How to Use PyCharm with Raspberry Pi Pico W and MicroPython

October 23, 2023

In this tutorial learn how to start coding MicroPython using PyCharm with the Raspberry Pi Pico or Raspberry Pi Pico W. This can be advantageous because PyCharm can be a preferable environment to write code for many programmers.

Step 1-) Download PyCharm

https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm/download/#section=mac

The community version is fine for this work.

Step 2-) Install MicroPython on Pico

Plugin the device into the computer while holding the bootsel button.
Go to https://micropython.org/download/ and download the latest version for the Pico or Pico W
Drag the UF2 file onto your Pico once it is done downloading. *It should show up on your Desktop as RP1-RP2.
Once it is done, the RP1-RP2 will disappear.
Unplug and replug the Pico (without holding the bootsel). You need to do this so PyCharm can find the device.

Step 3-) Install MicroPython Plugin in PyCharm

Open PyCharm, go to Plugins, and download the MicroPython plugin.

Restart the IDE

Step 4-) Write Code

Go to File > Create Project. Create an environment as shown above.
Go to Preferences and enable MicroPython as shown here below.

You can find the device path on a Macbook in the terminal using the command `ls /dev/tty.*`

On a Windows this would be a COM port.

You can now run code on the device by right-clicking the file and selecting “Run ‘Flash <filename>‘“
Add the following code to check if it works by blinking the LED

import machine
import time

led_pin = machine.Pin("LED", machine.Pin.OUT)  # GPIO pin 25 controls the onboard LED

while True:
    led_pin.toggle()  # Toggle the LED state
    time.sleep(0.1)    # Wait for 1 second

If you run it and you see the LED blinking you did everything correctly, congrats!

Some Pros: