April 2024 Meetup

Matt has a bumper News Round-up!

News Round-up

Headlines

MicroPython v1.23 Release

MPLogo

It’s taking a little longer than expected, but the v1.23 release is shaping up to be a big one! Check out the release-1.23.0 milestone for the current status.

Still to resolve: IPv6, PyScript issues and USB Device support.

CircuitPython 9.0

CircuitPython9

Congrats to our CircuitPython ‘cousins’ who have ust released version 9.0! Some very cool additions, including USB Host, synthio updates, as well as merging in MicroPython 1.21. (Ed: 9.0.4 is the latest bugfix release at the time of writing)

Espressif acquires majority stake in M5Stack

Espressif and M5Stack

In a press release, Espressif announced they were investing in a majority share of M5Stack. And M5Stack maintain that ‘nothing changes’ in how they operate.

Renesas buys Altium

Renesas Altium

Japanese chip manufacturer Renesas plans to acquire PCB deisgn software Altium for A$9.1 billion (!).

eeNews: Renesas to buy PCB design software firm Altium for US$5.9 billion

Arduino Days

ArduinoDays

Arduino Days was a three-day event talking about all things Arduino - which, these days, includes a lot of MicroPython stuff.

Everything was live streamed and is available on YouTube.

Matt’s New hardware

M5Stack care package

M5StackCarePackage

STM32U083RC Nucleo

STM32NUCLOE-U083RC

Super low power but with a Cortex-M0 @56MHz, 256KB flash and 40KB RAM it should be a decent device for MicroPython!

Gurgle Word Clock

The Gurgle Word Clock is the first kit by the Gurgle folks and provides all the parts you need to create a beautiful Word Clock, where words are lit by a NeoPixel panel to display the time.

Gurgle Apps Word Clock

The kit can be purchased complete or in parts, and the 3D models and MicroPython software are open source.

It’s such a fantastic little project! I think it will be of particular interest to parents looking to build a relatively simple STEM project with their teen child…or if you just want an attractive Word Clock!

Hardware News

STM32 Summit

STMicro Logo

Lots of news!

Beefier STM32C0’s. Cheap.
- Up to 256KB flash, 36KB RAM
A new series: U0. Super low power, affordable.
- Up to 256KB flash, 40KB RAM
Beefier U5’s. Low power and powerful.
- Graphics acceleration (incl vector), 3-4MB RAM
Beefier H7’s. Super powerful.
- Also graphics acceleration, 600MHz
New WBA55. H5 core + radio
- 100MHz, radio good for BLE, Matter, Zigbee
MP2. Two worlds, combined
- 64bit Linux core + Cortex M33
- Good match for OpenAMP?

Embedded Open Source Summit

Build Wireless Products Faster with Zephyr and MicroPython

Build Wireless Products Faster with Zephyr and MicroPython - Ryan Erickson

Video: See the recorded livestream from ~7:34.

Really interesting; runs MicroPython as a module in Zephyr, provides Zephyr filesystem to MicroPython and allows access to C drivers. Slightly different perspective to the MicroPython Zephyr port, though there is a lot that could be reused.

Rust vs MicroPython

Kevin McAleer dons the fire-proof vest Code Wars: Rust vs MicroPython

MicroPython Flipper Zero

MicroPython on Flipper Zero

Run MicroPython as an application on the Flipper Zero with mp-flipper. (Unless you’re in Canada!)

Raspberry Pi Pico W Lessons for Absolute Beginners

RPi Pico W Lessons

Paul McWhorter continues to release lessons on the RPi Pico W. His first was over a year ago and he’s just published #66 - with another 13 already scheduled. Many use MicroPython.

MicroPython on the Playdate

Christian Walther demonstrates MicroPython running on the Playdate!

He recently published his repository pew-playdate. I’m itching to try it out! Christian’s goal is to be able to get “Pew Pew” games running on the Playdate.

Antirez

Salvatore Sanfilippo, aka Antirez, has been digging into MicroPython.

BME680 driver
microfont
vl53l0x-nb
uc8151_micropython
- Badget 2040 eink driver - but fast, anti-flickering and 32 levels of grey (monochrome device!)
- Clever e-ink driver does 32 levels of grey, avoids update flicker, and more
Viper
- “Using MicroPython Viper…a 20x speed-up. C-level performance”
- “Viper is a beast”
- “…with Viper I found little or zero uses for C…”
Small random ideas thread about embedded programming…
- “In the embedded world MicroPython may be regarded as something just for hobbists, not suitable for real work. I beg to differ”
- The whole thread is worth a read