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DUELink Holiday Tree

This page is a Getting Started page for DUELink Holiday Tree. The full product details are here on the main DUELink website. Are you an educator? See how DUELink can help you here.

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Slide the two circuit boards together, ensure that the X connector on both boards is on the same side.

Assemble Tree

Connect the two X connectors using the included DUELink cable.

x

Power up the tree using a PC, phone charger, or power bank and enjoy the preloaded demo. Then use any computer to load one of the demo projects below as is, or change it any way you like!

To load a project: Click ➡ Connect ➡ Run!

  1. Click on one of the project links below to load it into MicroBlocks. We explain what MicroBlocks is later on this page.
  2. Click Connect on the top right corner. Then select the USB option. From the new window, select DUELink.
    1. While not likely to happen, if you do not see a DUELink device, then you need to reload the MicroBlocks firmware. This is explained later on this page.
  3. Click the Run triangle ▶ and enjoy! 🎉Congratulations, you are now a coder!
📽 Video Project Link Functionality
Default Project Demo Default Project Demo This is default project demo. Press the LDR button to jingle again.
Default Project Demo Random Light Show Simplest program to blink the LEDs randomly.
Default Project Demo Pulsating Star The top emitting star is too bright, don't stare at it!
Default Project Demo Shooting Star Lights go up the tree, all the way to the star!
Default Project Demo Spaceship Rotate on all sides and make a buzzing noise. We call this a tree spaceship!
Default Project Demo Twinkle Push the LDR button to play some "Twinkle" notes!
Snowy Daisylink! Control any other daisylinked modules, such as Snowy. Note that any Daisylinked module must be loaded with the provided DUELink firmware and the module's driver.

What is MicroBlocks?

If you want to learn coding the easy way, MicroBlocks is a block-based language that is easy for beginners (9 years to adults) to program DUELink boards. A huge benefit of MicroBlocks is that it is live and interactive; users can click commands to see what they do and they can test their scripts as they work.

Learn more about DUELink’s MicroBlocks support.

Beyond MicroBlocks

languages

All DUELink boards work with a variety of coding languages, such as Python and JavaScript. Fire up your favorite IDE and start coding away!

arduino

Using Arduino is another great option. The Arduino IDE can be used to write programs that run right on any DUELink module. Daisylink can also be used to control other modules through the downlink connector.

Connect with us!

The Holiday Tree is possible because of our DUELink technology. But what is DUELink? Click here to learn more.

Join our newsletter and social channels here.

We are also on the DUELink section on our forums.

Reload MicroBlocks Firmware

In the unlikely event that MicroBlocks software is not seeing your device, then you need to follow these steps:

  1. There are 2 buttons found on the board, Loader (LDR) and Reset (RST). Locate the buttons.
  2. Press and hold the LDR button while pressing and releasing RST button. Note how you need to keep holding the LDR button pressed while pressing and releasing the RST button.
  3. Go to console.duelink.com and click Firmware on the top menu.
  4. Click Connect button. You should see DFU in FS Mode - Paired. Select it and click Connect.
  5. Select MicroBlocks from the Firmware menu.
  6. Click Load button. You can optionally click Erase All first for a complete fresh start!
  7. Click Close.

The board is now loaded with MicroBlocks firmware, which is what the MicroBlocks software uses to communicate with the board.

The “Making of” Videos

Curious on how products are developed? Here are some videos of us working on this design:

📽 Video Description
Designing the tree Designing the Holiday Tree. Going from an idea to an actual product.
Manufacturing the tree Manufacturing the Holiday Tree. Going from a raw PCB to a working product.
Troubleshooting the tree Troubleshooting the Holiday Tree. Things don’t usually just work the first time!
The cutest tree The cutest Holiday Tree by Selena, how Ghizzy came about, and partnering up with MicroBlocks.
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