adafruit/circuitpython 7.0.0-beta.0

CircuitPython 7.0.0 Beta 0

on GitHub

This is CircuitPython 7.0.0-beta.0, the initial beta release for CircuitPython 7.0.0. It is relatively stable, but contains issues still to be addressed for 7.0.0. The Python API's it presents are not expected to change incompatibly before the final 7.0.0 release, though they may be augmented.

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.

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.6

The full commit log is here.

Fixes and enhancements

• Add atexit module. #5077. Thanks @MicroDev1.
• Fix sorting in displayio.Group. #5203. Thanks @lesamouraipourpre.
• Remove redundant routine displayio_copy_coords(). #5200. Thanks @lesamouraipourpre.
• Turn on Unicode for FAT filesystems. #5171. Thanks @tannewt.
• Check whether background tasks need running before sleeping. #5182, #5202. Thanks @tannewt and @dhalbert.
• Move bitbangio/busio.OneWire to onewire. #5139, #5188. Thanks @tannewt and @cwalther.
• canio: Run background tasks while waiting for messages. #5175. Thanks @jepler.
• Prevent duplicate listings in help("modules"). #5166. Thanks @jepler.
• Check for duplicated pins in keypad. #5123. Thanks @gamblor21.
• Fix crash on reload exceptions. #5152. Thanks @MicroDev1.
• Update TinyUSB submodule. #5172. Thanks @dhalbert.
• Support multiple reports per device in usb_hid.Device. #5151. Thanks @dhalbert.
• Fix audiomp3 playback stopping issue. #5165. Thanks @jepler.
• Update terminalio ter-u12n.bdf font file. #5078. Thanks @rpavlik.
• Reset timers separately from pwmio. #5127. Thanks @tannewt.
• Increase transmit power when doing BLE workflow pairing. #5147. Thanks @tannewt.
• displayio.Display.refresh() minimimum_frames_per_second default is now 0. Thanks @jepler.
• Deprecate displayio.Display() set_vertical_scroll` argument. #5205. Thanks @jepler.
• Add bitmaptools.boundary_fill(). #5145. Thanks @FoamyGuy.

Port and board-specific changes

nRF

• Honor write_value in busio.SPI. #5173. Thanks @jepler.

RP2040

• Honor write_value in busio.SPI. #5173. Thanks @jepler.
• Fix overly-restrictive RP2040 I2C pin check. #5174. Thanks @tannewt.
• Update TinyUSB submodule; includes RP2040 fixes. #5172. Thanks @dhalbert.

SAMx

• Check for I2C frequency values that are too low. #5190. Thanks @jepler.
• Use PER event for SAMD21 ticks. #5100. Thanks @tannewt.
• Improve DMA-based audio. #5196. #Thanks @dhalbert.

Spresense

• Honor write_value in busio.SPI. #5173. Thanks @jepler.

Individual Boards

• Adafruit Funhouse, Unexpected Maker microS2, and Particle Argon and Boron: fix status LED. #5161. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser and @dhalbert.
• Adafruit MacroPad: rename SPEAKER_SHUTDOWN to SPEAKER_ENABLE . #5181. Thanks @kattni.
• CP Sapling M0 RevB: fix name of board.UART. #5162. Thanks @rpavlik.
• Nordic PCA10100: Remove synthio for space reasons. #5206. Thanks @MicroDev1.
• Pimoroni boards: remove unneeded internal pin definitions. #5161. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.
• Pimoroni Tiny2020: remove default board devices. #5160. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.

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.

Documentation

• Fix typo in README.rst. #5144. Thanks @rpavlik.
• Update EPaperDisplay constructor documentation. #5131. Thanks @lesamouraipourpre.

Build and infrastructure changes

• Allow customized setting of MICROPY_CPYTHON_COMPAT. #5157. Thanks @DavePutz and @nitz.
• Check version of uncrustify. #5137. Thanks @jepler.
• Update tools/adabot submodule. #5130. Thanks @dhalbert.

Translation additions and improvements

• Copyediting. #5204. Thanks @jepler.
• Thanks for translations:
  • @bergdahl (Swedish)
  • p43lz3r (German)
  • @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.

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).