User Manual

Programming Options
The method you choose to program your microcontroller and Crickit depends on what type of environment you are
looking to use and available options. The chart below details which options are available with detailed descriptions on
this page.
Crickit with Circuit Playground Express
Programming this combination offers great flexibility. Here are the options:
Microsoft MakeCode provides complete Circuit Playground Express support and complete Crickit support with
the Crickit Extension available in the current releases. MakeCode is excellent for beginning students with a block
interface. Support for sensors and peripherals not on the Circuit Playground Express is generally not available.
CircuitPython is supported for all Circuit Playground Express and Crickit functionality. While CircuitPython may
have require a bit more study, it is definitely worth it for the rich programmability, through high level and lower
level libraries. CircuitPython support for various sensors and add-ons is excellent and under continual
development. Development with the Mu editor offers error checking, serial output and plotting capabilities. Very
fast to upload and make changes due to being an interpreted language.
The Arduino IDE works with Circuit Playground Express and with Crickit as an add-on library. The number of
drivers for peripherals and sensors is generally excellent and Arduino is suitable for creating new drivers
depending on complexity. The learning curve is very high to understand both the built-in functionality and the
underlying C/C++ syntax. Error messages may not be intuitive. Compilation times can slow down development.
Serial monitor support is included.
Native CPython support for this combination is not supported. Adafruit suggests using CircuitPython which has
better CPython support than MicroPython.
Crickit with Feather M0/M4 Express CircuitPython Supported Feather
Programming this combination offers great flexibility. Here are the options:
Microsoft MakeCode requires a beta version which includes support for other processors.
CircuitPython is supported for all CircuitPython compatible Feather boards and Crickit functionality. CircuitPython
will NOT work on non-CircuitPython Feather boards such as the 32u4 Feathers, 328P Feather, M0 Basic
Feathers. nRF52 support is still in development. ESP8266 support is limited. While CircuitPython may have
require a bit more study, it is definitely worth it for the rich programmability, through high level and lower level
libraries. CircuitPython support for various sensors and add-ons is excellent and under continual development.
Development with the Mu editor offers error checking, serial output and plotting capabilities. Very fast to upload
and make changes due to being an interpreted language.
Crickit Compatibility Matrix
Arduino IDE CircuitPython MakeCode CPython
Circuit Playground Express and Crickit Great! Great! Great! Nope
Feather M0/M4 Express and Crickit Great! Great! Great! Nope
micro:bit and Crickit for micro:bit With Extension Nope Great in Beta! Only MicroPython
Raspberry Pi and Crickit HAT Nope Great! Nope Use CircuitPython
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