I’ve spent the last few months designing a project that runs CircuitPython. Unlike many projects, this project does not use an off-the-shelf CircuitPython development board like Adafruit’s Feather M4 Express or IstyBitsy M4 Express.
Instead, I wanted this project to be a single circuit board that contains all of the functional parts of the project – the CPU and its necessary hardware (which would usually be on the development board) as well as the peripherals (things that would generally be on FeatherWings or shields). This makes the board smaller, more tightly integrated, and eventually easier to produce in larger quantities.
However, creating a custom CircuitPython board isn’t a trivial process. There were quite a few things I ran into that have become lessons for me in the future. This post collects some of those lessons as a reference to myself as well as hopefully a helpful resource for others that are trying to do something like this. It isn’t intended to be a complete guide on how to do this – there’s already a couple of those out there. It’s intended to be a supplementary list of things to look out for.
The post goes into details, design tips and suggestions to avoid pitfalls.
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Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
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Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: Open Hardware is In, New CircuitPython and Pi 5 16GB, and much more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
