Hardware Hacking Made Easy With CircuitPython

Summary

Learning to program can be a frustrating process, because even the simplest code relies on a complex stack of other moving pieces to function. When working with a microcontroller you are in full control of everything so there are fewer concepts that need to be understood in order to build a functioning project. CircuitPython is a platform for beginner developers that provides easy to use abstractions for working with hardware devices. In this episode Scott Shawcroft explains how the project got started, how it relates to MicroPython, some of the cool ways that it is being used, and how you can get started with it today. If you are interested in playing with low cost devices without having to learn and use C then give this a listen and start tinkering!

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• Your host as usual is Tobias Macey and today I’m interviewing Scott Shawcroft about CircuitPython, the easiest way to program microcontrollers

Interview

• Introductions
• How did you get introduced to Python?
• Can you start by explaining what CircuitPython is and how the project got started?
  • I understand that you work at Adafruit and I know that a number of their products support CircuitPython. What other runtimes do you support?
• Microcontrollers have typically been the domain of C because of the resource and performance constraints. What are the benefits of using Python to program hardware devices?
• With the wide availability of powerful computing platforms, what are the benefits of experimenting with microcontrollers and their peripherals?
• I understand that CircuitPython is a friendly fork of MicroPython. What have you changed in your version?
  • How do you structure your development to avoid conflicts with the upstream project?
  • What are some changes that you have contributed back to MicroPython?
• What are some of the features of CircuitPython that make it easier for users to interact with sensors, motors, etc.?
• CircuitPython provides an easy on-ramp for experimenting with hardware projects. Is there a point where a user will outgrow it and need to move to a different language or framework?
• What are some of the most interesting/innovative/unexpected projects that you have seen people build using CircuitPython?
  • Are there any cases of someone building and shipping a production grade project in CircuitPython?
• What have been some of the most interesting/challenging/unexpected aspects of building and maintaining CircuitPython?
• What is in store for the future of the project?

Keep In Touch

• @tannewt on Twitter
• Website
• tannewt on GitHub

Picks

• Tobias
  • Wings Of Fire book series
• Scott
  • Brandon Sanderson
  • The Wheel Of Time Series
  • Mist Born

Links

• Adafruit
• CircuitPython
• MicroPython
  • Podcast Interview
• Microcontroller
• Arduino
• Microsoft MakeCode
• NodeBots
• Espruino
• I2C
• Hackspace Magazine
• Adafruit Blinka
• learn.adafruit.com
• Scott Hanselman Blog Post
• Reflow Oven
• Adafruit Crickit – Creative Robotics Platform
• Adabox
• Moore’s Law
• SparkFun
• DigiKey

The intro and outro music is from Requiem for a Fish The Freak Fandango Orchestra / CC BY-SA