Pico Pico Book

Free

A hands-on guide that uses the Pico 2 (RP2350) to demonstrate how to work with various modules and sensors. ([github source](https://github.com/ImplFerris/pico-pico))

FreeFree tier

Type

Open Source

Visit Website GitHub (38 stars)

About Pico Pico Book

A comprehensive, hands-on guide for programming the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 (RP2350) using Rust. The book walks through practical projects such as dimming an LED, controlling servo motors, measuring distance with ultrasonic sensors, displaying images on OLED screens, using RFID readers, playing tunes on a buzzer, sensing light levels, and measuring temperature. It is free, open-source, and designed for both beginners and experienced embedded developers who want to explore Rust on modern microcontrollers. The code examples are provided under MIT/Apache 2.0 licenses, and the prose under CC-BY-SA 4.0.

Key Features

Dimming an LED using PWM

Controlling a servo motor

Measuring distance with an ultrasonic sensor

Displaying images on an OLED display (SSD1306)

Reading RFID tags (MFRC522)

Playing songs on a buzzer

Turning on an LED when room light is off (light sensor)

Measuring temperature with a sensor

Dual-core ARM Cortex-M33 and optional RISC-V support

Step-by-step exercises with circuit diagrams

Pros & Cons

Pros

Free and open-source (MIT/Apache 2.0 for code, CC-BY-SA for prose)
Covers a wide variety of sensors and modules in practical projects
Includes circuit diagrams and clear instructions
Written specifically for the RP2350 chip (Pico 2) with dual-core flexibility
Supports both ARM Cortex-M33 and optional RISC-V cores

Cons

Requires purchasing a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 board and additional components
Not fully compatible with the Pico 2 W (Wi-Fi version) without adjustments
Assumes basic familiarity with Rust programming; not a tutorial for the language itself
Experimentation may cause damage if safety precautions are ignored

Best For

Learning embedded Rust development on RP2350Building hobbyist projects with sensors and actuatorsPrototyping IoT devices using Raspberry Pi Pico 2Experimenting with dual-core ARM/RISC-V architectures

FAQ

What hardware do I need to follow this book?

A Raspberry Pi Pico 2 (RP2350) board. The standard non-wireless version is recommended for full compatibility with the examples.

Is the book free?

Yes, the book is completely free and open-source. It is hosted on GitHub and available online.

What licenses apply to the book?

Code samples are licensed under MIT and Apache 2.0. The written prose is licensed under Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 4.0.

Can I use the older Raspberry Pi Pico (RP2040)?

This book is specifically for the Pico 2 (RP2350). There is a separate version for the RP2040 called 'impl Rust for Pico'.

Does the book cover Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?

No, the examples are designed for the standard Pico 2. The Pico 2 W is not fully compatible, but core concepts may still apply.