MicroPython Turns 9 years old! #Python @micropython
The 29th of April marked the date on which the first line of MicroPython code was written, and MicroPython is now 9 years old! Via the MicroPython Newsletter, Issue 12, here are some highlights at this point:
In the past 12 months, the main MicroPython code has seen:
1210 commits, up from 817 in the previous year (there are now 13,393 total commits)
147 contributors, up from 93 in the previous year
And versions v1.16, v1.17 and v1.18 were released.
MicroPython also gained the following new features:
mpremote, a new command-line tool for interacting with a MicroPython device; find it at PyPI, and read the documentation
f-strings (PEP-498)
additions to the mimxrt port: VFS with internal flash storage, Pin, ADC, UART, Timer, RTC, I2C, SPI, SDRAM, SD card and LAN support
additions to the rp2 port: RTC, networking and Bluetooth support, more boards
additions to the samd port: filesystem using internal flash; Pin, LED classes
machine.I2S on stm32, esp32, rp2 and mimxrt ports
boosted performance of the VM and runtime by the addition of an optional cache to speed up general hash table lookups
board.json metadata for each supported board, and corresponding automated building of firmware for the download page.
simplification of configuration of features via a feature level setting, which aims to make the ports more consistent in what Python features they offer
And many other things!
GitHub Sponsors has been growing well over the past year, and MicroPython is now receiving USD $4150/month, up from USD $1250/month this time last year. This funding is greatly appreciated and goes towards maintaining the open source code. You can find the sponsorship page here.
It has been a very busy 12 months and things are not slowing down! The project plans to release v1.19 very soon, which includes a completely reworked .mpy file format to facilitate freezing Python code without rebuilding firmware. And there are many other items in the works.
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.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
