The Adafruit Circuit Playground is an all-in-one board that has sensors and LEDs. It offers an excellent introduction to programming real hardware without having to have soldering skills. With the Circuit Playground Express, Adafruit is now delivering a board that can be programmed visually using Microsoft MakeCode using blocks and JavaScript (https://learn.adafruit.com/makecode) as well as using CircuitPython and the Arduino IDE.

A detailed guide to MakeCode, CircuitPython and Arduino can be found on the Adafruit website: https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-circuit-playground-express

The Circuit Playground Express has an ATSAMD21 ARM Cortex-M0 processor and has contact surfaces that are suitable for use with alligator clips. The board can be operated either via USB or via a rechargeable battery (e.g. LiPo).

Product features:

• 10 x mini NeoPixels, each can be controlled individually
• 1 x LIS3DH 3-axis accelerometer
• 1 x temperature sensor
• 1 x light sensor
• 1 x sound sensor / microphone
• 1 x mini speaker / buzzer
• 2 x buttons, left and right
• 1 x slide switch
• Infrared transmitter and receiver for receiving any remote control code, for transmitting messages between two Circuit Playground Express or for obstacle detection
• 8 x input and output contact surfaces for alligator clips with I2C, UART and eight ADC and PWM pins
• 7 contact surfaces can be used as capacitive touch inputs
• Green "ON" LED
• Red "# 13" LED
• Reset button
• ATSAMD21 ARM Cortex M0, operated at 3.3 V and 48 MHz
• 2 MB SPI flash memory for storing CircuitPython code and libraries
• MicroUSB port for programming and debugging
• The USB port can be used as a serial interface, keyboard, mouse, joystick or MIDI.