Interface and Application Programming
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Group assignment
Compare as many tool options as possible.
Document your work on the group work page and reflect on your individual page what you learned.
About this week
Briefly describe the goal of the assignment. What are you characterizing, testing, or exploring
For our group assignment, we evaluated several approaches for creating interfaces to microcontrollers. After comparing multiple options, I (Thom) implemented a web-based dashboard approach using MicroPython and the Microdot framework.
Tools and materials used
List all the machines, software and materials used in this assigment.
Thom:
For the web dashboard implementation:
MicroPython programming language
Microdot web framework
HTML/CSS/JavaScript for frontend design
Raspberry Pi Pico W microcontroller
Push button (connected to GPIO 21)
Onboard LED for visual feedback
Web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) for interface access
Process and methodology
Describe step-by-step what the group did. Include sketches, screenshots, or videos if possible.
Thom:
My implementation uses the Microdot framework to create a lightweight web server ran via Thonny, on the Pico W that:
Sets up a WiFi access point named "fab" with password "classroom5"
Serves a responsive HTML/CSS/JS interface on port 80
Provides API endpoints for controlling the onboard LED (/on and /off)
Monitors the state of a physical button connected to GPIO 21
Updates the web interface in real-time when button state changes
Displays timestamps of button press events
Group conclusions
Findings: [What did you learn from the process?]
Challenges: [What issues did you encounter?]
Solutions: [How did you solve them?]
Thom: Approach Comparison
Web Dashboard (My Implementation)
Pros: - Device-agnostic - works on any device with a browser - Familiar HTML/CSS/JS technologies - No app installation required - Responsive design works on mobile and desktop
Cons: - Requires network connectivity - Higher resource usage on microcontroller - Limited to HTTP protocol without websockets
Best Use Cases: Ideal for local control systems, home automation interfaces, and projects where multiple users need access through different devices
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Command Line Interface Pros: - Minimal resource usage - Simple to implement - Scriptable and automatable
Cons: - Not user-friendly for non-technical users - Limited visual feedback - Requires terminal access
Best Use Cases: Development and debugging tools, headless systems, or scenarios with very limited resources
Files
Add all files created for this group assignment
See below link to to files created this week: Thom:
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