 neopixels should light up in different colors depending on which button you press.

What happens if you press more than one button at a time?

try out ./step3b, what does it do?

After deploying it should look like this:

step3b

step4.go - Light sensor, Neopixels

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target gobadge ./step4

step5.go - Display

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target gobadge ./step5/main.go

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

step5

step6.go - Display, Buttons

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target gobadge ./step6/main.go

step6

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.

step7.go - Display, Accelerometer

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target gobadge ./step7

step7

The display will show a bar for each X,Y,Z axis. Move the Pybadge to see it in action.

step8.go - Buzzer, Buttons

Run the code.

tinygo flash -target gobadge ./step8/main.go

Press the buttons and create your melody.

Good job in completing the basic tutorials. Now can check out the more complicated tutorials

Snake Game

Play the famous Snake game on the pybadge.

My Name Is

This example display you name. Use this to make a simple name badge My Name is

Configure your name and use the awesome TinyGo-powered badge!

Note:

Find the different type of fonts you can use here

Official repository: https://github.com/tinygo-org/gobadge

docs