Skip to content

Chapters

This textbook is organized into 20 chapters covering 485 concepts across all topics in the Moving Rainbow course.

Chapter Overview

  1. Introduction and Computational Thinking Foundations — Introduces the four computational thinking pillars—decomposition, pattern recogn...
  2. Python Basics: Variables, Data Types, and Operators — Covers Python's core building blocks: variables and assignment, all fundamental ...
  3. Python Functions, Modules, and Programming Best Practices — Teaches function definition, parameters, return values, variable scope, the DRY ...
  4. Python Control Flow, Loops, and Error Handling — Covers conditional statements (if/elif/else), for and while loops, loop control ...
  5. Raspberry Pi Pico Hardware and Development Environment — Introduces the RP2040 microcontroller, GPIO pins, MicroPython firmware, Thonny I...
  6. MicroPython APIs, GPIO Control, and Electrical Fundamentals — Covers the machine.Pin, PWM, ADC, utime, urandom, and neopixel MicroPython APIs ...
  7. Color Theory: The RGB Color Model and Color Mixing — Explores the RGB additive color model, primary light colors, the color wheel, sp...
  8. NeoPixel LED Hardware: WS2812B, Wiring, and Form Factors — Covers WS2812B integrated circuits, addressable LED technology, single-wire seri...
  9. NeoPixel Programming: Pixels, Colors, and the NeoPixel Library — Teaches the NeoPixel class: pixel indexing, RGB tuple format, strip.write(), 24-...
  10. Advanced Color Theory: HSV, Gamma Correction, and Color Palettes — Introduces the HSV color space, gamma correction for perceptual accuracy, gamma ...
  11. Mathematics for LED Programming — Covers the mathematical concepts powering LED effects: modulo arithmetic, linear...
  12. Basic LED Animation Patterns — Implements the first wave of animation effects—blink, rainbow, moving rainbow, r...
  13. Intermediate Animation Techniques — Covers fade in/out, theater chase, ripple, bounce, random walk, brightness scali...
  14. Advanced Animation Patterns: Comet, Scanner, and Candle — Teaches the most complex animation effects—heartbeat, Larson scanner, comet tail...
  15. Electronics Fundamentals: Resistance, Ohm's Law, and Components — Covers resistance, Ohm's Law, complete circuit paths, short and open circuits, p...
  16. Circuit Assembly: Resistors, Transistors, and Circuit Types — Builds on electronics theory with transistor switch circuits, transistor current...
  17. Power Systems, Batteries, and Energy Management — Covers all battery types (coin cell, AA, AAA, 9V, USB power bank, LiPo, 18650), ...
  18. Input Devices, Sensors, and State Machines — Teaches momentary push button wiring, GPIO input mode, pull-up and pull-down con...
  19. Interactive Animations and Development Tools — Connects input and animation by implementing mode-based, button-triggered, photo...
  20. Project Design, Capstone Projects, and Presentation — Covers the complete project lifecycle from ideation and requirements specificati...

How to Use This Textbook

Each chapter builds on the previous ones — concepts introduced early reappear in later chapters as prerequisites. Work through chapters in order, particularly for the first half of the book (Python fundamentals → Pico hardware → NeoPixel → color → animation). The electronics chapters (15–17) and project design chapter (20) can be revisited at any point once you have the core programming skills.

Note: Each chapter lists all concepts covered. Complete prerequisite chapters before advancing to topics that depend on earlier material.