CircuitPython 7.0.0 Alpha 4 Released! @adafruit @circuitpython

This is CircuitPython 7.0.0-alpha.4, an alpha release for CircuitPython 7.0.0. It is relatively stable, but contains a number of issues still to be addressed for 7.0.0. The Python API’s it presents may change.

Notable additions to 7.0.0 since 6.3.0 include:

  • Support for the CircuitPython development workflow over BLE.
  • Camera support on ESP32S2.
  • The keypad key-scanning module.
  • Run-time customization of USB devices.
  • Merging in of MicroPython fixes and enhancements as of MicroPython 1.16.
  • Simplifications to the RGB status LED codes.
  • A clocking fix for a few samples of RP2040 boards.

Download from circuitpython.org

Firmware downloads are available from the downloads page on circuitpython.org. The site makes it easy to select the correct file and language for your board.

Installation

To install follow the instructions in our new Welcome to CircuitPython! guide. To install the latest libraries, see this page in that guide.

Try the latest version of the Mu editor for creating and editing your CircuitPython programs and for easy access to the CircuitPython serial connection (the REPL).

Port status

CircuitPython has a number of "ports" that are the core implementations for different microcontroller families. Stability varies on a per-port basis. As of this release, atmel-samd, cxd56 (Spresense), esp32s2, nrf,raspberrypi, stm for the F4 family are stable. stm for other STM chip families is being actively improved but may be missing functionality and have bugs. litex and mimxrt10xx are in an alpha state and will have bugs and missing functionality.

Changes since 6.3.0

The full commit log is here.

Fixes and enhancements

  • Provide for a BLE development workflow with BLE file transfer and a BLE serial connection. #4918, #4957. Thanks @tannewt.
  • Add keypad module for scanning keys or buttons, key matrices, and shift-register keys. #4891. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • displayio support for BGR color modes. #4952. Thanks @jepler.
  • Correct partial refresh of displayio.TileGrid. #4876. Thanks @t-ikegami.
  • Merge in MicroPython 1.16. #4897. Thanks @jepler.
  • Fix handling of hidden objects in displayio. #4915. Thanks @Neradoc.
  • Allow constructing a time.struct_time() from another struct_time. #4931. Thanks @microDev1.
  • Fix buffer handling in usb_cdc.Serial. #4922. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • Update ulab to 3.0.0. #4881. Thanks @jepler.
  • Re-enable slice indices. #4857. Thanks @dunkmann00.
  • Fix REPL move-cursor escape sequence. #4853. Thanks @t-ikegami.
  • Fix bytes() and bytearray() input validation. #4947. Thanks @microDev1.

Port and board-specific changes

ESP32S2

  • Implement ParallelImageCapture, to support cameras. #4880. Thanks @jepler.
  • Update esp-idf to v4.3. #4194. Thanks @askpatrickw.
  • Fix spi_never_reset(). #4960. Thanks @microDev1.
  • Enable ‘audiomixer’ #4963. Thanks @rsbohn.

NRF

  • Allow setting transmit power. #3493. Thanks @gabewillen.
  • Update TinyUSB to fix CDC race condition. #4900. Thanks @hathach.

RP2040

  • Add alarm module, implementing TimeAlarm and PinAlarm. #4816. Thanks @hierophect.
  • Fix PulseOut leaving pin high. #4911. Thanks @DavePutz.
  • Fix PulseIn pause and resume. #4859., Thanks @DavePutz.
  • Fix handling of two or more PWMAudioOuts. #4809. Thanks @DavePutz.
  • Release DMA channels after play has finished. #4958. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • Fix some audio DMA issues. Disallow ctrl-C interrupts of SPI and PIO. #4974. Thanks @dhalbert.

SAMx

  • Fix SAMx5x `microcontroller.cpu.voltage. #4862. Thanks @DavePutz.

Individual Boards.

  • Add MacroPad RP2040 display initialization. #4949. Thanks @deshipu.
  • Improve MacroPad RP2040 pin definitions. #4941. Thanks @kattni.
  • Fix missing board.SPI() on MacroPad RP2040. #4966. Thanks @dgriswo.
  • PewPew M4: use keypad instead of gamepad. #4942. Thanks @deshipu.
  • Fix pin assignments on Wio Terminal. #4890, #4913. Thanks @t-ikegami.
  • Fix pin assignments on Unexpected Maker TinyS2. #4887. Thanks @mcauser2.
  • Add pin alias to Adafruit Slider Trinkey. #4889. Thanks @kattni.
  • Update ESP config for LILYGO TTGO T8 ESP32-S2. #4873. Thanks @netroy.

New boards Since 6.3.0

  • Adafruit MacroPad RP2040. #4770, #4864. Thanks @ladyada.
  • Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect. #4802. Thanks @BlitzCityDIY.
  • ARAMCON2 Badge. #4627. Thanks @aramcon-badge.
  • ATMegaZero ESP32-S2. #4634. Thanks @eddiespinal.
  • CP Sapling Rev B. #4677. Thanks @skerr92.
  • Cytron Maker Pi RP2040. #4824. Thanks @CytronTechnologies.
  • Muselab nanoESP32-S2 WROVER. #4834. Thanks @reppad.
  • PiMoroni PGA2040. #4865. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.
  • senseBox MCU. #4576. Thanks @felixerdy.
  • SparkFun MicroMod SAMD51. #4852. Thanks @stonehippo.
  • Espressif Kalgua v1.3. #4870. Thanks @jepler.

Documentation

  • Fix pulseio.PulseIn.__len__() doc. #4948. Thanks @dmcomm.
  • Update busio and adafruit_bus-device doc. #4928. Thanks @2bndy5.
  • Fix displayio.Display.__init__() doc. #4938. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • Describe more ports as stable, and improve README. #4860. Thanks @microDev1.
  • Upload native module stubs to pypi. #4861. Thanks @FoamyGuy.
  • Improve installation of stubs. #4878. Thanks @jepler.
  • Correct rp2io pull direction doc. #4875. Thanks @benclifford.
  • Fix TileGrid doc. #4973. Thanks@lesamouraipourpre.

Build and infrastructure changes

  • Convert to using issue forms instead of templates in GitHub. #4950. Thanks @ajs256.
  • Add manual tests for alarm module. #4904. Thanks @hierophect.
  • Fix duplicate line in setup.py. #4906. Thanks @FoamyGuy.
  • Fix build issue when CIRCUITPY_USB is off. #4858. Thanks @EmergReanimator.
  • Improve parallelism of run_tests, incorporating changes from MicroPython. #4855. Thanks @jepler.
  • Delete ports/nrf/examples/. #4972. Thanks @microDev1.

Translation additions and improvements

  • Remove some wide characters not in our fonts. #4943. Thanks @jepler.
  • Thanks for translations:
  • @bergdahl (Swedish)
  • @fede2cr (Spanish)
  • @hexthat (Chinese – Pinyin)
  • @wtuemura (Portuguese – Brazil)

Breaking changes since 6.x

  • OnDiskBitmap can now use Palettes. #4823. Thanks @jepler.
  • The RGB status LED codes have changed for clarity and to save power. #4743. Thanks @tannewt.
  • PWMOut is now only in pwmio, and is no longer in both pulseio and pwomio. #4694. Thanks @dhalbert.
    • @v923z (German)

Known issues

  • See https://github.com/adafruit/circuitpython/issues for other issues.

Thanks

Thank you to all who used, tested, and contributed since 6.2.0, including the contributors above, and many others on GitHub and Discord. Join us on the Discord chat to collaborate.

Documentation

Documentation is available in readthedocs.io.

This release is based on MicroPython 1.16. Support upstream MicroPython by purchasing a PyBoard (from Adafruit here) or sponsoring MicroPython on GitHub.

Download from circuitpython.org

Firmware downloads are available from the downloads page on circuitpython.org. The site makes it easy to select the correct file and language for your board.

Installation

To install follow the instructions in our new Welcome to CircuitPython! guide. To install the latest libraries, see this page in that guide.

Try the latest version of the Mu editor for creating and editing your CircuitPython programs and for easy access to the CircuitPython serial connection (the REPL).

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Tags: — by Dan Halbert

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