From the GitHub release page:

This is CircuitPython 8.2.0-beta.0, a beta release for CircuitPython 8.2.0, and is a new unstable release.

Notable changes to 8.2.0 since 8.1.0

• Continued enhancement of synthio.
• RP2040 alarm.sleep_memory.

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 the 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).

Documentation

Documentation is available in readthedocs.io.

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, these ports are consider stable (but see Known Issues below):

• atmel-samd: Microchip SAMD21, SAMx5x
• cxd56: Sony Spresense
• espressif: Espressif ESP32, ESP32-S2, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3
• nrf: Nordic nRF52840, nRF52833
• raspberrypi: Raspberry Pi RP2040
• stm: ST STM32F4 chip family

These ports are considered alpha and will have bugs and missing functionality:

• broadcom: Raspberry Pi boards such as RPi 4, RPi Zero 2W
• litex: fomu
• mimxrt10xx: NXP i.MX RT10xxx
• silabs: Silicon Labs MG24 family
• stm: ST non-STM32F4 chip families

Changes since 8.1.0

Fixes and enhancements

• synthio improvements and fixes. #8024, #7985. Thanks @jepler.
• Fix memoryview.cast over sliced memoryview. #7998. Thanks @tannewt.
• Fix display initialization crashes. #7983. Thanks @furbrain.

Port and board-specific changes

Broadcom

Espressif

• Fix TouchAlarm. #8003. Thanks @dhalbert.
• Check USB/JTAG lines for incoming characters. #7973. Thanks @tannewt.
• Improve debug builds for ESP32-C3. #7972. Thanks @tannewt.

i.MX

RP2040

• Add alarm.sleep_memory. #8015. Thanks @dhalbert.
• Wait for completion in wifi.radio.stop_station(). #7982. Thanks @bill88t.
• Allow static IPv4 address. #7976. Thanks @anecdata.

SAMx

SiLabs

• Various fixes, including BLE bonding. #8021. Thanks @silabs-BelaV.

Spresense

STM

Individual boards

Adafruit Feather RP2040: add access to boot button. #7988. Thanks @Neradoc.
LilyGo T-Display RP2040: fix incorrect pins. #8026. Thanks @phamhuyvn.
LilyGo T-Display RP2040: fix display column start. #8011. Thanks @rcarteraz.

Documentation changes

Build and infrastructure changes

• Add apt-get update for mpy-cross build steps. #8012. Thanks @dhalbert.

Translation additions and improvements

• Thanks for translations:
  • @andibing (English – UK)
  • @bergdahl (Swedish)
  • bill88t (Greek)
  • @jposada202020 (Spanish)
  • @luisan00 (Spanish)
  • @tannewt (multiple langauges)
  • @wtuemura (Portugese – Brazil)

New boards since 8.1.0

Lolin C3 Pico. #8025, #8014. Thanks @tkroo,
Lolin S3 Mini. #8023. Thanks @tkroo.
M5Stack Timer Camera X. #7941. Thanks @bill88t.
NXP MIMIXRT1060-EVKB. #8016. Thanks @charlieh0tel.

Known issues

• ESP32-S3 has issues with I2C devices that sleep (LC709203F), use clock stretching, or violate the I2C protocol (e.g., BNO055). Retry operations on these devices as necessary, or use ESP32-S2 boards.
• Espressif boards have ESP-IDF storage leaks and occasionally crash after extended WiFi use.
• See https://github.com/adafruit/circuitpython/issues for other issues, including issues still to be addressed for:
  • 8.2.0
  • 8.x.x
  • long term

Thanks

Thank you to all who used, tested, and contributed since 8.1.0, including the contributors above, and many others on GitHub and Discord. Join us on the Discord chat to collaborate.