[Microbit-Python] The BBC reveal the device to the media

[Nicholas H.Tollervey]

Hi Howard,

Quite agree and thanks for putting in writing something that has perhaps
been a tacet assumption but never clearly stated to us Pythonistas. I.e.
"we should be aiming to support it and get it out there -- it would be
mad not to."

I was under the impression the BBC were still evaluating and that a
decision about MicroPython's inclusion within the "fold" was yet to be
made. Wires have been appropriately un-crossed. ;-)

I'm relieved we're all on the same page with this. I think we'd be hard
pressed to find anyone who doesn't want to make the solution work in the
best of all possible ways.

Here's to making things work... ;-)

N.

On 12/07/15 11:46, Howard Baker-IF&L wrote:
> Hi Nicholas,
> 
> My personal view on this is that everybody is talking about the same
> thing. Micropython is a brilliant solution and we should be aiming to
> support it and get it out there -- it would be mad not to. I think
> what Michael, Joe and I are talking about is can we do other things
> as well -- can we *also* explore getting BLE supported and see if
> there is a way to do it -- not just because it would help Micropython
> and kids but because it would help the whole project to optimise
> things -- and can we *also* see if we can get a version inside the
> web app. Not as an alternative but as a way of extending Python (and
> Micropython) to another audience. If we can do both then let's try to
> do it, if we can't then offline offers all the advantages you've
> outlined.
> 
> Thanks for everything Howard
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Microbit
> [mailto:microbit-bounces+howard.baker=bbc.co.uk at python.org] On Behalf
> Of Nicholas H.Tollervey Sent: 12 July 2015 01:42 To:
> microbit at python.org Subject: Re: [Microbit-Python] The BBC reveal the
> device to the media
> 
> On 11/07/15 22:59, Finney, Joe wrote:
>> I agree with Michael here, there is a risk that not having BLE
>> will limit the potential of a micropython based platform.
> 
> I disagree. The benefits far outweigh the lack of BLE (although I 
> totally share your desire to make BLE work if at all possible). 
> Apologies in advance for the evangelical tone I take - like you, I'm 
> completely floored by what Damien has achieved, both as a Python 
> programmer and as a teacher.
> 
> I wish you could see it in action. Programming the device directly
> via the Python REPL is a hugely compelling educational activity. Kids
> love the immediacy of it all (we see this every year at PyCon UK when
> kids as young as 7 blinkenlight with LEDs and a RPi). :-)
> 
> As a programmer and teacher who values freedom and flexibility,
> being able to use the tools *I* choose to work with is important.
> Writing Python using my preferred editor and dragging the .py file to
> the device doesn't lock me into a single hosted platform that I won't
> be familiar with. It also reduces the risks associated with a project
> that relies on the goodwill of third party corporate sponsorship.
> There is no third party with MicroPython - it's just you and the
> device.
> 
> That it's *real* Python is also a wonderful thing - the learning
> pathway from the micro:bit to other programming activities (such as
> Python on the RPi) is a *lot* more obvious, simpler and easy to
> facilitate as a result. I get to teach in a language with which both
> me and my students are already familiar (remember, text based
> programming is part of KS3 and Python is the usual way this is
> achieved).
> 
> Classroom management is also a lot easier with a device you just
> plug in, connect to and type instructions. I know from experience how
> painful getting a class of 30 kids to sign into a website can be.
> What happens to the lesson if the school's connection goes down 5
> minutes in? Who sets up the accounts? What happens if I'm on XP with
> IE6 (still somewhat common in schools with creaking old IT
> infrastructure)?
> 
> Furthermore, that it is an alternative also means we're facilitating 
> exploration, experimentation and evaluation - all essential 
> skills/attitudes for a successful engineer.
> 
> As a kid I'm motivated by Python because it's a real programming 
> language. The skills I'm learning have real economic value and,
> hells bells, MicroPython is being evaluated by the ESA for use in
> space bound payloads. Who doesn't want to write code on a platform
> that maybe used in space!?! Think of the imaginative / inspirational
> angle of that..!
> 
> Personally, I think kids are going to have a lot of fun poking
> around with all the other stuff MicroPython can do.
> 
> There's also a positive spin on the current lack of BLE: having
> unsolved problems is also a good thing for building a community too.
> There's nothing like a challenge to get people diving in and
> engaging... that's why I'm trying to get Howard to give us as many
> micro:bits as he can spare. It'll create such a buzz in the wider
> Python community. ;-)
> 
> If there is some way in which it can be made to work then I
> *definitely* think we should try. The Python Software Foundation
> (PSF) intends to create "bounties" for Python related work and
> progress on the device. BLE could be a good candidate when the
> project finally opens up. It's far better that it works or we attempt
> to make it work than to not try at all.
> 
> Having said that, this all depends on how much the BBC are willing
> to support these "off script" MicroPython efforts. Those of us in
> the Python community who went through the process of signing an NDA, 
> volunteering personal weekend time and exploring the available
> options certainly believe it is, by far and away, the best Python
> solution for the micro:bit.
> 
> Damien has delivered an epic solution. Of course we should attempt
> to make it the best solution we can, but not to go with an already 
> compelling solution would simply be throwing away the baby with the 
> bathwater.
> 
> Such is life: a series of compromises in an ever changing world. ;-)
> 
> Best wishes,
> 
> Nicholas.
> 
> 
> 
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