Getting Started with ACECode
Ⅰ.Introduction to ACECode
ACECode is a blockly programming tool that allows users to program by
dragging blocks without having to master complex programming languages.
ACECode covers all the functions of Scratch and adds a robot control module,
which allows users to design their own robot works using graphical
programming, reducing the difficulty of robot programming and development.
Ⅱ.Download and install ACECode
Step 1: Download the ACECode installation program from the official website.
Log in to the official website of ACECode:
https://www.acebott.com/pages/software, enter the software download
interface, select the ACECode software version for Windows system, and click
Download ACECode to download.
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Note: If you download a compressed package, please decompress it and then
proceed to the subsequent installation steps.
Step 2: Double-click the downloaded installer and follow the instructions to
install ACECode. Here we take the installation under Windows system as an
example for demonstration.
1.After the download is complete, the installation package file will appear as
shown in the figure. Click to install the software.
2.After clicking the software, the following interface will appear. Select "Install".
You can choose the default installation path or choose the software installation
route yourself.
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3.ACECode software is being installed.
4.The installation is complete.
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5.Find the shortcut of ACECode on the desktop and double-click to open
ACECode.
Step 3:Install the serial driver (skip it if installed)
1.Open ACECode, click on the serial port connection button, and in the pop-up
options, select "One-click to install serial driver." After clicking, it will
sequentially install the serial port drivers required for the two controller boards
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supported by ACECode, ESP8266 and ESP32.
2.Click "Next" based on the prompt.
3.After clicking "I accept this agreement" click "Next" again.
4.Click "Finish", the first driver installation is complete.
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5.Next, a pop-up window for the installation of the second driver will appear;
click "Install."
6.After the installation is completed, a message indicating that the installation
was successful will be displayed.
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7.To confirm whether the installation was successful, plug one end of the USB
cable into the ESP32 controller board and the other end into a USB port on the
computer. In ACECode, check the serial port connection button. At this point, a
new serial port will be added, representing the connected controller board. If
this happens, it indicates that the serial port driver has been successfully
installed.
Ⅲ.Online Mode and Upload Mode
Currently, ACECode supports two development modes: online mode and
upload mode. The online mode supports online debugging, which can debug
the program in real time, which is convenient and fast; the upload mode is to
upload the written program to the ESP32 (or other controller board) controller
board. After the upload is successful, the program can be run on the ESP32
without the computer (the controller board needs to be powered externally).
The following uses the ESP32 controller board as an example to demonstrate
how to use ACECode inonline mode and upload mode.
Step 1: Connect ACECode and ESP32 controller board
1.In the ACECode controller board list, select the ESP32 controller board. The
software selects ESP32 by default.
2.Find the serial communication connection button in the ACECode interface.
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The connection status of the serial communication will be displayed on the
button. Move the mouse to the serial communication connection button
position, and the information list of the serial communication port in the
computer will pop up automatically; when no device is detected, it will prompt
"No device were found".
3.When we connect ESP32 to the computer with a data cable, a new port
"COM18" will be added to the serial communication port information list. The
port number is random and will change according to the actual situation. Click
the newly added port to establish a communication connection between
ACECode and ESP32. After the connection is successful, the connection
status display on the connection button will switch from "Not connected" to the
information of the connected port.
Note:USB power supply may be insufficient, external power supply is required,
please connect ESP32 with sufficient power supply and turn on the power
switch.
Step 2: Online Mode
1.Write the following code in online mode to make the built-in LED light on
ESP32 flash.
Note:1.The LED light is integrated on the ESP32 controller board and
connected to I/O port 2. The effect of this instruction can make the LED light
flash for 1 second on and 1 second off.
2.ACECode Software upper left corner has search function, can use this
function to quickly find the required building block instructions.
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2.After writing, debug the code online. Click the code to run it. The code will
turn yellow, indicating that the code is running. The LED on the ESP32 will
repeatedly light up for 1 second and then go off for 1 second.Click on the code
again to stop running it.
Step 3: Upload Mode
1.After debugging is completed, switch to "upload mode" and change the
program startup command to "start the program". In "upload mode", you need
to use this command to start the program.
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2.At this point, you can see that in ACECode's "Upload Mode", the
corresponding C language code and Python code will be generated
synchronously to meet the different needs of users.
3.Click the "Upload" button to upload the program. When the upload progress
reaches 100%, it is successful. After the upload is successful, the program can
be run on the ESP32 controller board without the computer, that is, you can
unplug the data cable and let the program run independently on the ESP32
(connect the ESP32 to an external power supply).
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4.If the upload fails, you can debug according to the error prompt in the lower
right corner of the console. If prompted here, you can check whether
ACECode and ESP32 are connected.
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