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CircuitPython
Programming language for embedded electronics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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CircuitPython[5] is an open-source derivative of the MicroPython programming language targeted toward students and beginners. Development of CircuitPython is supported by Adafruit Industries. It is a software implementation of the Python 3 programming language, written in C.[3] It has been ported to run on several modern microcontrollers.
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CircuitPython consists of a Python compiler to bytecode and a runtime interpreter of that bytecode that runs on the microcontroller hardware. The user is presented with an interactive prompt (the REPL) to execute supported commands immediately. Included are a selection of core Python libraries. CircuitPython includes modules which give the programmer access to the low-level hardware of supported products as well as higher-level libraries for beginners.[6]
CircuitPython is a fork of MicroPython, originally created by Damien George.[7] The MicroPython community continues to discuss[8] forks of MicroPython into variants such as CircuitPython.
CircuitPython is targeted to be compatible with CPython, the reference implementation of the Python programming language.[9] Programs written for CircuitPython-compatible boards may not run unmodified on other platforms such as the Raspberry Pi.[10]
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Usage
CircuitPython is being used as an emerging alternative solution for microcontroller programming, which is usually done in C, C++, or assembly. The language has also seen uptake in making small, handheld video game devices.[11][better source needed] Developer Chris Young has ported his infrared transmit-and-receive software to CircuitPython to provide interactivity and to aid those with accessibility issues.[12]
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Community
The user community support includes a Discord chat room and product support forums.[13] A Twitter account dedicated to CircuitPython news was established in 2018.[14] A newsletter, Python on Microcontrollers, is published weekly since 15 November, 2016 by Adafruit to provide news and information on CircuitPython, MicroPython, and Python on single board computers.[15] A Reddit subreddit, r/CircuitPython, provides news on CircuitPython and related news and projects and has about 4,300 members.[16]
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Hardware support
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The version 9.1.0 supports a range of platforms, called "ports":[17]
- atmel-samd: Microchip SAMD21, SAMx5x
- cxd56: Sony Spresense
- espressif: Espressif ESP32, ESP32-S2, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C2, ESP32-C3, ESP32-C6
- nordic: Nordic nRF52840, nRF52833
- raspberrypi: Raspberry Pi RP2040, RP2350
- stm: ST STM32F4 chip family
These ports are considered alpha and will have bugs and missing functionality:
- broadcom: Raspberry Pi boards such as RPi 4, RPi Zero 2W (bare metal)
- litex: fomu
- mimxrt10xx: NXP i.MX RT10xxx
- renode: hardware simulator
- silabs: Silicon Labs MG24 family
- stm: ST non-STM32F4 chip families
Previous versions supported the ESP8266 microcontroller, but its support was dropped in version 4.[18]
Blinka Software Abstraction Layer
CircuitPython code may run on MicroPython or CPython using the Adafruit written Blinka compatibility layer.[19] It acts as a translation layer between CircuitPython code and underlying code. This allows CircuitPython code to run on many more devices including a wide range of single-board computers which are listed on circuitpython.org.[20] It is a pip installable Python library. The CircuitPython runtime is not used, as documented in the guide CircuitPython Libraries on Linux and Raspberry Pi.[21]
Modules (Libraries)
Adafruit has fostered a community which has contributed software libraries for more than 488 sensors and drivers.[22][23]
References
External links
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