CircuitPython is great for getting started with microcontroller programming, but it can have a
few shortfalls. One of which is very accurate timing. The CircuitPython interpreter does quite a bit in the background, and this means that the execution of the program pauses occasionally. These pauses are short and don’t generally cause any problems, unless you need something to be very accurate time-wise.
One thing you might need accurate timing for is reading an analogue signal. If you want to
understand what the signal is doing, you need to know exactly when the readings are taken.
Thankfully, in CircuitPython 8 on Raspberry Pi Pico, there’s a solution – analogbufio. This lets you read values from the analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) directly into a Python data structure. It’s only available on Pico and other RP2040-based hardware at the moment, but may be expanded to other platforms in the future.
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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.
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.
Python for Microcontrollers — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: MicroPython Pico W Bluetooth, CircuitPython 8.0.4 and much more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
