Introduction to KookaBlockly

KookaBlockly: Visual Programming Editor for Kookaberry Microprocessor Boards

KookaBlockly is a powerful standalone visual editor designed for creating program scripts for Kookaberry and related microprocessor boards. This editor operates on a drag-and-drop interface, making it beginner-friendly and highly intuitive. It’s built upon the open-source Google Blockly library (Apache 2 license), created by Google to facilitate the development of beginner-friendly programming languages.

Fig. 1 shows a KookaBlockly script assembled from visual function blocks dragged onto the workspace from the palette of blocks on the left of the display. The blocks click together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle to form a series of steps that the Kookaberry microcomputer will perform.

Fig. 1 This is the KookaBlockly display with an example KookaBlockly script.

The example shown above shows a loop that writes a welcome message on the Kookaberry display and flashes the Kookaberry’s LEDs. It then sleeps for 2 seconds and then goes back to the beginning of the loop. The loop will run until the Kookaberry is reset or power is removed.

KookaBlockly was created by Damien George (George Robotics – MicroPython) in collaboration with Kookaberry Pty Ltd. It also received support from the AustSTEM Foundation, the Warren Centre, and the Vonwiller Foundation.

Key Features

Intuitive Visual Interface:

Users can create syntactically correct scripts and programs effortlessly, even without prior knowledge of any programming language.

KookaBlockly enables users to assemble visual blocks into structured MicroPython (Python 3.0) code.

Compatibility:

The generated code can be utilized on most microprocessor boards that use MicroPython, but is particularly suited to those with Kookaberry firmware for STM and RP2040 microprocessors.

Platform Compatibility:

KookaBlockly runs as a standalone program on personal computers with Microsoft Windows 10 or 11, Apple MacOS, or Raspberry Pi Raspbian operating systems.

Easy Access:

The latest version of KookaBlockly can be conveniently downloaded from the Kookaberry GitHub repository at https://github.com/kookaberry/kooka-releases/releases.

Follow the Installing KookaBlockly guide in the next section to install KookaBlockly.

Programming With KookaBlockly

Using KookaBlockly is straightforward and enjoyable.

Users can drag and drop visual code blocks into the workspace, where they can be seamlessly interlocked or snapped together using sockets.

These sockets represent fundamental code concepts, including program controls (activation, termination, loops, and decisions), actions, and result computations (variables, values, mathematical and logical expressions).

The intuitive visual process empowers users to apply programming concepts and principles when designing scripts or programs, eliminating the need to worry about the syntax and semantics of MicroPython.

With KookaBlockly, programming becomes an enjoyable and accessible endeavour.

AustSTEM Learning Hub

AustSTEM has assembled a collection of resources on its Learning Hub at https://learn.auststem.com.au. These resources complement the material in this manual with examples, lesson plans, descriptions of equipment and of their application.