Source: https://mokxi.com/learn/path/embedded-pico
Updated: 2026-11-11

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# Embedded on the Raspberry Pi Pico

A dual core Cortex-M0+ at 125 MHz. PWM on every pin, a 64 bit clock, and pins that do not forgive 5 V.

Raspberry Pi Pico Free 7 lessons 6 h 4 chapters 1,964 XP Embedded engineering · Intermediate +150 XP

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Start the course free First light on the Pico Lesson plan for teachers

What you will build

## 3 projects, built step by step

7 lessons in 4 chapters, about 6 hours on a simulated Raspberry Pi Pico. Free, in your browser, every step checked by the simulator.

Chapter 1 project

### Reading a pin

A button on GP15 with the pad pull-up on, a lamp on GP14, and the pad configuration that sits under one line of Arduino code.
Open it in the simulator

Chapter 2 project

### PWM on any pin

Every GPIO on this chip has a PWM channel, which is unusual. Slices, channels, and what the divider is actually doing.
Open it in the simulator

Chapter 3 project

### Timing without delay

The chaser is written with delays, so it can do nothing else. Rewrite it around the microsecond timer and it can do anything.
Open it in the simulator

The map

## Chapter by chapter

Each lesson opens when the one before it is done, and each chapter ends in a project.

Chapter 1

## The board

Drive a pin, read a pin, and learn what this chip will not tolerate.

Open 200 XP

### First light on the Pico

An LED on GP15, a second one inside the module, and a board that keeps its program in a separate flash chip. Where the RP2040 is different.

0 of 6 steps

Start What is in it

Project Locked 400 XP

### Reading a pin

A button on GP15 with the pad pull-up on, a lamp on GP14, and the pad configuration that sits under one line of Arduino code.

0 of 6 steps

Chapter 2

## More than one of everything

Six lamps from an array, and PWM on any pin you like.

Locked 200 XP

### Six pins and an array

A dot sweeping along six LEDs, driven from a list of pin numbers. Arrays, loop bounds, and where the idea stops scaling.

0 of 6 steps

Project Locked 400 XP

### PWM on any pin

Every GPIO on this chip has a PWM channel, which is unusual. Slices, channels, and what the divider is actually doing.

0 of 6 steps

Chapter 3

## Talking and timing

The monitor both ways, and a loop that never waits.

Locked 200 XP

### The board talks and listens

UART0, the monitor, and an echo. The one debugging tool you always have, and what it costs to use it.

0 of 6 steps

Project Locked 364 XP

### Timing without delay

The chaser is written with delays, so it can do nothing else. Rewrite it around the microsecond timer and it can do anything.

0 of 6 steps

Chapter 4

## Make it yours

A blank page, six lamps and a way to measure what you built.

Locked 200 XP

### Project: make the sweep yours

Six lamps and a blank page. Change the pattern, count the passes, report them, and measure how long your own loop takes.

0 of 6 steps

Syllabus

## Every lesson in the course

All 7 lessons, in order, each with what it covers. Any of them opens in the editor right away.

Chapter 1

### The board

- First light on the Pico An LED on GP15, a second one inside the module, and a board that keeps its program in a separate flash chip. Where the RP2040 is different.
- Reading a pin A button on GP15 with the pad pull-up on, a lamp on GP14, and the pad configuration that sits under one line of Arduino code.

Chapter 2

### More than one of everything

- Six pins and an array A dot sweeping along six LEDs, driven from a list of pin numbers. Arrays, loop bounds, and where the idea stops scaling.
- PWM on any pin Every GPIO on this chip has a PWM channel, which is unusual. Slices, channels, and what the divider is actually doing.

Chapter 3

### Talking and timing

- The board talks and listens UART0, the monitor, and an echo. The one debugging tool you always have, and what it costs to use it.
- Timing without delay The chaser is written with delays, so it can do nothing else. Rewrite it around the microsecond timer and it can do anything.

Chapter 4

### Make it yours

- Project: make the sweep yours Six lamps and a blank page. Change the pattern, count the passes, report them, and measure how long your own loop takes.

Keep going

## The next course on your track

Embedded on the Raspberry Pi Pico is part of the embedded track, a ladder of courses from zero to expert.

Next course

### MicroPython on the Pico

Real Python on a Raspberry Pi Pico: blink and the REPL, buttons and if, loops and PWM, a knob on the ADC, lists and functions on an LED bar, an OLED on I2C, and a reaction game boss.
Open the next course

Track

### Embedded track

Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi Pico and STM32: pins, timing, buses, motors, WiFi, registers and debugging, every lesson checked on a simulated board.
See every course on the track

Kits

## Build it on your bench too

Every lesson runs in the simulator with nothing to buy. When you want the real thing, these kits have the parts.

Have a kit already?

### Find your kit

Pick the starter kit you own and run every lesson in its manual with the same parts on the same pins.
See every kit

Questions

## About Embedded on the Raspberry Pi Pico

Is Embedded on the Raspberry Pi Pico free?

Yes. All 7 lessons of Embedded on the Raspberry Pi Pico are free and run in your browser, with nothing to install and no parts to buy before you start.

Do I need a real Raspberry Pi Pico?

No. Every lesson runs on a simulated Raspberry Pi Pico with its parts on the canvas, and the simulator checks each step as you go. When you want to build it for real, the same wiring and code work on a real board.

How long does Embedded on the Raspberry Pi Pico take?

About 6 hours: 7 lessons in 4 chapters, each one a few short steps. Your progress is kept, so you can stop after any lesson and pick up where you left off.

What will I build?

Each chapter ends in a project that puts it together: Reading a pin, PWM on any pin and Timing without delay.

Where do I start?

With "First light on the Pico", and each lesson builds on the one before it. New to circuits? Electronics basics is the course that starts from zero.
