Python in Education

Cross-Platform Runability  |  21

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school system administrators who won’t let teachers install anything

other than Microsoft Office on school PCs. Users simply point their

browser at a website and they are presented with a fully functional

Python development environment without having to install any

additional software.

As we have seen, Python also works on small-form devices such as

the Raspberry Pi. It even runs on microcontrollers—small, low-

powered chips designed to run within embedded devices, applian‐

ces, remote controls and toys (among other things).

The 

MicroPython project

 has created a pared-down version of

Python 3 optimized for such devices, and provides a small electronic

circuit board (see 

Figure 3-1

) that runs such a svelte version of

Python.

Figure 3-1. A MicroPython board (about the same size as a postage

stamp)

This very simple Python-based operating system can be used as the

basis for all sorts of interesting and fun electronic projects. Add-ons

for the board include an LCD display screen, speaker and micro‐

phone and motors. It is a relatively easy task to build a simple robot

with such a device.