MicroPython : optimized to run on a microcontroller

MicroPython is a software implementation of the Python 3 programming language, written in C, that is optimized to run on a microcontroller. It is a full Python compiler and runtime that runs on the micro-controller hardware. The user is presented with an interactive prompt (the REPL) to execute supported commands immediately. Included are a selection of core Python libraries; It includes modules which give the programmer access to low-level hardware.

It was originally created by the Australian programmer and physicist Damien George, after a successful Kickstarter backed campaign in 2013. While the original Kickstart campaign released MicroPython with a pyboard microcontroller, MicroPython supports a number of ARM based architectures. MicroPython has since been run on Arduino platform based products, ESP8266, ESP32, and Internet of thingshardware. In 2016 a version of MicroPython for the BBC Micro Bit was created as part of the Python Software Foundation’s contribution to the Micro Bit partnership with the BBC. In 2017, Microsemi made a MicroPython port for RISC-V (RV32 and RV64) architecture.

It is packed full of advanced features such as an interactive prompt, arbitrary precision integers, closures, list comprehension, generators, exception handling and more. Yet it is compact enough to fit and run within just 256k of code space and 16k of RAM.

Micro Python aims to be as compatible with normal Python as possible to allow you to transfer code with ease from the desktop to a microcontroller or embedded system.

Micro Python has some unique features that set it apart from other embedded systems:

• Interactive REPL, or read-evaluate-print loop.  This allows you to connect to a board and have it execute code without any need for compiling or uploading–perfect for quickly learning and experimenting with hardware!
• Extensive software library.  Like the normal Python programming langauge MicroPython is ‘batteries included’ and has libraries built in to support many tasks.  For example parsing JSON data from a web service, searching text with a regular expression, or even doing network socket programming is easy with built-in libraries for MicroPython.
• Extensibility.  For advanced users MicroPython is extensible with low-level C/C++ functions so you can mix expressive high-level MicroPython code with faster low-level code when you need it.

What is The pyboard?

What can Micro Python do? What can’t Micro Python do?

In short, MicroPython can do a lot! Just like an Arduino board and many other boards Micro Python can control hardware and connected devices. You can control GPIO pins to blink lights, read switches, and drive PWM outputs for servos, LEDs, etc. or read analog sensors with an analog to digital converter. Connect with I2C or SPI devices, OLED Display is easy too.

MicroPython code isn’t as fast and might use a little more memory compared to similar Arduino or other low-level C/C++-based code. Usually this doesn’t matter since the speed and memory differences are small and don’t impact most normal uses. The Micro Python langauge implements most of the core Python 3 language, however MicroPython can’t implement the entire Python 3 standard library.

Completely free, open source software

What hardware supports Micro Python?

Be sure to check the MicroPython website to see the latest information on supported boards.

• pyboard
• ESP8266
• SAMD21-based Boards
• Teensy 3.x
• BBC micro:bit
• WiPy
• Espruino Pico
• STM32F4 Discovery board
• Adafruit Circuit Playground Express

Source: http://micropython.org/, https://learn.adafruit.com, Wikipedia

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