micro:coin

How does a micro:bit make coins?

Each micro:bit contains a blockchain, a sequence of blocks (in this case, chunks of information not blocks of a program), that is public and can’t be modified. Each block represents a coin. The process of making coins is called mining. To mine new coins, the user shakes the micro:bit and, if they are in luck, their coin is added to the chain as a new block! Once the block is added, it is broadcasted to the other micro:bit (the block chain is public and can’t be modified so it’s ok to share it). Other micro:bits receive the block, validate the transaction and update their block chain as needed.

Coins, blocks, chains

A blockchain is a list of blocks that record transactions of a crypto-currency like BitCoin. A block might contain information like the time it was created (mined) and who mined it. The most important part of the block is it’s hash. This is a special number made from the information in the last block of the block list combined with the hash number of previous block in the list. The new block contains information for the current transaction and this new hash number. The new block is added to the list of previous blocks. This list is then transmitted to the crypto currency network. It’s really hard (like impossible) to tamper or forge a hash which allows the blockchain to be transmitted publicly.

Start mining

Pressing A shows the number of blocks you added to the chain, that’s your score. Pressing B shows you the length of the chain.

Happy mining!

Code

The code uses blocks from the radio-blockchain extension. Before you edit the code, add this extension:

1. Click on Advanced, then Extensions
2. Search for blockchain and add radio-blockchain

// shaking is mining...
input.onGesture(Gesture.Shake, function () {
    led.stopAnimation()
    basic.clearScreen()
    basic.pause(200) // display a short pause
    if (randint(0, 2) == 0) { // 30% chances to add a transaction
        // we found a coin!!!
        blockchain.addBlock(1);
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Diamond);
    } else {
        // missed!
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Asleep);
    }
})

// show my coins
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, function () {
    led.stopAnimation()
    let coins = blockchain.valuesFrom(blockchain.id()).length;
    basic.showNumber(coins);
    basic.showString("COINS");
})

// show the block chain size
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, function () {
    led.stopAnimation()
    basic.showNumber(blockchain.length());
    basic.showString("BLOCKS");
})

// instructions on how to play
basic.showString("A=COINS B=CHAIN SHAKE=MINE")

How does the blockchain code work?

The radio-blockchain package uses radio to transmit blocks between micro:bits. You can see how this package works by reading the JavaScript sources at https://github.com/microsoft/pxt-radio-blockchain. To go right to the blockchain code, see this file:

main.ts - contains the complete JavaScript source for the blockchain. Have a good read!

References

• “A blockchain in 200 lines of code”. medium.com.
• “Let’s Build the Tiniest Blockchain”. medium.com.
• “How does the blockchain work?”. medium.com.

radio
radio-blockchain=github:Microsoft/pxt-radio-blockchain#v0.1.4