CircuitPython 7.0.0 Alpha 5 Released! @circuitpython

This is CircuitPython 7.0.0-alpha.5, 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.
  • _pixelbuf is now adafruit_pixelbuf.
  • colorwheel() routine moved to rainbowio.
  • supervisor.ticks_ms() to allow easier time-keeping.
  • 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 7.0.0-alpha.4

The full commit log is here.

Fixes and enhancements

  • Fix timing issue with keypad.KeyMatrix. #5031. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • Disable blue-blink pairing delay on reset on non-BLE workflowboards. #5024. Thanks @tannewt.
  • Update frozen libraries. #5022. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • Add microcontroller.RunMode.UF2. #4925. Thanks @microDev1.
  • Fix memory error in OnDiskBitmap. Allow passing in a filename. #5017. Thanks @jepler.
  • Restore default epoch to 1970. #4961. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • Rename ScanEntry.matches() arg to match_all. #5006. Thanks @tannewt.
  • Fix keypad.EventQueue type name and missing .overflowed. #5011. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • Rename _pixelbuf to adafruit_pixelbuf; keep old name as alias. #5010. Thanks @kattni.
  • Fix timestamp values when epoch is 2000. #4762. Thanks @Neradoc.
  • Allow subclassing busio.UART. #3941. Thanks @AdamCummick.
  • Fix MIDI write error. #4995. Thanks @hathach.
  • Add rainbowio for colorwheel(). #4976, #4991. Thanks @kattni.
  • Add supervisor.ticks_ms() to allow easier time-keeping, especially on non-longint builds. #4936. Thanks @jepler.

Port and board-specific changes

ESP32S2

  • Add RunModes UF2, NORMAL, and BOOTLOADER. #4925. Thanks @microDev1.

NRF

RP2040

  • Use the specified flash size as the default size. Still try to read the actual flash size if possible at run-time. #5035. Thanks @tannewt.
  • Update pico-sdk to 1.2.0. #5030. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • Fix PulseOut problems. #4911, #4937, #5019, #5025. Thanks @DavePutz.
  • Allow multiple instances of PulseIn. #4975. Thanks @DavePutz.
  • Stop PIO state machine before restarting. #4987. Thanks @DavePutz.

SAMx

  • Do not crash when busio.UART constructor fails. #5026. Thanks @tannewt.
  • Remove MICROPY_PORT_* macros used in atmel-samd. Do never_reset() instead. #5007. Thanks @tannewt.
  • Fix AnalogOut pin handling. #4994. Thanks @bobthechemist.
  • Allow board-specific internal filesystem sizes on SAMD21. #4977. Thanks @deshipu.

Individual Boards

  • Fix flash size for Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect. #5035. Thanks @tannewt.
  • Adafruit FunHouse: Reduce display SPI speed to fix display glitches. #4793. Thanks @kmatch98.
  • pewpew10. Use _pew.get_ticks() for time tracking. #4980. Thanks @deshipu.
  • Add board.LED and board.GP25 on Cytron Maker Pi Pico. #4981. Thanks @DavePutz.

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.
  • micro:bit V2 (first BLE-only board). #5002. Thanks @tannewt.
  • 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

Build and infrastructure changes

  • Upload only PR merges and releases to S3. #5027. Thanks @tannewt.
  • Fix stubs upload issue. #5015. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • Improve stubs building. #4907. Thanks @jepler.
  • Allow differing-length type objects to save space. #4903. Thanks @jepler.
  • Use a much more accurate heuristic for makeqstrdata. #4978. Thanks @jepler.

Translation additions and improvements

Breaking changes since 6.x

  • The RGB status LED codes have changed for clarity and to save power.
  • PWMOut is now only in pwmio, and is no longer in both pulseio and pwomio.
  • colorwheel() has been moved from _pixelbuf to rainbowio.

Known issues

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

Thanks

Thank you to all who used, tested, and contributed since 6.3.0, 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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