Basic command examples

Here are some basic examples of using TinyGo in the most common scenarios.

To build the WASM example, run the following command:

tinygo build -o wasm.wasm -target=wasm examples/wasm/export

See the WebAssembly page for more information on executing the compiled WebAssembly.

To build and then flash a basic blink program for a micro:bit board:

Plug your micro:bit into your computer’s USB port.
The micro:bit board will appear to your computer like a USB drive. Determine the path to the board, for example on Linux it will be something like /media/[USERNAME]/[NAME OF THE BOARD].
Run the following command, substituing the correct name for the board from the previous step:

tinygo build -o=/media/[USERNAME]/[NAME OF THE BOARD]/flash.hex -target=microbit examples/microbit-blink

The top-left pixel of the built-in LED matrix on the micro:bit board should start to blink.

To build and then flash a basic blink program for an Arduino Uno,

Plug in the board to your computer’s USB port.
Run the following command, specifiying the serial port if needed. (It defaults to /dev/ttyACM0 as that is the default port on Linux.)

tinygo flash -target=arduino -port=[PORT] examples/blinky1

The built-in LED on the board should start to blink.

To build and then flash a basic blink program for an Circuit Playground Express,

Plug your Circuit Playground Express into your computer’s USB port.
Press the “RESET” button on the board two times to get the Circuit Playground Express board ready to receive code. If you just received the board, it will be running MakeCode, so press the “RESET” button just once. Either way, the NeoPixel LEDs should turn all green.
The Circuit Playground Express board will appear to your computer like a USB drive. Determine the path to the board, for example on Linux it will be something like /media/[USERNAME]/[NAME OF THE BOARD].
Run the following command, substituing the correct name for the board from the previous step:

tinygo build -o=/media/[USERNAME]/[NAME OF THE BOARD]/flash.uf2 -target=circuitplay-express examples/blinky1

The built-in LED on the board should start to blink.