4_12 Press for Random Rainbow Color

Press for Random Rainbow Color

Code

The code in the editor below is ready to run! Plug Code Lab Mini in to your computer's USB port, make sure that your Code Lab Mini Rainbow Add-On (sold separately) is attached, and hit 'Upload Your Code!' to see what it does. Change something in the code, like a delay or pin number. Try to add something new to the program - it's yours to tinker with! You can always press the 'Restore' button to return the code to the working example.

If you haven't set up your Code Lab Mini Rainbow Add-On yet, visit Chapter 0 to watch a video showing you how to do that.

Restore 12 14 18 24 30

Monitor Upload Your Code!

/* Turn Code Lab Mini's entire LED rainbow a random color when you press a button */ #include "LEDStrip.h" //The LEDStrip.h library gives your code access to special functions exclusive to the LED Pixels LEDStrip rainbow = LEDStrip(15, 13, A5); //Set up the strip by defining how many pixels (15) and where it's connected to Code Lab Mini (always 13 and A5) void setup() { pinMode(4,INPUT_PULLUP); //button } void loop() { if(digitalRead(4)==LOW){ //if button 4 is pressed... rainbow.setPixel(rainbow.ALL,random(0,300)); //Set the entire rainbow (rainbow.ALL) to a random color including 0-299 rainbow.draw(); //send the setPixel data to the rainbow to be displayed delay(250); //delay 250 milliseconds so the 'if' statement isn't checked again before you release the button } } // (c) 2023 Let's Start Coding. License: www.letsstartcoding.com/bsdlicense

 

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Success!

Compile errors:

Serial port monitor: Input: Send Close

 

Walkthrough Video

Watch the video for a line-by-line explanation of how the example program works. Then you'll be ready to make some changes of your own!

LED Pixel Color Spectrum

Use this spectrum to estimate the color values you'll need for your 'setPixel' arguments to achieve your favorite color!

Challenges

Can you complete the challenges? Change the code in your code editor above. Upload your code to see the effect when you're finished. Complete a challenge? Check it off the list!

Delete the delay(250); code inside the void loop. Predict what will happen when you upload it, then see if you’re right!

Change the first argument of the setPixel function so that instead of turning all of the pixels to a random color, this program only changes one pixel to a new random color.

Building on the last challenge, copy/paste the wings.setPixel function inside the ‘if’ statement and change the argument that determines which pixel is lit up. Now you can have multiple pixels on the strip that change color when the button is pressed. Here’s an example of what that might look like:
rainbow.setPixel(0,random(0,300));
rainbow.setPixel(1,random(0,300));
rainbow.setPixel(2,random(0,300));