I am amazed and very pleased to discover that since a few days ago, +everything you need to program the BBC +micro:bit is available from the Debian archive. All this is +thanks to the hard work of Nick Morrott and the Debian python +packaging team. The micro:bit project recommend the mu-editor to +program the microcomputer, as this editor will take care of all the +machinery required to injekt/flash micropython alongside the program +into the micro:bit, as long as the pieces are available.
+ +There are three main pieces involved. The first to enter Debian +was +python-uflash, +which was accepted into the archive 2019-01-12. The next one was +mu-editor, which +showed up 2019-01-13. The final and hardest part to to into the +archive was +firmware-microbit-micropython, +which needed to get its build system and dependencies into Debian +before it was accepted 2019-01-20. The last one is already in Debian +Unstable and should enter Debian Testing / Buster in three days. This +all allow any user of the micro:bit to get going by simply running +'apt install mu-editor' when using Testing or Unstable, and once +Buster is released as stable, all the users of Debian stable will be +catered for.
+ +As a minor final touch, I added rules to +the isenkram +package for recognizing micro:bit and recommend the mu-editor +package. This make sure any user of the isenkram desktop daemon will +get a popup suggesting to install mu-editor then the USB cable from +the micro:bit is inserted for the first time.
+ +This should make it easier to have fun.
+ +As usual, if you use Bitcoin and want to show your support of my +activities, please send Bitcoin donations to my address +15oWEoG9dUPovwmUL9KWAnYRtNJEkP1u1b.
+ +