The MakeCode Newsletter
This is a newsletter devoted to Microsoft MakeCode, the easy but powerful block and Javascript code creator. We include MakeCode news, highlights, information, happenings, hardware, and more from around the globe.
Missed a previous issue? No worries, you can check out the archive right here!
Thank you all!
This is the final issue of the MakeCode Newsletter brought to you by Adafruit. For just over two years, we’ve brought the community the news and highlights using MakeCode.
- Anne Barela and John Park, editors
Education Spotlight
You can now find Microsoft Education on TikTok! Follow along in the teacher’s lounge - TikTok via Twitter.
Start students coding Python in Minecraft with MakeCode. They can learn the basics of Python, including syntax, data types, variables, conditionals, ‘for’ and conditional loops, lists and functions. Python 101 with MakeCode contains 10 lessions - Minecraft Education.
Each Tuesday, TeenTech is running a FREE Game Design Coding Workshop for students aged 10-16 - Twitter and TeenTech.
Latest Releases
Introducing Cloud Sync for MakeCode Arcade - MakeCode Blog.
Over the past year we’ve been working hard to bring you the ability to sign into MakeCode with a Microsoft Account. When you sign into MakeCode, you make it possible for us to remember who you are, and this unlocks a bunch of exciting new possibilities. For example, it becomes possible for us to remember what you were working on and make your projects available wherever you use MakeCode. In fact this is the first feature we’ve built for our signed in users, and we’re calling it Cloud Sync.
MakeCode Minute
From the archives: DIY Pew Pew Sounds - YouTube.
Check out all the MakeCode minute videos on YouTube.
MakeCode Arcade Game of the Week!
From the archives: Pergamon Arcade - YouTube.
Check out all the MakeCode Arcade game of the week videos on YouTube.
News from around the web!
“High-Fivey” the Cardboard micro:bit Robot - Twitter and Brown Dog Gadgets.
If you want to learn to design a game but don’t know where to start, check out this tutorial from MakeCode. As mentioned in the video, you can also download your game to Meowbit, a game console compatible with MakeCode Arcade - Twitter and YouTube.
Make a remote control for robotics with the Kittenbot Newbit Arcade Shield programmed in MakeCode - Twitter.
Educational inch worm robots with Adafruit Circuit Playground Express and MakeCode - Twitter.
Fuel Up is an Asteroids-like game in MakeCode Arcade - MakeCode Arcade and Twitter.
A non-contact doorbell built with micro:bit, armourbit, KOI, a battery, and some LEGO bricks, and programmed with MakeCode - Twitter.
Online MakeCode Tutorials For The Kitronik Greenhouse Kit - Kitronik.
From JavaScript to (MakeCode) Block Code to a micro:bit cacophony of joy!! - Twitter.
The ZIP Tile is an 8 x 8 display for the BBC micro:bit, featuring 64 addressable full-colour LEDs. They can be connected together to form larger displays, scroll messages or display colours! Code it with MakeCode using Kitronik’s custom blocks - Twitter and Kitronik.
I tried using micro:bit on my iPad for the first time … Why are only the blue NeoPixel blocks in English? - Twitter (Japanese).
MP3 Playing 90’s BoomBox with micro:bit and MakeCode - Brown Dog Gadgets.
Using a Brown Dog Gadgets Bit Board, a micro:bit, some Maker Tape, make Music - Twitter.
I love the micro:bit and MakeCode! It’s both a very nice product and platform MakeCode. We’ve got a couple of micro:bits at home, plus this cool robot, and controller (both powered by a micro:bit) - Twitter.
DVA Learning Hub (@DvaHomeschool) writes: “Thank you Microsoft Education for the Microsoft Teams MakeCode Arcade Clicker Game Tutorial! Our students enjoyed learning about block-based coding. We’re rating the training ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for hosts Kathryn and Candi!” - Twitter.
#ICYDNCI What was the most popular, most clicked link, in last month’s newsletter? MakeCode for the micro:bit - 2021 Release is here!.
New Extensions!
MonkMakes Extension for their 7-segment display - GitHub and Twitter.
Resources for Educators and more!
If we missed any resources, please let us know on GitHub, we’ll be updating this list each newsletter.
Join the MakeCode Discussions on Discord
The Adafruit Discord community has a dedicated #makecode channel to discuss all things MakeCode, seek advice, etc. - Join us now.
What is Microsoft MakeCode?
Microsoft MakeCode is a free, open source platform for creating engaging computer science learning experiences that support a progression path into real-world programming - YouTube.
Simulator
An interactive simulator provides students with immediate feedback on how their program is running and makes it easy to test and debug their code.
Block Editor
Students new to coding can start with colored blocks that they can drag and drop onto their workspace to construct their programs.
JavaScript Editor
When they are ready, students can move into a full-featured JavaScript editor with code snippets, tooltips, and error detection to help them.
MakeCode Arcade
Microsoft MakeCode Arcade is a web-based beginner-friendly code editor to create retro arcade games for the web and for microcontrollers. In this guide, you will learn how to assemble your own Arcade hardware from different parts. MakeCode Arcade is open source, and on GitHub.
Microsoft has produced an excellent overview video of MakeCode Arcade - YouTube.
