Feb 20, 2025: MicroCode: Portable Programming for the BBC micro:bit

Time and Location

THURSDAY, Feb 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Please be aware of and adhere to the Microsoft Reactor Code of Conduct

In Person:
Microsoft Redmond Reactor | 3709 157th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052
Conf Room 20/1009 (16) Cedar Reactor
Map

Remote:
On Line Using Microsoft Teams
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 256 223 803 869
Passcode: KA6Re7NA

Call in (audio only)
+1 323-849-4874
Phone Conference ID: 454 579 14#

Title

MicroCode: Portable Programming for the BBC micro:bit

Abstract

Physical computing has emerged as an effective approach to introducing computing and coding to students. One of the most popular enabling tools is the BBC micro:bit (10 million of which have been distributed to date), well-known for its positive impact on teaching programming and driving engagement in the classroom. We extend these benefits by developing a new approach to coding with micro:bit: MicroCode.

Unlike other experiences, MicroCode couples the micro:bit with a low-cost handheld accessory to enable live and portable programming via an on-device visual programming language; no separate host computer is needed. We present the design of MicroCode and will have hardware and software available for attendees to try themselves. You can find out more about MicroCode at https://aka.ms/microcode

Speaker Bio

Thomas (Tom) Ball is a Partner Researcher at Microsoft Research. He is a co-founder of the influential SLAM software model-checking project and creation of the Static Driver Verifier tool for finding defects in Windows device drivers. Tom is a 2011 ACM Fellow for ‘contributions to software analysis and defect detection’. As a manager, he nurtured research areas such as automated theorem proving, program testing/verification and empirical software engineering, and their application to industrial scale software engineering problems. Since 2015, he worked to bring the BBC micro:bit to market (more than 10 million worldwide to date) and establish the Microsoft MakeCode platform for supporting CS education efforts.

Post Meeting Social

Following the official meeting folks are welcome to wander over to the Cofee Haus at the Overlake Red Robin (148th Ave and 24th) to continue chatting until they close the doors!

A Word From Our Sponsor

Please thank Microsoft for sponsoring our meeting room and Teams account!

Resources

Coming Soon!