This document discusses programming microcontrollers using C/C++, Lua, Python and JavaScript. It also mentions a microcontroller that supports Wi-Fi and can connect to the Witty Cloud platform starting at $20.
I’ve been told that you should tell people why you’re an authority on a subject
Arduino is great
It was the first affordable microcontroller that was “beginner friendly” – the Arduino Uno costs around $25
A microcontroller is an instant on computer with a small amount of RAM and computing power – it’s low power and is good at doing simple tasks like monitoring sensors and controlling simple displays.
You write C and C++ code, that compiles and it runs on the device
Moore's Law 2010!
But things have moved on since the Arduino was released and microcontrollers have got smaller, more powerful and more efficient – also – cheaper this is $2 not $25
Because it’s more powerful you have more options not only C or C++ is at your disposal – the scripting languages Lua, Python and JavaScript all run on this…for $2
OK…did I mention – this has WIFI!?!? For $2
Wifi Witty Cloud
This development board here which has the ability to program it over USB costs around $3-4 dollars – delivered.
It has a photo resister – detects light intensity – and an RGB LED.
We talk about diversity – gender, race and orientation – but often being in tech prices a lot of people out – Arduinos and their ilk still cost a lot of money and prices people out of the hobby, and ultimately industry. I’ve made it my personal mission to get people up and running on these boards and I’m convincing people to help.
GIVE AWAY!
Which brings me to the next part of my talk title.
Modern JavaScript developers…
I was going to call this
Lazy…
You don’t want to learn a new tool chain, you want to use NPM – JavaScript developers talk about JavaScript Fatigue. You don’t want to learn a new tool. You’ve put effort in to learning JS
You want to minimize fatigue. What lazy really means is …
Productive – Modern JavaScript developers want to be productive.
This is where thingsSDK comes in.
thingsSDK is a set of tools for installing JavaScript runtimes on to these cheap – with a modern JavaScript workflow. GUI and opinionated CLI.
Before I show you how to use thingsSDK let me show you some example projects
GIVE AWAY
Regrets…
…you didn’t buy at $13
…you bought at 2800
TSA
This is from the intro to thingssdk video
Talk about the pumpkin origin and how I was lazy