CircuitPython 7.0.0 Release Candidate 1 Released! @circuitpython

This is CircuitPython 7.0.0-rc.1, the second release candidate for CircuitPython 7.0.0 with a TinyUSB update to fix a critical USB issue on RP2040. We believe it is stable, but want to give time for further testing.

Notable additions to 7.0.0 since 6.3.0 include:

  • Support for the CircuitPython development workflow over BLE.
  • Camera support on ESP32S2.
  • qrio: QR code decoding.
  • 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.
  • Rework of vectorio and some of its API. VectorShape is no longer needed for user code.
  • atexit module.
  • getpass module.
  • traceback module.
  • supervisor.get_previous_traceback().
  • board.LED now consistently present on all boards that have such an LED.
  • PulseOut no longer needs a PWMOut.
  • Unicode filename support.
  • Board ID is now in boot_out.txt and available as board.board_id.
  • aesio on for full builds by default.

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-beta.0

The full commit log is here.

Fixes and enhancements

  • Fix USB HID custom devices. #5214 Thanks to @dhalbert and @fasteddy516
  • Add displayio. for changing the refresh settings. Thanks to @amit-bsides
  • displayio.ParallelBus is now available as parallelbus.ParallelBus and will be removed from displayio in 8.0.0. Thanks to @jepler
  • Add 0x prefix when printing %p to match CPython. Thanks to @jepler
  • Frozen stage library now uses keypad. #5264 Thanks to @deshipu
  • Board ID is now in boot_out.txt and available as board.board_id. #5222 Thanks to @Neradoc
  • Fix WaveFile validation. #5234 Thanks to @dhalbert
  • Support multiple DotStars as status LEDs. #5219 Thanks to @tannewt
  • Updated TinyUSB to improve USB compliance. Thanks to @hathach
  • Enable aesio for full builds. Thanks to @microDev1
  • Update frozen NeoPixel library. Thanks to @UnexpectedMaker

Port and board-specific changes

nRF

  • Fix two hard crashes with watchdog use. Thanks to @tannewt and @mrdalgaard
  • TinyUSB improvements based on USB compliance testing. Thanks to @hathach
  • Fix light sleep early wakeup on pending USB serial. #5273 Thanks to @tannewt and @mrdalgaard
  • BLE workflow uses unique UUIDs for serial instead of the Nordic UUIDs. #5271 Thanks to @tannewt
  • Fix crash due to shared external interrupts. #5253 Thanks to @tannewt

RP2040

  • Make PIO interruptibility configurable. #5243 Thanks to @dhalbert
  • Stop PIO on deinit. #5244 Thanks to @dhalbert
  • Fix countio resetting. #5255 Thanks to @tannewt
  • Fix unlikely USB race that delayed USB enumeration. #5238 Thanks to @tannewt
  • V2 BLE Workflow that changes delete to recurse. #5217 Thanks to @tannewt
  • Fix audio sample rate calculation. #5218 Thanks to @jepler
  • Fix DEBUG builds. #5210 Thanks to @DavePutz

ESP32-S2

  • Fix rare (but reproducible) hang due to heap metadata placement. #5245 Thanks to @jepler, @jfurcean, @tannewt
  • Update to newer ESP IDF 4.3 #5250 Thanks to @tannewt
  • Fix I2CDisplay crash. #5220 Thanks to @tannewt

STM32

  • _stage is now available on the MeowBit. #5267 Thanks to @deshipu

Individual Boards

  • Add BATTERY pin to lilygo-t8-s2-st7789. #5278 Thanks to @skieast
  • Add _stage module to TinyS2 build. Thanks to @UnexpectedMaker

New boards Since 6.3.0

  • Adafruit MacroPad RP2040. #4770, #4864. Thanks @ladyada.
  • AiThinker ESP-12K NodeMCU. #5149. Thanks @codetyphon.
  • Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect. #4802. Thanks @BlitzCityDIY.
  • ARAMCON2 Badge. #4627. Thanks @aramcon-badge.
  • ATMegaZero ESP32-S2. #4634. Thanks @eddieespinal.
  • BlueMicro840. #5114. Thanks @jpconstantineau.
  • CP Sapling Rev B. #4677. Thanks @skerr92.
  • CrumpSpace CrumpS2. #5143. Thanks @tylercrumpton.
  • Cytron Maker Pi RP2040. #4824. Thanks @CytronTechnologies.
  • Espressif Kalgua v1.3. #4870. Thanks @jepler.
  • Gravitech Cucumber M. #5097. Thanks @anecdata.
  • Gravitech Cucumber MS. #5097. Thanks @anecdata.
  • Gravitech Cucumber R. #5097. Thanks @anecdata.
  • Gravitech Cucumber RS. #5097. Thanks @anecdata.
  • micro:bit V2 (first BLE-only board). #5002. Thanks @tannewt.
  • Morpheans MorphESP-240. #5129. Thanks @skieast.
  • Muselab nanoESP32-S2 WROVER. #4834. Thanks @reppad.
  • Oak Development Technologies PixelWing ESP32-S2. #5156. Thanks @skerr92.
  • Pimoroni Interstate 75. #5099. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.
  • Pimoroni PGA2040. #4865. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.
  • Pimoroni Plasma 2040. #5099. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.
  • RayTac MDBT50Q-RX nRF52840 dongle. #5095. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • senseBox MCU. #4576. Thanks @felixerdy.
  • SparkFun MicroMod SAMD51. #4852. Thanks @stonehippo.
  • SparkFun MicroMod STM32. #5060. Thanks @cdwilson.
  • Lolin Mini S2. #5239 Thanks to @durapensa
  • EncoderPad RP2040. #5247 Thanks to @jpconstantineau
  • WarmBit BluePixel nRF52840. #5229 Thanks to @warmbit
  • Adafruit LED Glasses nRF52840 Driver. #5224 Thanks to @dhalbert
  • Espressif HMI DevKit 1. Thanks to @jepler
  • UnexpectedMaker Feather S2 Neo. Thanks to @UnexpectedMaker

Documentation

  • TileGrid doc string improvements. #5280 Thanks to @FoamyGuy
  • Fixes to displayio docs. Thanks to @lesamouraipourpre

Build and infrastructure changes

  • Switch to MP_REGISTER_MODULE. Thanks to @capellini
  • Fix gen_display_resources.py crash. #5275 Thanks to @lesamouraipourpre
  • Allow for disabling safe mode wait at build time. #5270 Thanks to @deshipu
  • Size improvements. Thanks to @jepler, @dhalbert and @tannewt

Translation additions and improvements

  • Thanks for translations:
    • @bergdahl (Swedish)
    • @wtuemura (Portuguese – Brazil)

Breaking changes and deprecations 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.
  • displayio.Group no longer has a max_size parameter.
  • vectorio: Rectangle, Circle, and Polygon are added directly to a Group; VectorShape is not needed.
  • Using a PWMOut for PulseOut is deprecated and will be removed in 8.0.0.
  • gamepad is removed: use keypad. gamepadshift is still present but will be removed in 8.0.0.
  • settings.py and settings.txt are no longer alternative names for boot.py.
  • The default for displayio.Display.refresh(..., minimimum_frames_per_second, ...) is now 0.
  • displayio.Display() argument set_vertical_scroll argument is deprecated and will be removed in 8.0.0.
  • displayio.ParallelBus is now available as parallelbus.ParallelBus and will be removed from displayio in 8.0.0.
  • busio.OneWire/bitbangio.OneWire is now available as onewireio.OneWire and will be removed from busio and bitbangio in 8.0.0.

Known issues

  • I2SOut on the Raspberry Pi may not play samples and WaveFiles correctly. #5283
  • 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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