Pico GPIO control with JavaScript

Les Pounder strays from Python to show us that JavaScript, the language of the web, is a viable Pico alternative.

- Les Pounder

Think Raspberry Pi Pico, think Python, right? That is generally the case. Be it MicroPython or CircuitPython, most makers go for this easy-to-understand language. There are alternatives C and Arduino are incredibly useful given the Pico's low power. But did you know that JavaScript is also a viable language? In this tutorial, we introduce Kaluma (https:// kalumajs.org), a JavaScript framework for the Pi Pico. Via three quick projects, we'll demonstrate what can be done with this rather lovely language.

The install process for Kaluma is simple, but it requires a few steps before we can write code to the Raspberry Pi Pico. Our first step is to install Node.js and npm on our system. We are using a fresh install of Ubuntu 22.04. Open a terminal and first update the APT repositories:

$ sudo apt update

Now install Node.js, followed by the node package manager (NPM):

$ sudo apt install nodejs 

$ sudo apt install npm

Using Ubuntu, install the Kaluma command line interface (CLI). This is our tool to write code to the Pico.

$ npm install @kaluma/cli

While holding the BOOTSEL button, connect your Raspberry Pi Pico to your computer. A new drive, RPI-RP2, appears. Open a web browser and visit https://kalumajs.org/download. Frtom there click on Download .UF2. Now copy the downloaded UF2 file to the RPI-RP2 drive. This writes the Kaluma JavaScript firmware to the Pico's onboard storage.