BETA: How to use Pybricks on SPIKE Prime and MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor

[laurensvalk]

By popular demand, we are now releasing the first beta of Pybricks for SPIKE Prime and MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor!

Try it out now! 🎉

How can I try Pybricks for SPIKE Prime and MINDSTORMS Robot Inventor?

1. Follow the steps on this page to install Pybricks.
   • This is a temporary page to simplify the installation process.
   • Eventually this will just be done via our main app. Please bear with us :-)
2. Start coding. It's the same as for the other hubs.
3. To restore the original firmware, see the instructions on the installation page.

What's working?

• Write and run code via the Pybricks editor.
• The program is saved on the hub when you run it. You can start it again with the center button.
• Faster program execution, and lots of RAM available for your scripts.
• Battery charging and low battery indicators are now working.
• You can access most hub features via the PrimeHub and InventorHub classes.
• You can use all motors, including SPIKE, MINDSTORMS, Technic and Powered Up.
• You can use all sensors, including SPIKE, MINDSTORMS, Technic and Powered Up.
• You can use the Powered Up Remote Control.
• And everything else listed in the docs: the pybricks API is the same for all hubs.
• Advanced users can also run programs from the command line or their favorite editor using pybricksdev.

What's still in progress?

• Automatic firmware updates within our main app. (V3.2)
• Editing and saving multiple scripts. (V3.2)
• Creating scripts with reusable modules. (V3.3 or later)
• Better sound support and better IMU support. (V3.3 or later)
• Hub-to-hub communication. (V3.3 or later)

What's the difference between the Prime Hub and the Inventor Hub?

• The color of the plastic casing.

How can I help?

Give it a try, and let us know what you think!

• If you think you've found a bug, please open a new issue.
• If you have any questions, please start a new discussion.
• If you just want to say "Yes, it works!!" please feel free to leave a comment here! 😄
• If you want to sponsor Pybricks, please have a look here.

What if I tried the alpha version previously?

No additional action is required. Just use the official SPIKE or MINDSTORMS app to install the latest official LEGO firmware, just like everybody else. Then you can run the Pybricks installer as indicated above. You may need to refresh the page to see the latest version.

Unlike the old alpha version, this beta no longer uses dual-boot to run Pybricks. Since restoring the original firmware takes just 30 seconds anyway, it's much simpler to just have one firmware. This way, all hubs work the same.

And of course, thanks a lot for trying this alpha and beta version! We really appreciate it.

[laurensvalk]

Comments with specific issues will be moved to separate thread so we can keep this easy to follow.

Thanks for your understanding!

[BertLindeman]

Did the install on win11 pro. Fine.

Ran a program using the IMU with tilt, acceleration and angular_velocity.
Did look OK.

Thanks!

[johnscary-ev3]

This is working great for me!
Now that the battery charging is included, the dual booting is not needed as much.
Although it was sort of cool.
The saved program run option is also a nice addition,
Thanks for getting this running.

[SpudGunMan]

no bueno here, install-dot crashed ungoogled chromium once but I thought this could work with newest firmware? do I still need to downgrade my hubs to put this on?

Getting firmware info.
Your hub runs LEGO Firmware version: b'v1.4.01.0000-594ce3d'
Your LEGO firmware version is not (yet) supported.
Please install one of the following versions and try again.

[dlech]

You need to clear your browser cache to get the latest page (opening in private window also works).

[SpudGunMan]

oh yea that helped. for sure the issue, worked perfect

[haylinmoore]

Any update on hub to hub communication?

[kmaar]

Thanks for your awesome work! I had Pybricks for my new Spike Prime working within 10mins. You rock! 🔥 🔥 🔥

[haylinmoore]

Got Spike with the Remote Control 88010 working wonderfully! Our students are very happy to finally have remote controllable Spike bots! Thank you

[dlech]

It is now possible to flash firmware to SPIKE and MINDSTORMS (RI-only) hubs in Pybricks Code v3.2.0b3 (Pybricks Beta v2.0.0-beta.4).

[BertLindeman]

Great work, David.

I only had to update my (Win11) usb driver for SpikePrime hub.
Firmware updates for various hubs now neatly in one place.
Especially Spike and Mindstorms hubs blazing fast.

Thank you Pybricks team.