Prepare your GlowGrid
Connect your board once to get it ready. After that, your next idea can reach your board over Wi-Fi, no cable needed.
Start here
Set up once.
Create often.
01New board? Set it up once, then leave the cable behind.
02Board already ready? Pick a program and bring it to life over Wi-Fi or USB.
Open, create, and send
Choose a program below. When it looks right, send it over Wi-Fi or with a USB cable.
Program collection
What will your grid become?
Start with the Board Designer, a visual canvas for your ideas.
PROGRAM 01 / BOARD DESIGNER
Board Designer
Create and display your pixel art
Supported hardware
- Pico W / Pico 2 W
- Pico Unicorn PackPico Display Pack 2.0
- Pico / Pico 2
- Pico Unicorn PackPico Display Pack 2.0
- Waveshare RP2040-Matrix
- 5×5 RGB LED matrix
See more …
Explore every GlowGrid program and choose your next hardware experience.
Made for curious builders
Who is it for?
Helping learners, educators, and makers turn ideas into real hardware experiences through premade visual programs and seamless browser-based deployment.
Hands-on learning
Start with a ready-made project, change it, and learn by seeing the results.
Teach through outcomes
Introduce coding through something students can see, touch, change, and run for themselves.
Experiment without friction
Contribute your own ideas. Get in touch so we can evolve the ecosystem.
From setup to new ideas
How does it work?
Prepare your GlowGrid once, then explore and deploy programs as often as you like.
Give the board its foundation
Install the matching MicroPython firmware on your board. Then install GlowGrid OS and connect the board to your local Wi-Fi network. Once the board is connected to your network, it can be reached using its IP address.
Select what the board will do
Open an app from the Program Collection. We are looking forward to growing this ecosystem with many more programs.
Check the results on your board.
Prepare Board button lets you upload your program wirelessly or using a direct USB connection.
Tutorials
Learn by building.
Follow practical, guided lessons that explain programming ideas one step at a time.
Build at your own pace
Learn by making something real.
Browse challengesQuick answers
Insights.
What is a GlowGrid?
GlowGrid is a tiny, colorful window into your digital world. Built with a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W and Pimoroni Pico Unicorn Pack, it runs interchangeable apps with convenient Wi-Fi deployments, encouraging creativity and experimentation through a growing collection of fun and useful programs.
Is this free?
Kind of… GlowGrid is free to use. You can always support the development of new programs and features with a donation or a pull request.
The software
GlowGrid has three software layers: Pimoroni's custom MicroPython firmware supports the LED hardware, GlowGrid OS manages Wi-Fi connectivity and wireless uploads, and each installed program defines what the board displays and does.
Compatible browsers: Wi-Fi program uploads work in any modern browser that opens a standard HTTP link in the current tab, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, and mobile browsers. Installing GlowGrid OS or uploading over USB requires a browser that supports Web Serial, such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
The hardware
GlowGrid runs on a Raspberry Pi Pico W or Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W, paired with the Pico Unicorn Pack by Pimoroni.