Plug In

1. Plug your PyCubed board into a computer (Windows/Mac/Linux) using the included USB C cable.

2. After a moment, your computer should recognize the board as a "mass storage device" (like a flash drive) called PYCUBED.
   • Your computer may show a message saying the connected device is a keyboard/mouse. This is fine! Your operating system is recognizing PyCubed's ability to emulate a hardware-interface-device. Click ok/continue/close/etc..

3. You should also notice the on-board RGB LED cycling through a rainbow of colors. PyCubed ships with an example script that does this automatically. This will stop happening if you change or replace the default main.py.

   main.py

❓ Troubleshooting Connection Issues

• Connection Issues (← expand me)

  Don't worry! All PyCubed boards are functionally tested before shipping, so the issue is likely simple to solve.

  1. Ensure you performed the checks in Unpacking & Hardware Overview

  2. If your computer doesn't see the PyCubed board as a mass storage device
     (but the RGB is cycling through a rainbow of colors
     as described)
     • Confirm the USB port on your computer isn't a "power only" port by plugging another USB device (like a flash drive) into that port.

  3. If your computer doesn't recognize PyCubed and there is no rainbow LED as described.
     • It's likely the board isn't getting power.
       • Confirm the USB port is working on your computer by plugging another USB device into that port.
     • Visually inspect the board for any foreign debris that may be causing a short-circuit on the board.

  1. See ❓Troubleshooting for more details

Open Mu

1. With the board plugged in and confirmed working, open Mu (if it's not open already)

2. Mu sometimes reports that it can't find a CircuitPython device. Like this:

   

   Click "OK" and proceed with the instructions below.

3. Open the Serial Monitor (aka "REPL") by clicking the "Serial" button along the top bar. You should now see something similar to the image below.

❓ Troubleshooting Mu Issues

• Mu Issues (← expand me)

  Don't worry! All PyCubed boards are functionally tested before shipping, so the issue is likely simple to solve.

  1. If you get a Mu-specific error, ensure you followed the instructions in Download Mu.

  2. Restart your computer after installing Mu.

  3. Board not recognized?

     Prior to Mu 1.1.0-beta-4 release, Mu Editor did not recognize PyCubed as a CircuitPython device. If you encounter this, try reinstalling Mu.

     • Still not recognized?

       try an earlier release for Mu: https://github.com/mu-editor/mu/releases

     • How to manually add valid board types to Mu
       (no longer necessary)
       

       On Mac

       1. Close Mu (if it's open) and navigate to the Mu installation directory (might look something like this: /Applications/mu-editor.app/Contents/Resources/app/mu/modes)

       2. Open the /adafruit.py file in a text editor and add (0x04D8, None), to the the valid_boards list (somewhere around line 54) and save. The file should now contain something like:

          ...
            (0x1B4F, 0x8D22),  # SparkFun SAMD21 Mini Breakout
            (0x1B4F, 0x8D23),  # SparkFun SAMD21 Dev Breakout
            (0x04D8, None),    # PyCubed related boards
          ]

       On PC

       1. Follow the same steps as for the mac, except the adafruit.py (it might also be called circuitpython.py) file will be located in a directory similar to...
          
          C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Mu\pkgs\mu\modes

          (make sure to change 'USERNAME').

       • Can't find the circuitpython.py file?

         If you're on PC, try looking for the install location: MU-INSTALL-PATH\pkgs\mu\modes

Check Serial Terminal

1. Click inside the "CircuitPython REPL" box and press Ctrl + C on your keyboard.
   (
   Ctrl + C halts the current program running on the board)

   💡

   Keep in mind:
   Depending on the code that's running, you may need to press
   Ctrl+C multiple times in order for Mu to catch the keyboard interrupt)

   You should now see something similar to...

   

   🎉 congratulations! Mu is now successfully installed and configured.

Next Section → HelloWorld.py