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Getting Started With Thonny

This page will go through the steps to get started using Thumby Color or the Thumby Color Dev Board using the Thonny IDE.

Installing the Thonny IDE

To edit code and upload files to your device, we'll use an application called Thonny.

Download and install Thonny for your platform here

Configuring Thonny

First, open Thonny using your OS application finder:

Next, go to Tools > Options > Interpreter:

Once in the Interpreter menu, set the following:

  • Which kind of interpreter should Thonny use for running your code? -> MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico)
  • Port of WebREPL -> < Try to detect port automatically >

Exit all of those windows and Thonny is ready to use!

Using Thonny

Connecting

Plug your Thumby Color or Thumby Color Dev Board into your computer with a USB-C cable. Turn the device on by looking at the screen and sliding the power switch to the right.

Now that the device is on, open Thonny and left-click the red stop sign symbol in the upper left-hand corner to connect the device. The Shell window at the bottom will show >>> meaning it is connected (if you do not see the Shell pane, go to View and check Shell).

Managing Files

File Panes

Inside Thonny, you will notice the two panes on the left show your computer files (upper left pane) and your device files (lower left pane). If you do not see the panes, go to View and check Files:

Uploading Files/Folders

In the lower left pane, double left-click folders to navigate until you reach a spot where you want upload a file or folder:

Now do the same in the upper left pane until you reach the file/folder you want to upload:

Right-click the item you want to upload and click Upload to /Games:

Wait while to upload transfers the files to the device:

After the transfer is complete, navigate back out of folders by pressing the blue links in the pane titles:

Downloading Files/Folders

The above works the opposite way: right-click files/folders in the lower left pane and click Download to

Deleting Files/Folders

Files and folders on the device can be deleted by right-clicking them in the lower left pane and choosing Delete

Creating Folders

In the lower left pane, right click anywhere and choose New Directory...