Software and Microcontroller Preparation

If you have any problems with this documentation or the code, please create a new issue on the Kinetic-Display GitHub site.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, please:

1. Install Required Software

  1. Download and install Visual Studio Code.
  2. Open VS Code and click the Extensions icon on the Activity Bar.
  3. Search for and install these extensions from the Marketplace:
    • Python by Microsoft
    • MicroPico by paulober

2. Prepare Your Raspberry Pi Pico

  1. Download the flash_nuke UF2 file.
  2. Clear your Raspberry Pi Pico before flashing a new build:
    • Unplug your Pico from USB if it is connected.
    • Press and hold the BOOTSEL button on your Pico while plugging it into your computer's USB port.
    • Wait for the RPI-RP2 storage device to appear on your computer.
    • Drag and drop the flash_nuke.uf2 file onto the RPI-RP2 drive.
  3. Download the MicroPython UF2 file for your device:

Verify MicroPython on Your Raspberry Pi Pico

  1. Open Visual Studio Code.
  2. On the top menu, select the ellipsis ... (if present), then Terminal → New Terminal. micropico-0
  3. In the terminal pane, select the terminal menu, then the MicroPico vREPL sub-menu. micropico-1
  4. Plug your Raspberry Pi Pico into the USB port. The Status bar will show your Pico as connected. micropico-3
  5. Verify your Pico's onboard LED turns on and off by typing the following code in the terminal pane (copy/paste each line separately):
from machine import Pin
p = Pin(25, Pin.OUT)
p.on()
p.off()

Fork and Clone the Repository

  1. Install Git for Windows.
  2. Go to the Kinetic-Display GitHub repository.
  3. Create a fork of the repository.
  4. If you have never used PowerShell before:
    • Open a new PowerShell terminal as administrator (search for "Windows PowerShell" in the Start menu).
    • Run: Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser
    • Verify with: Get-ExecutionPolicy -List (ensure CurrentUser is set to Unrestricted).
    • prereqsoftware-7
  5. Otherwise, open a new PowerShell terminal (no admin needed). prereqsoftware-8
  6. Change directory to your cloned repo's kinetic-display\micropython\pico folder.
  7. Run the command: ./deploy.ps1 <directorypath> (replace <directorypath> with your desired folder, e.g., ./deploy.ps1 "c:\deploy"). prereqsoftware-9

Warning

The folder you provide for <directorypath> will be deleted along with all its contents when you run the deploy.ps1 script. Be sure to save or rename the folder if you want to preserve any changes you made.

If successful, you should see output like this, and the conductor and digit folders should exist in your deployment directory:

Directory: C:\deploy

Mode                 LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                 -------------         ------ ----
d-----         1/31/2025   8:30 PM                conductor
d-----         1/31/2025   8:30 PM                digit