littleBits Codebit

The codeBit is a tiny computer that acts like a brain for your littleBits circuits and allows you to send code from your computer to your codeBit so you can program your own circuits.

Just as our brain receives information from our senses, the codeBit receives data from the input Bits, like a button or a light sensor, that are attached to its IN 1, IN 2, and IN 3 bitSnaps. The codeBit uses the data it collected and the code you wrote to calculate things or make decisions. Then, it can respond by sending output signals to output Bits, like an RGB LED or a buzzer, that are attached to the OUT 1, OUT 2, and OUT 3 bitSnaps.

Use the littleBits Fuse App to create code and upload it to your codeBit. The Fuse app is web-based and can be accessed at https://fuse.littlebits.com/

How the codeBit works

The codeBit has 3 bitSnaps that can receive information from the world around you (inputs) and 3 bitSnaps that you can use to send information from the codeBit (outputs).

The OUT 1 BitSnap is the only BitSnap on the codeBit that can send serial data to the LED matrix Bit. Serial communication is made up of a series of ‘on’ and ‘off’ signals and allows you to send complex information, like scrolling text and images, to other devices and Bits like the LED matrix Bit. So, if you are sending images or scrolling text to your LED matrix, make sure you've connected it to OUT 1 on your codeBit.

If you are planning to send tones to your speaker Bit, be sure to connect your speaker to either the OUT 2 or OUT 3 bitSnaps on your codeBit.

Use the littleBits Fuse App to create code and upload it to your codeBit. The Fuse app is web-based and can be accessed at https://fuse.littlebits.com/

Select the CONNECT codeBit button in the app to connect your codeBit to your computer and upload code. 

There is only one button on the codeBit and it is the restart button. You can use this button to do the following things:

• Make your code start over from the beginning by pressing and releasing the restart button.
• Hold the restart button down for 10 seconds to restore the codeBit to factory settings, sending it into service mode. To exit service mode, disconnect and reconnect your codeBit to power. Note: this will erase any previously uploaded code.

Geek Speak: the codeBit

• Weak 9V batteries could cause code not to transfer to the codeBit via BLE. 
• Windows, make sure the Bluetooth is turned on. If you do not see the "on" switch then your device does not have native bluetooth which means the codeBit will not work.