scroll:bit is a little display with a lot of pixels! Its 119 bright white LEDs are perfect for scrolling messages with your micro:bit, or for animations, graphs, and more!
Just slot in your micro:bit, then code scroll:bit with the block-based Microsoft MakeCode editor, or with MicroPython in the Mu code editor. It works in a very similar way to the built-in red LED matrix on your micro:bit, so if you've used that then you'll know exactly what to do.
Features
- Comes fully-assembled and ready to use
- 17x7 matrix of bright white pixels (119 total)
- Individual PWM brightness control of each pixel
- Uses the IS31FL3731 LED matrix driver chip
- Compatible with micro:bit and micro:bit v2
- Microsoft MakeCode and MicroPython support
- No soldering required!
Software
You can code scroll:bit with the block-based Microsoft MakeCode editor, that'll get you started with the concepts of how to code a matrix of LEDs or, if you want to delve deeper, then you can use MicroPython in the Mu code editor.
To add the scroll:bit library in MakeCode, click on the cog at the top right hand corner, then "Add Package", then search for "scrollbit". You can find full instructions at the GitHub repository for the library.
Our Getting Started with scroll:bit tutorial has a bunch of useful information and even embedded code examples (including how to make a spirit level) that are easy to download straight to your micro:bit. You'll be up-and-running in a jiffy!
Our MicroPython library for scroll:bit is also available at GitHub, again with full instructions on how to get going with it.
Worksheets
Our Tanya has put together some lovely educational content for scroll:bit, including downloadable worksheets for use in the classroom or for learning at home. They'll show you how to get started and how to build some simple projects with MakeCode blocks.