tweaks to esp32 flashing

.gitignore

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ dist/
 # IDE
 .vscode/
 .idea/
+.cursor/
 *.swp
 *.swo
 *~

features.md

@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+# Teach Real Hardware, Faster
+
+`esp32block` helps educators take students from drag-and-drop blocks to real embedded systems coding in minutes. It is classroom-friendly, browser-based, and built for rapid iteration across popular microcontroller boards.
+
+## Features
+
+- Block-based coding environment with instant generated MicroPython/Arduino code
+- One-click firmware workflows for ESP32 families and RP2040/micro:bit bootloader drives
+- Multi-board support: ESP32 variants, RP2040, micro:bit, Arduino Uno/Nano, and more
+- Built-in serial monitor and terminal for live debugging in class
+- Save, load, and manage projects directly in the app
+- Toolbox customization to simplify lessons for different grade levels
+- Robot hardware panel to map components and apply starter setup blocks
+- Browser-first workflow: no heavy IDE installs for each student machine
+
+## Suggested Next Features
+
+- Classroom mode with student device roster and connection health status
+- Guided lesson templates with prebuilt block sets and teacher notes
+- Assignment mode with lockable toolboxes and step-by-step checkpoints
+- Live code broadcast from teacher device to all student workspaces
+- Auto-grading checks for block logic and generated code patterns
+- Built-in simulator mode for lessons before hardware is connected
+- Per-student progress tracking and printable assessment summaries
+- Offline classroom package for unreliable school network environments

index.html

@@ -262,6 +262,28 @@
     </div>
   </div>
 
+  <!-- micro:bit firmware board picker overlay -->
+  <div id="microbit-flash-overlay" class="hidden">
+    <div id="microbit-flash-modal">
+      <div class="board-select-header">
+        <h3>Flash micro:bit MicroPython</h3>
+        <button id="microbit-flash-close" title="Close">&times;</button>
+      </div>
+      <p class="board-select-description">Choose your micro:bit hardware version, then continue to flash firmware.</p>
+      <div class="hex-upload-fields">
+        <label class="hex-field-label" for="microbit-variant-select">Board version</label>
+        <select id="microbit-variant-select">
+          <option value="v2">micro:bit v2</option>
+          <option value="v1">micro:bit v1</option>
+        </select>
+      </div>
+      <div class="board-select-actions">
+        <button id="microbit-flash-start">Flash</button>
+      </div>
+      <div id="microbit-flash-status" class="hex-upload-status"></div>
+    </div>
+  </div>
+
   <script type="module" src="/src/main.js"></script>
 </body>
 </html>

readme.md

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Realrobots.net blockly microcontroller IDE

src/devices/microbit.js

@@ -15,10 +15,11 @@ export const microbit = {
   id: 'microbit',
   label: 'micro:bit',
   firmware: {
-    label: 'MicroPython (micro:bit v2)',
-    url: 'https://micropython.org/resources/firmware/MICROBIT_V2.hex',
+    label: 'MicroPython (micro:bit)',
+    url: import.meta.env.BASE_URL + 'firmware/micropython-microbit-v2.1.1.hex',
     canFlashInBrowser: false,
-    instructions: 'Hold RESET, then drag the .hex file onto the MICROBIT drive.',
+    flashMethod: 'microbit',
+    instructions: 'Hold RESET while plugging in, then select the MICROBIT drive when prompted.',
   },
   categories: [
     pinIoCategory,

src/main.js

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import { connect, disconnect, isConnected, getPort, onData, writeString } from '
 import { executeCode, stopExecution, saveToDevice, writeFileToDevice } from './serial/repl.js';
 import { flashFirmware } from './serial/flasher.js';
 import { flashPicoFirmware } from './serial/picoFlasher.js';
+import { flashFileToDrive } from './serial/driveFlasher.js';
 import { appendToTerminal, clearTerminal } from './ui/terminal.js';
 import { initResizablePanels, initPanelToggles, initProjectTabs, setProjectsPanelCallbacks } from './ui/panels.js';
 import { initToolboxCustomizer, toggleCustomizeMode, refreshCustomizer } from './ui/toolboxCustomizer.js';
@@ -241,7 +242,8 @@ function updateDeviceUI() {
     btnConnect.title = 'Connect to device via Web Serial';
 
     btnFlash.classList.remove('hidden');
-    btnFlash.title = canFlashInBrowser()
+    const flashMethod = getDevice()?.firmware?.flashMethod;
+    btnFlash.title = (canFlashInBrowser() || flashMethod === 'webusb' || flashMethod === 'microbit')
       ? 'Flash MicroPython firmware'
       : 'Download firmware (drag to device)';
 
@@ -394,6 +396,11 @@ const esp32FlashClose = document.getElementById('esp32-flash-close');
 const esp32FlashStart = document.getElementById('esp32-flash-start');
 const esp32FlashVariant = document.getElementById('esp32-variant-select');
 const esp32FlashStatus = document.getElementById('esp32-flash-status');
+const microbitFlashOverlay = document.getElementById('microbit-flash-overlay');
+const microbitFlashClose = document.getElementById('microbit-flash-close');
+const microbitFlashStart = document.getElementById('microbit-flash-start');
+const microbitFlashVariant = document.getElementById('microbit-variant-select');
+const microbitFlashStatus = document.getElementById('microbit-flash-status');
 
 const FW_BASE = import.meta.env.BASE_URL + 'firmware/';
 
@@ -421,6 +428,17 @@ const ESP32_FIRMWARE_OPTIONS = {
   },
 };
 
+const MICROBIT_FIRMWARE_OPTIONS = {
+  v1: {
+    label: 'micro:bit v1',
+    url: FW_BASE + 'micropython-microbit-v1.1.1.hex',
+  },
+  v2: {
+    label: 'micro:bit v2',
+    url: FW_BASE + 'micropython-microbit-v2.1.1.hex',
+  },
+};
+
 function showFlashOverlay() {
   flashLog.textContent = '';
   flashFill.style.width = '0%';
@@ -457,11 +475,29 @@ function closeEsp32FlashChooser() {
   esp32FlashOverlay.classList.add('hidden');
 }
 
+function openMicrobitFlashChooser() {
+  if (!microbitFlashOverlay) return;
+  if (microbitFlashStatus) {
+    microbitFlashStatus.textContent = '';
+    microbitFlashStatus.className = 'hex-upload-status';
+  }
+  microbitFlashOverlay.classList.remove('hidden');
+}
+
+function closeMicrobitFlashChooser() {
+  if (!microbitFlashOverlay) return;
+  microbitFlashOverlay.classList.add('hidden');
+}
+
 esp32FlashClose?.addEventListener('click', closeEsp32FlashChooser);
 
 esp32FlashOverlay?.addEventListener('click', (event) => {
   if (event.target === esp32FlashOverlay) closeEsp32FlashChooser();
 });
+microbitFlashClose?.addEventListener('click', closeMicrobitFlashChooser);
+microbitFlashOverlay?.addEventListener('click', (event) => {
+  if (event.target === microbitFlashOverlay) closeMicrobitFlashChooser();
+});
 
 btnFlash.addEventListener('click', async () => {
   if (isArduinoDevice()) return;
@@ -492,6 +528,11 @@ btnFlash.addEventListener('click', async () => {
     return;
   }
 
+  if (fw.flashMethod === 'microbit') {
+    openMicrobitFlashChooser();
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (canFlashInBrowser()) {
     openEsp32FlashChooser();
     return;
@@ -518,6 +559,41 @@ btnFlash.addEventListener('click', async () => {
   }
 });
 
+microbitFlashStart?.addEventListener('click', async () => {
+  const variantKey = microbitFlashVariant?.value || 'v2';
+  const variant = MICROBIT_FIRMWARE_OPTIONS[variantKey];
+  if (!variant) {
+    if (microbitFlashStatus) {
+      microbitFlashStatus.textContent = 'Invalid micro:bit version selected.';
+      microbitFlashStatus.className = 'hex-upload-status status-err';
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+
+  closeMicrobitFlashChooser();
+  showFlashOverlay();
+  appendFlashLog(`Selected target: ${variant.label}\n`);
+  appendFlashLog('Put your micro:bit in bootloader mode if needed, then select the MICROBIT drive.\n');
+
+  try {
+    await flashFileToDrive(
+      (msg) => appendFlashLog(msg),
+      (pct) => setFlashProgress(pct),
+      {
+        firmwareUrl: variant.url,
+        outputName: 'firmware.hex',
+        driveHint: 'MICROBIT drive',
+      },
+    );
+    setFlashProgress(100);
+    appendFlashLog('\nFlash complete! You can now Connect to use the device.\n');
+  } catch (err) {
+    appendFlashLog(`\nFlash error: ${err.message}\n`);
+  } finally {
+    flashCloseBtn.classList.remove('hidden');
+  }
+});
+
 esp32FlashStart?.addEventListener('click', async () => {
   if (isConnected()) {
     await disconnect();

src/serial/driveFlasher.js

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/**
+ * Write a firmware file directly to a removable mass-storage drive
+ * selected by the user (e.g. MICROBIT or RPI-RP2).
+ */
+export async function flashFileToDrive(onLog, onProgress, options = {}) {
+  const { firmwareUrl, outputName = 'firmware.bin', driveHint = 'device drive' } = options;
+  if (!firmwareUrl) throw new Error('No firmware URL provided');
+
+  onLog?.('Fetching firmware...\n');
+  const resp = await fetch(firmwareUrl);
+  if (!resp.ok) throw new Error(`Firmware fetch failed: ${resp.status}`);
+  const fileData = new Uint8Array(await resp.arrayBuffer());
+  onLog?.(`Firmware: ${(fileData.length / 1024).toFixed(0)} KB\n\n`);
+
+  onLog?.(`Select the ${driveHint} in the folder picker.\n\n`);
+
+  let dirHandle;
+  try {
+    dirHandle = await window.showDirectoryPicker({ mode: 'readwrite' });
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (err?.name === 'AbortError') throw new Error('Cancelled - no folder selected');
+    throw err;
+  }
+
+  onLog?.(`Writing ${outputName} to ${dirHandle.name}...\n`);
+  const fileHandle = await dirHandle.getFileHandle(outputName, { create: true });
+  const writable = await fileHandle.createWritable();
+
+  const CHUNK_SIZE = 64 * 1024;
+  let written = 0;
+  try {
+    while (written < fileData.length) {
+      const end = Math.min(written + CHUNK_SIZE, fileData.length);
+      await writable.write({
+        type: 'write',
+        position: written,
+        data: fileData.slice(written, end),
+      });
+      written = end;
+      onProgress?.(Math.round((written / fileData.length) * 95));
+    }
+    await writable.close();
+  } catch (err) {
+    // Some bootloaders unmount as soon as the file is fully written.
+    if (written >= fileData.length) {
+      onLog?.('(Drive disconnected - device is rebooting with new firmware)\n');
+    } else {
+      throw err;
+    }
+  }
+
+  onProgress?.(100);
+  onLog?.('Done!\n');
+}
+

src/serial/picoFlasher.js

@@ -1,55 +1,10 @@
-/**
- * Flash RP2040/RP2350 firmware by writing a UF2 file to the BOOTSEL
- * mass-storage drive via the File System Access API.
- *
- * The device must be in BOOTSEL mode (hold BOOTSEL while plugging in).
- * The user selects the RPI-RP2 drive in the browser's folder picker,
- * and the UF2 bootloader handles the rest automatically.
- */
+import { flashFileToDrive } from './driveFlasher.js';
 
 export async function flashPicoFirmware(onLog, onProgress, options = {}) {
-  const { firmwareUrl } = options;
-  if (!firmwareUrl) throw new Error('No firmware URL provided');
-
-  onLog?.('Fetching firmware...\n');
-  const resp = await fetch(firmwareUrl);
-  if (!resp.ok) throw new Error(`Firmware fetch failed: ${resp.status}`);
-  const uf2Data = new Uint8Array(await resp.arrayBuffer());
-  onLog?.(`Firmware: ${(uf2Data.length / 1024).toFixed(0)} KB\n\n`);
-
-  onLog?.('Select the RPI-RP2 drive in the folder picker.\n');
-  onLog?.('(Hold BOOTSEL while plugging in if the drive isn\'t visible.)\n\n');
-
-  let dirHandle;
-  try {
-    dirHandle = await window.showDirectoryPicker({ id: 'pico-flash', mode: 'readwrite' });
-  } catch (err) {
-    if (err.name === 'AbortError') throw new Error('Cancelled — no folder selected');
-    throw err;
-  }
-
-  onLog?.(`Writing firmware.uf2 to ${dirHandle.name} ...\n`);
-  const fileHandle = await dirHandle.getFileHandle('firmware.uf2', { create: true });
-  const writable = await fileHandle.createWritable();
-
-  const CHUNK = 64 * 1024;
-  let written = 0;
-  try {
-    while (written < uf2Data.length) {
-      const end = Math.min(written + CHUNK, uf2Data.length);
-      await writable.write({ type: 'write', position: written, data: uf2Data.slice(written, end) });
-      written = end;
-      onProgress?.(Math.round((written / uf2Data.length) * 95));
-    }
-    await writable.close();
-  } catch (err) {
-    if (written > 0 && written >= uf2Data.length) {
-      onLog?.('(Drive disconnected — Pico is rebooting with new firmware)\n');
-    } else {
-      throw err;
-    }
-  }
-
-  onProgress?.(100);
-  onLog?.('Done! The Pico will reboot automatically with MicroPython.\n');
+  await flashFileToDrive(onLog, onProgress, {
+    firmwareUrl: options.firmwareUrl,
+    outputName: 'firmware.uf2',
+    driveHint: 'RPI-RP2 drive',
+  });
+  onLog?.('The Pico will reboot automatically with MicroPython.\n');
 }

src/style.css

@@ -1287,7 +1287,8 @@ html, body {
 
 /* --- Hex Upload Overlay (Arduino) --- */
 #hex-upload-overlay,
-#esp32-flash-overlay {
+#esp32-flash-overlay,
+#microbit-flash-overlay {
   position: fixed;
   inset: 0;
   background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);
@@ -1299,7 +1300,8 @@ html, body {
 }
 
 #hex-upload-modal,
-#esp32-flash-modal {
+#esp32-flash-modal,
+#microbit-flash-modal {
   background: var(--bg-surface);
   border: 1px solid var(--border);
   border-radius: 12px;