I was one of the volunteers who contributed to the BBC micro:bit project under the auspices of the Python Software Foundation. I actually wrote the browser based editor and, like a conscientious developer, tested it on teachers. The feedback was pretty resounding: while the browser is convenient the limitations of not being able to connect to the MicroPython REPL, having to download a hex file, copy it to the device and wait in order to run your code was also a stumbling block.
It was a rainy Sunday afternoon and I asked myself, "how hard can it be to write a simple editor that was a native application so I could connect to the REPL and automate the flashing of the device?"
Fast forward a bit and Mu appeared, teachers used it with the micro:bit and started asking for it to be a "generic" editor for Python (not just micro:bit). The Raspberry Pi foundation's education team also wanted a generic Python editor based on the feedback they'd received from teachers and learners and so they supported me to make the editor modal (i.e. there's now Python3, PyGame, Adafruit and micro:bit modes) with a visual debugger for Python 3 mode.
So, be careful what you hack on a Sunday afternoon... I certainly wasn't expecting this to happen. ;-)
I was one of the volunteers who contributed to the BBC micro:bit project under the auspices of the Python Software Foundation. I actually wrote the browser based editor and, like a conscientious developer, tested it on teachers. The feedback was pretty resounding: while the browser is convenient the limitations of not being able to connect to the MicroPython REPL, having to download a hex file, copy it to the device and wait in order to run your code was also a stumbling block.
It was a rainy Sunday afternoon and I asked myself, "how hard can it be to write a simple editor that was a native application so I could connect to the REPL and automate the flashing of the device?"
Fast forward a bit and Mu appeared, teachers used it with the micro:bit and started asking for it to be a "generic" editor for Python (not just micro:bit). The Raspberry Pi foundation's education team also wanted a generic Python editor based on the feedback they'd received from teachers and learners and so they supported me to make the editor modal (i.e. there's now Python3, PyGame, Adafruit and micro:bit modes) with a visual debugger for Python 3 mode.
So, be careful what you hack on a Sunday afternoon... I certainly wasn't expecting this to happen. ;-)