---
name: badger-2350-dev
description: Development environment setup and workflow for Universe 2025 (Tufty) Badge with MonaOS. Use when setting up the badge, flashing firmware, debugging, or working with the development toolchain.
---

# Universe 2025 Badge Development

Help develop, flash, and debug applications for the Universe 2025 (Tufty) Badge and its **MonaOS** launcher system.

## Important: MonaOS & API

The Universe 2025 Badge uses:
- **MonaOS**: Built-in app launcher that auto-discovers apps in `/system/apps/` directory
- **badgeware Module**: Custom API with screen, brushes, shapes, io, Image, PixelFont
- **Display**: 160x120 framebuffer (pixel-doubled to 320x240)
- **App Structure**: Apps are **directories** containing `__init__.py`, `icon.png`, and optional `assets/`
- **Entry Point**: Apps must implement `update()` function called every frame

When developing MonaOS apps:
1. Use the `badgeware` module API
2. Create app as directory with `__init__.py` and `icon.png`
3. Install to `/system/apps/my_app/` directory
4. HOME button exits to menu automatically
5. Default menu shows 6 apps - enable pagination for more

## Board Specifications

- **Processor**: RP2350 dual-core ARM Cortex-M33 @ 200MHz
- **Memory**: 512KB SRAM, 16MB QSPI XiP flash
- **Display**: 320x240 full-color IPS (160x120 framebuffer pixel-doubled)
- **Connectivity**: 2.4GHz WiFi, Bluetooth 5
- **Power**: USB-C charging, 1000mAh rechargeable battery (up to 8 hours runtime)
- **Special Features**: IR receiver/transmitter, 4-zone LED backlight
- **Buttons**: 5 front-facing (A, B, C, UP, DOWN) + HOME button
- **Expansion**: 4 GPIO pins, Qw/ST and SWD ports
- **Primary Language**: MicroPython with badgeware module + MonaOS

## Development Setup

### 1. Install toolchain

For MicroPython development:
```bash
# Install Thonny IDE (recommended for beginners)
brew install --cask thonny

# Or install command-line tools
pip install esptool adafruit-ampy mpremote
```

For C++ development:
```bash
# Install Pico SDK
git clone https://github.com/raspberrypi/pico-sdk.git
export PICO_SDK_PATH=/path/to/pico-sdk
```

### 2. Connect to the badge

```bash
# List connected devices
ls /dev/tty.usb*

# Connect via serial (MicroPython REPL)
screen /dev/tty.usbmodem* 115200
# Exit screen: Ctrl+A then K
```

### 3. Flash firmware

```bash
# Put badge in bootloader mode (hold BOOT button, press RESET)

# Flash MicroPython firmware
esptool.py --port /dev/tty.usbmodem* write_flash 0x0 firmware.uf2
```

## Common Development Tasks

### Test app temporarily (doesn't save)
```bash
mpremote connect /dev/tty.usbmodem* run my_app/__init__.py
```

### Install MonaOS app using USB Mass Storage Mode

**⚠️ CRITICAL**: `/system/apps/` is READ-ONLY via mpremote. You MUST use USB Mass Storage Mode to install apps.

```bash
# Step 1: Enter Mass Storage Mode
# - Press RESET button TWICE quickly (double-click)
# - Badge appears as "BADGER" drive

# Step 2: Copy app to badge
# macOS/Linux:
cp -r my_app /Volumes/BADGER/apps/

# Windows:
xcopy my_app D:\apps\my_app\ /E /I

# Step 3: Exit Mass Storage Mode
# - Eject BADGER drive safely
diskutil eject /Volumes/BADGER  # macOS
# - Press RESET once to reboot

# Your app now appears in MonaOS launcher!
```

**File System Mapping**:
- `/Volumes/BADGER/apps/` → `/system/apps/` on badge
- `/Volumes/BADGER/assets/` → `/system/assets/` on badge

### List MonaOS apps (read-only view)
```bash
mpremote connect /dev/tty.usbmodem* ls /system/apps
```

**⚠️ Note**: Install the paginated menu for unlimited apps (default shows 6):
- Download: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/badger/home/refs/heads/main/badge/apps/menu/__init__.py
- Replace `/Volumes/BADGER/apps/menu/__init__.py` in Mass Storage Mode

### List files in writable storage
```bash
mpremote connect /dev/tty.usbmodem* ls /storage
```

### Download file from badge
```bash
mpremote connect /dev/tty.usbmodem* cp :/system/apps/my_app/__init__.py local_backup.py
```

## Project Structure

MonaOS app structure on your computer:
```
my_app/               # MonaOS app directory
├── __init__.py       # Entry point with update() function (required)
├── icon.png          # 24x24 PNG icon for launcher (required)
├── assets/           # Optional: app resources (auto-added to path)
│   ├── sprites.png
│   ├── font.ppf
│   └── data.json
└── README.md         # Optional: app documentation
```

Multiple apps in development:
```
badge-project/
├── my_app/           # First MonaOS app
│   ├── __init__.py
│   └── icon.png
├── game_app/         # Second MonaOS app
│   ├── __init__.py
│   ├── icon.png
│   └── assets/
│       └── sprites.png
├── requirements.txt  # Python tools
└── deploy.sh         # Deployment script
```

## Debugging

### Check badge logs
```python
# In REPL
import sys
sys.print_exception(e)  # Print full exception traceback
```

### Test display
```python
from badgeware import screen, display, brushes

# Clear with black
screen.brush = brushes.color(0, 0, 0)
screen.clear()

# White text
screen.brush = brushes.color(255, 255, 255)
screen.text("Hello Badge!", 10, 10, 2)
display.update()
```

### Test WiFi
```python
import network
wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
wlan.active(True)
wlan.connect('SSID', 'password')
print(wlan.isconnected())
print(wlan.ifconfig())  # IP address info
```

## Power Management

```python
import machine
import badgeware

# Check battery level
battery = badgeware.get_battery_level()
print(f"Battery: {battery}%")

# Check if USB connected
usb = badgeware.get_usb_connected()
print(f"USB: {usb}")

# Light sleep (for delays)
machine.lightsleep(1000)  # Sleep 1 second

# Deep sleep (wake on button press - saves significant power)
machine.deepsleep()
```

## Tips for MonaOS Apps

- MonaOS apps use `update()` function called every frame
- Optimize `update()` - it runs continuously
- Use `io.ticks` for animations instead of time.time()
- Minimize allocations in `update()` to reduce GC pauses
- Use `try/except` blocks to prevent crashes
- Test with USB power first, then battery
- Apps automatically return to menu when HOME button pressed

## Common Issues

**Badge not detected**: Check USB cable, try different port, press RESET button

**Out of memory**: Reduce allocations in `update()`, use generators, call `gc.collect()`, free variables with `del`

**Display not updating**: MonaOS automatically updates after `update()` returns - no manual update needed

**App not in menu**: Check uploaded to `/system/apps/my_app/`, verify icon.png exists, may need pagination: https://badger.github.io/hack/menu-pagination/

**WiFi connection fails**: Check credentials, verify 2.4GHz band, restart badge

## Resources

### Official Badge Resources
- **Getting Started**: https://badger.github.io/get-started/ - Overview and setup
- **About Badge**: https://badger.github.io/about-badge/ - Hardware specifications
- **Hacks**: https://badger.github.io/hacks/ - Beginner to advanced customization tutorials
- **Apps**: https://badger.github.io/apps/ - Loadable MonaOS apps (Commits, Snake)
- **Source Code**: https://github.com/badger/home/tree/main/badgerware - Official MonaOS app code and API docs

### API Documentation
- **badgeware modules**: https://github.com/badger/home/tree/main/badgerware - shapes, brushes, io, Image, PixelFont, Matrix

### Development Resources
- **MicroPython docs**: https://docs.micropython.org/
- **WiFi/Network**: https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/rp2/quickref.html#wlan
- **Community**: Badger GitHub discussions