Getting Started & Project Guide
Jupyter NotebooksProduct Overview
Unleash Your Inner Inventor with MicroPython!
Jump into the exciting world of programming and hardware with the SparkFun Inventor's Kit for MicroPython! This all-in-one kit provides everything you need to learn embedded electronics using MicroPython, a beginner-friendly version of Python 3. Guiding you through 16 interconnected circuits and five major projects, this kit teaches you how to blink your first LED all the way to building your very own autonomous robot. Absolutely no prior programming or electronics experience is required!
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Beginner-Friendly: Learn the fundamentals of programming and electronics from the ground up. If you can use a computer and connect to the internet, you're ready to start.
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No Soldering Required: Get creating right away with plug-and-play components and a solderless breadboard.
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Build Your Own Robot: All the projects and circuits culminate in a final, rewarding challenge, assembling and programming an autonomous robot that can navigate on its own!
You'll be programming this kit using MicroPython, which brings the simplicity and readability of Python—one of the world's most popular programming languages—to physical hardware. This makes it incredibly easy to write code that interacts with the real world. Instead of wrestling with complex syntax, you can focus on bringing your ideas to life and understanding the core concepts of electronics. MicroPython aims to be as compatible with standard Python as possible, allowing you to easily transfer code from the desktop to a microcontroller or embedded system.
Browser-Based Interactive Learning
We've eliminated the setup and streamlined the entire learning process. This comprehensive starter kit is designed for a seamless, hands-on experience that lives entirely in your web browser at sik.sparkfun.com. Forget juggling a physical book or a PDF guide in one window and a complex coding program in another; our guide is built on JupyterLite Notebooks, a powerful tool that puts your step-by-step instructions and coding environment side by side. Don't worry, we also include a version that implements a more traditional IDE environment!
This interactive method allows you to write and run MicroPython code in small, manageable chunks and instantly see your hardware respond. You'll get immediate feedback as you follow the step-by-step guidance, helping you understand exactly how each command interacts with your hardware. With no complex software to install, you can get straight to building and focus on your inventions, not on your tools.
Expandable and Versatile Hardware
At the core of this kit is the SparkFun RP2350 IoT RedBoard, a powerful development board featuring a reliable and familiar microcontroller from Raspberry Pi. This board is the "brain" of your projects, capable of reading sensors, controlling motors, displaying messages, and more. Its built-in WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities also open the door to future Internet of Things (IoT) projects once you've mastered the basics. This RedBoard also allows you to expand into the SparkFun Qwiic ecosystem after you have become proficient with the SIK circuits.
The Qwiic ecosystem is an expansive family of I2C sensors, actuators, shields, and cables that make prototyping faster and less error-prone. All Qwiic-enabled boards use a common 1mm, 4-pin polarized connector. This means:
Your learning journey doesn't have to stop when you finish the guide. The SIK for MicroPython is the perfect launchpad into a limitless world of electronics.
