EV3 Basic: Getting Started

We show you how to download and install both Microsoft Small Basic and the EV3 extension, and how to write and run your first program. It should all take much less than an hour!

EV3 Basic is compatible with all the EV3 and NXT motors. Nine functions are available in EV3 Basic to control motors, but only four are needed by beginners.

EV3 Basic is compatible with all the standard EV3 and NXT sensors. This lecture explains how how to set the mode of the sensors and how to obtain values from the sensors using just three functions.

This video shows how to draw shapes on or send text and images to the EV3 brick's LCD screen, as well as control the brick's LED light and speaker. It also shows how to detect presses of the brick's buttons.

EV3 Basic programs can be run directly from within Small Basic, in which case the program is not downloaded to the brick. It is often preferable to download the program to the brick (like the standard Lego EV3 software does) and in this case it is necessary to use the companion program, EV3 Explorer. EV3 Explorer also converts (compiles) the Small Basic program into the form (called an RBF file) that the brick requires. Furthermore, EV3 Explorer allows you to download sound and image files to the brick for use with your EV3 Basic programs.

This lecture explains how to set up and use a wireless connection (Bluetooth or WiFi). For maximum convenience and reliability, use a USB cable connection whenever possible. If you need to use wireless then prefer Bluetooth to WiFi unless you need the extra range provided by WiFi. When using either form of wireless communication, it is strongly recommended to use brick mode rather than PC mode if possible (some programs use features of Small Basic that are not compatible with brick mode).

This lecture shows you how EV3 Basic can be used to solve some of the same challenges that are set in the education version of the standard EV3 software. This doesn't really do justice to EV3 Basic, since EV3 Basic is capable of making programs that it would be impossible to make with the standard software, so this section also introduces, in the form of a video lecture, a 'WriterBot' project that would be impossible to make with the standard software. Additional EV3 Basic solutions to the official Lego 'Robot Educator' challenges and a fuller explanation of the WriterBot project are available on my site EV3Basic.com from which this course was derived.

This video lecture showcases an EV3 Basic project, WriterBot, that would be impossible to make with the standard software (if you think that it IS possible, then I challenge you do so!). A fuller explanation of the WriterBot project is available on my site EV3Basic.com from which this course was derived.

This is the official EV3 Basic handbook or manual. If contains a description of every function that is available in the EV3 extension as well as descriptions of the 'Text' and 'Math' functions that are part of Small Basic but which are fully compatible with EV3 Basic, even in brick mode.