00 — Blocks Example

The same PetBot as the extension version, but rebuilt entirely out of standard MakeCode blocks. Open it in MakeCode and click “Blocks” to see how every behavior is assembled — the wellbeing system, the face, the idle loop, and all the activities.

Use it to invent your own behaviors: copy a function, swap the icons, sounds, and robot moves, then wire it to a button.

Try It

Press Edit to open in MakeCode, or Run to try it in the simulator right here:

Open in MakeCode

What the Code Does

Wellbeing system: The pet has a wellbeing score (0–100) that starts at 50. It slowly drops by 1 every 2 seconds in the idle loop. Each activity changes it — some boost wellbeing, others drain it.

The face: The idle loop picks an icon based on the current wellbeing:

Wellbeing	Face
75–100	Fabulous
50–74	Slight smile
20–49	Sad
0–19	Angry
Sleeping	Asleep

Button map:

Input	Button	Function	Wellbeing Effect
Forward (P13)	⬆️	`goRun()` — hearts, chase music, random driving	+10
Reverse (P14)	⬇️	`goSleep()` — lullaby, asleep face	+20
Right turn (P15)	↪️	`textFriend()` — says hello, little dance, heart	+15
Stop (P9)	⏹️	`scrollSocialMedia()` — flashing text, noisy	-15
Left turn (P16)	↩️	`playGame()` — dodge the wall, A/B to move	+1 per wave, -10 on game over
Play (P8)	▶️	`seekFriend()` — radio hello to nearby pets	+5
Menu (P5)	⚪	`showStats()` — shows wellbeing as a number	—
Screen face-down	—	Wake up animation	—
Radio received	—	Giggle + react to a friend’s hello	+20

Code

function showStats () {
    busy = true
    basic.showNumber(wellbeing)
    basic.pause(3000)
    basic.clearScreen()
    busy = false
}
function goRun () {
    busy = true
    for (let index = 0; index < 2; index++) {
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Heart)
        basic.pause(500)
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.SmallHeart)
        basic.pause(500)
    }
    music.play(music.builtInPlayableMelody(Melodies.Chase), music.PlaybackMode.InBackground)
    for (let index = 0; index < 4; index++) {
        roversa.driveForwards(randint(500, 1500))
        if (Math.randomBoolean()) {
            roversa.right()
        } else {
            roversa.left()
        }
    }
    music.stopAllSounds()
    changeWellbeing(10)
    busy = false
}
function scrollSocialMedia () {
    busy = true
    texts = [
    "Like!",
    "50% OFF",
    "Follow!",
    "Share!",
    "LOL",
    "OMG",
    "VIRAL!"
    ]
    for (let index = 0; index < 2; index++) {
        music.play(music.builtInPlayableMelody(Melodies.BaDing), music.PlaybackMode.UntilDone)
        basic.showString("" + (texts[randint(0, texts.length - 1)]))
    }
    basic.clearScreen()
    changeWellbeing(-15)
    busy = false
}
input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, function () {
    if (gameRunning && birdX > 0) {
        birdX += -1
    }
})
roversa.onEvent(RoversaPin.P16, RoversaEvent.Click, function () {
    playGame()
})
roversa.onEvent(RoversaPin.P9, RoversaEvent.Click, function () {
    scrollSocialMedia()
})
function changeWellbeing (amount: number) {
    wellbeing = Math.constrain(wellbeing + amount, 0, 100)
}
function goSleep (sleeping: boolean) {
    busy = true
    for (let index = 0; index < 2; index++) {
        basic.showLeds(`
            . . . . .
            . # . # .
            . . . . .
            . # # # .
            . . . . .
            `)
        basic.pause(400)
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Asleep)
        basic.pause(400)
    }
    music.play(music.builtInPlayableMelody(Melodies.Blues), music.PlaybackMode.InBackground)
    changeWellbeing(20)
    basic.showIcon(IconNames.Asleep)
    basic.pause(5000)
    busy = false
}
function seekFriend () {
    busy = true
    for (let index = 0; index < 3; index++) {
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Heart)
        basic.pause(300)
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.QuarterNote)
        basic.pause(300)
    }
    radio.sendString("hey!")
    basic.showIcon(IconNames.Target)
    basic.pause(1000)
    basic.clearScreen()
    changeWellbeing(5)
    busy = false
}
roversa.onEvent(RoversaPin.P13, RoversaEvent.Click, function () {
    goRun()
})
function playGame () {
    busy = true
    gameRunning = true
    birdX = 2
    obstacleY = 4
    gapX = randint(0, 4)
    while (gameRunning) {
        basic.clearScreen()
        led.plot(birdX, 0)
        for (let x = 0; x <= 4; x++) {
            if (x != gapX) {
                led.plot(x, obstacleY)
            }
        }
        basic.pause(700)
        obstacleY += -1
        if (obstacleY == 0) {
            if (birdX != gapX) {
                gameRunning = false
                basic.clearScreen()
                basic.showString("GAME OVER")
                changeWellbeing(-10)
            } else {
                changeWellbeing(1)
                obstacleY = 4
                gapX = randint(0, 4)
            }
        }
    }
    basic.clearScreen()
    busy = false
}
function textFriend () {
    busy = true
    basic.showString("Hello!")
    roversa.turnRight(45)
    roversa.backward()
    roversa.turnLeft(45)
    basic.showString(". . .")
    music.play(music.builtInPlayableMelody(Melodies.Ringtone), music.PlaybackMode.InBackground)
    basic.showIcon(IconNames.Heart)
    basic.pause(2000)
    music.stopAllSounds()
    changeWellbeing(15)
    busy = false
}
input.onGesture(Gesture.ScreenDown, function () {
    for (let index = 0; index < 2; index++) {
        basic.showLeds(`
            . . . . .
            . # . # .
            . . . . .
            . # # # .
            . . . . .
            `)
        basic.pause(400)
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Asleep)
        basic.pause(400)
    }
    sleeping = false
})
radio.onReceivedString(function (receivedString) {
    if (!(busy)) {
        busy = true
        music.play(music.builtinPlayableSoundEffect(soundExpression.giggle), music.PlaybackMode.UntilDone)
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Rabbit)
        changeWellbeing(20)
        basic.pause(2000)
        basic.clearScreen()
        busy = false
    }
})
input.onButtonPressed(Button.B, function () {
    if (gameRunning && birdX < 4) {
        birdX += 1
    }
})
roversa.onEvent(RoversaPin.P14, RoversaEvent.Click, function () {
    sleeping = true
    goSleep(sleeping)
})
roversa.onEvent(RoversaPin.P8, RoversaEvent.Click, function () {
    if (gameRunning == false) {
        seekFriend()
    }
})
roversa.onEvent(RoversaPin.P5, RoversaEvent.Click, function () {
    showStats()
})
roversa.onEvent(RoversaPin.P15, RoversaEvent.Click, function () {
    textFriend()
})
function showFace () {
    if (sleeping) {
        basic.showIcon(IconNames.Asleep)
    } else {
        if (wellbeing < 20) {
            basic.showIcon(IconNames.Angry)
        } else if (wellbeing < 50) {
            basic.showIcon(IconNames.Sad)
        } else if (wellbeing < 75) {
            basic.showLeds(`
                . . . . .
                . # . # .
                . . . . .
                . . . . #
                . # # # .
                `)
        } else {
            basic.showIcon(IconNames.Fabulous)
        }
    }
}
let sleeping = false
let gapX = 0
let gameRunning = false
let texts: string[] = []
let busy = false
let obstacleY = 0
let birdX = 0
let wellbeing = 0
wellbeing = 50
birdX = 2
obstacleY = 4
radio.setGroup(1)
wellbeing = 50
showFace()
basic.forever(function () {
    if (!(busy)) {
        showFace()
        changeWellbeing(-1)
    }
    basic.pause(2000)
})

Learning Goals

See how a virtual pet is built from standard MakeCode blocks — no hidden extension code
Understand the wellbeing system: how activities change the score and how the face reflects it
Modify and extend behaviors: copy a function, change the icons/sounds/moves, wire it to a button
Learn event-driven programming, state management, and the idle loop pattern

Concepts Covered

Variables and state (wellbeing, busy, sleeping, gameRunning)
Functions for organizing behaviors
Event handlers (button presses, gestures, radio)
Conditional logic (face thresholds, game collision)
Radio communication between micro:bits
Constrained values (Math.constrain for 0–100 range)