CZ.NIC Publications: Martin Malý’s new book will introduce you to Micro:bit in detail

The book is suitable for both beginners and more advanced users who already have experience with electronics and programming.

The new publication of the Czech National Domain Administrator book series is titled “Micro:bit step by step”. Its author is the well-known publicist Martin Malý, who prepared comprehensive and informative material for fans of the Micro:bit learning platform. The book is suitable for both beginners and more advanced users who already have experience with electronics and programming. The publication also includes examples, suggestions, experiments and games, as well as brief tutorials and method sheets, along with descriptions of the most commonly used kits and extension modules available in the Czech Republic. Print editions and ebooks in standard formats can be purchased at most bookshops.

“When it comes to this book, I have a confession to make: I envision several very distinct groups of readers. The only thing they all share is an interest in electronics and programming. That’s why I have included not only descriptions of experiments and constructions with the microbit, but also some worksheets and method sheets. In addition to the microbit itself, the book also covers the most common kits, peripherals and construction sets that one might encounter in the Czech market and in Czech schools,” says the author Martin Malý in the preface.

The book is divided into several parts, which are designed for readers with different levels of experience. The first chapters are addressed to beginners, who can try out the exercises and learn how to work with the MakeCode block editor. The following second chapter discusses more advanced techniques – radio, compass, magnet, working with strings and lists. In the second half of the book, the techniques get even more advanced, readers will find a description of the event mechanism (Message Bus) and a lengthier chapter on creating extensions for MakeCode and localizing them. For those who already know how to program, there is a reference guide to Python programming. For JavaScript enthusiasts, there is a comprehensive chapter at the end of the book listing the available built-in functions, their descriptions and a brief introduction; the difference between standard JavaScript and TypeScript used in MakeCode is also explained. The last part of the book contains a diagram of the Micro:bit and some practical advice on how to update the firmware, as well as links to online materials.

About the author

Martin Malý (also known as Adent) is a Czech programmer, publicist and media consultant. His articles can be found on news websites (HN), professional media (Zdroják, Lupa) and on his website Den1.cz. He has been into programming and electronics since his youth, but now it is just a hobby. In recent years, he has been working as a manager and consultant in the field of online media.

About CZ.NIC Publications

CZ.NIC Publications is one of the educational projects of the Czech national domain administrator. The publishing program is focused on expert and popular publications associated with the Internet and its technologies. For more information about individual titles and the CZ.NIC Publications, visit https://knihy.nic.cz.