Create the code for the robot

In order for your robot to work, it needs a code that it executes. This code is written by you.

In this chapter, we will show you how to program effectively!

Explore block-based programming

Install the Spike program and program the robot to move forward 10 cm
Program the robot to draw a square
Write down on a piece of paper what you like and what you don't like

Blocky or Python? Explore and compare text-based programming

We achieved better results by programming in Python.

Advantages:

text can be edited quickly and shared easily
you don't have to search for blocks, you just have to write

Disadvantages:

it may be a disadvantage at first that you have to program in English, but you can get used to it

📝 Task:

Get to know Pybricks and write your first code on it, using which your robot describes a 10 centimeter square! After you try Pybricks, just like you did with blocky, write down what you like and what you don't so much!

Evolution of our Robot Code over the Years

old Blockly code - Kamilla

blocky code

⚡ coding is slow

⚡difficult to share

⚡unstable - you can easily lose the code

✅ suitable for little ones

✅ easy to learn, also available in Hungarian

2023 Superpowered

PyBricks code

⚡only in English

⚡it's hard for multiple people to work on it at the same time

✅ works reliably

✅ easy to share

✅ you can code and progress quickly

2025 Submerged

modular PyBricks code

⚡ only in English

✅easy for multiple people to work on at the same time

✅ works reliably

✅ easy to share

✅ you can code and progress quickly

Tips for coding

We hid the complexity: we worked almost exclusively with drivebase, two actuator motor variables
From the commands, we only use straight, turn, curve, run_time, run_angle, wait, stop
Sometimes we also used parallel (wait=False) branches for speed
Name your circles: first write the year (write down the number of the round) then write who made them (name) and then the name of the circle (e.g.: Western collection).
This is how it should look: round2_kamo_western_collection
Build your program code modularly, so that each circuit is independent of each other

Make a modular code

Everyone here worked on their own computer, with their own code.

We solved this by creating a program named"base.py". This program contains the correct settings and helper functions. From this program, we call the settings into the original code. This way, we don't interfere with or overwrite other people's settings.

Tipp: Unfortunately, we only realized before the competition that almost everyone was using different settings at first, and only then did we use a basic code module. You better be smarter than that!

Here you can find a diagram of our modular code

source code of our module alap.py

The Menu

For quick start, create a Menu function. This works so that when you start the program, round 1 appears, then when it is finished, round 2 comes, and so on until the last round.

You can switch between the programs with the right and left buttons and when the program ends, it automatically moves to the next round.

This is our "Menu" code.

Tip: Comment your code (ctrl+k+c) to make it clear!

Manage your program versions

This solution is for when you have created a good code but you can't store it. Many people save their programs on a pen drive, but it's not as efficient... as GitHub! GitHub is a version control program that stores your codes in the cloud.

This is much more efficient, because your codes are accessible from anywhere, from anywhere! We created a repository where everyone uploads their own codes and the changes can be tracked.

Since the codes are in the cloud, they can be restored even in the event of a zombie apocalypse!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nYUyP7l7zg

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