CircuitPython 5.0.0 released! @adafruit @circuitpython

5.0.0

This is CircuitPython 5.0.0, the latest major revision of CircuitPython, and is a new stable release.

5.0.0 features many improvements and enhancements to displayio, including grayscale OLED and e-paper displays, extensive additions and improvements to BLE support, support for the STM32F4, iMX RT10xx and Sony Spresense microcontroller families, and PWM audio support.

Download from circuitpython.org

Downloads are available from circuitpython.org! The site makes it easy to select the correct file and language for your board. The downloads page is here. Downloads are no longer available from the GitHub release pages because of the large number of files for each release.

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).

New features and improvements since 4.1.2

  • Many improvements to displayio
    • Revamped refresh API
    • Grayscale OLED support
    • e-paper display support
    • Groups can be hidden
  • Many _bleio improvements
    • Renamed bleio to _bleio to emphasize one should use the BLE library and that _bleio‘s API may change without a major CircuitPython version bump
    • Central support
    • Client support
    • Pairing and bonding support
  • Many audio fixes and improvements
    • MP3 decoding support
    • PWM audio out
    • nRF52840 I2S support
    • Mixer moved to audiomixer and now supports per-voice volume
  • Finalized _pixelbuf API for RGB pixel speedups
  • Additional chip families with beta support:
    • STM32F4
    • iMX RT 10xx
    • CXD56 (Sony Spresense)
  • Added Korean translation
  • Many translation improvements

Breaking Changes and Deprecations from 4.x

  • 5.0.0 improves our internal filesystem definitions and may overwrite your existing files so make sure to back them up before updating!
  • The bleio module has been renamed to _bleio to indicate that it is meant to be used only for writing BLE libraries, and that its API may change between CircuitPython minor versions. There are many incompatible changes in _bleio since 4.0.0. Please use the latest adafruit_ble library for end-user BLE programming.
  • The displayio refresh API has been revamped to be simpler. wait_for_frame and refresh_soon have been removed. In both 4.x and 5.x, auto refresh will automatically refresh the display so they can be removed. The new auto_refresh property and refresh() function can be used to control when the screen refreshes and at a specific rate.
  • Moved audioio.Mixer to audiomixer.Mixer, which is only available on M4s. Moved audioio.RawSample, and audioio.WaveFile to the new module audiocore. However, for backwards compatibility, they are still available in audioio. They will be removed from audioio in 6.0.0. Thanks @jepler.
  • Added I2C.writeto_then_readfrom(). Deprecate stop= arg which will be removed in 6.x. Use I2C.writeto_then_readfrom() instead.
  • Removed re from CircuitPlayground Express Display build.
  • Removed gamepad from CircuitPlayground Express Crickit build.

51 New boards since 4.1.2

Known Issues

  • displayio operations that read from an SD card (e.g., OnDiskBitmap) will interfere with other SD card operations and can cause lockup. To work around this problem, do not read or write files on the SD while the display is updating, and vice versa.
  • See https://github.com/adafruit/circuitpython/issues for other issues.

Thanks

Thank you to all who used, tested, contributed, helped out, and participated on GitHub and/or Discord, including @3ach, @adafruit, @AdinAck, @aine, @albang, @alexwhittemore, @AndrewTribble, @anecdata, @anneb, @anne B, @AnthonyDiGirolamo, @Anton-2, @antonio, @ardnew, @arturo182, @ATMakersBill, @becky-lou, @bitbank Mr. Optimization, @bmeisels, @brentru, @C47D, @callmeraffiq, @CarlFK, @carternuson, @cater, @caternuson, @cbyr2401, @CedarGroveStudios, @cgrover, @charlesburnaford, @clininja, @codeNsolder, @CollinCunningham, @cr1901, @CSchmitz, @CudaCoreRoo, @curt Olson, @dalegrover, @Dar, @darkmusic, @Dar-Scott, @dastels, @davep, @DavePutz, @DavidGlaude, @dcbricetti, @ddiminnie, @deanm1278, @deshipu, @devoh, @dglaude, @dhalbert, @dherrada, @diegoMini+, @dmgrime, @dmopalmer, @dpgeorge, @DrewFustini, @DudeImOnly6, @Duewester, @dunkmann00, @dhalbert, @edspark, @fede2, @fgallaire, @FoamyGuy, @Frank.H, @gallaugher, @geekguy, @gotfredsen, @graham, @hathach, @hexthat, @hierophect, @hukuzatuna, @hybotics, @iayanpahwa, @iot49, @iraytrace, @jackdanielsmurphy, @jamesbowman, @jasonp, @jedgarpark, @jepler, @Jerryn, @jerryneedell, @JoeBakalor, @joey, @joeycastillo, @josh, @jp, @jpecor, @KalbeAbbas, @kamtom480, @kattni, @kdb424, @kevinjwalters, @kickbutts, @KingerNorth, @KittenCanaveral, @kjw, @klardotsh, @ladyada, @lgnashold, @loganwedwards, @madbodger, @maholli, @makermelissa, @marius_450, @Marius-450, @matthewnewberg, @MikeB, @MrCertainly, @mr. Certainly, @Mr-Coxall, @mscosti, @mubes, @mwelling, @mytechnotalent, @ndGarage, @neubauek, @nickzoic, @nis, @ntavish, @ntoll, @OldCrow, @osterwood, @pdp7, @pdp7, @pigrew, @pt, @ptorrone, @rafa-gould, @rdagger, @reply2jh, @Retoc, @rhooper, @sajattack, @santaimpersonator, @sarfata, @scs217, @Senuros, @shane, @shazz, @siddacious, @s-light, @sommersoft, @SouthernDragon, @stargirl, @TammyMakesThings, @tannewt, @TG-Techie, @theacodes, @theodox, @ThomasAtBBTF, @timvgso, @timvictor, @tsupplis, @urish, @v923z, @wallarug and surely more we have missed. Join us on the Discord chat to collaborate.

Documentation

Documentation is available in readthedocs.io.

This release is based on MicroPython 1.9.4 @25ae98f. Support upstream MicroPython by purchasing a PyBoard (from Adafruit here).

Troubleshooting

Check out this guide for info on common problems with CircuitPython. If you are still having issues, then post to the Adafruit Support Forums and join Discord.


Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards

Join Adafruit on Mastodon

Adafruit is on Mastodon, join in! adafruit.com/mastodon

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.

Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer!

Join over 36,000+ makers on Adafruit’s Discord channels and be part of the community! http://adafru.it/discord

CircuitPython – The easiest way to program microcontrollers – CircuitPython.org


Maker Business — “Packaging” chips in the US

Wearables — Enclosures help fight body humidity in costumes

Electronics — Transformers: More than meets the eye!

Python for Microcontrollers — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: Silicon Labs introduces CircuitPython support, and more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi

Adafruit IoT Monthly — Guardian Robot, Weather-wise Umbrella Stand, and more!

Microsoft MakeCode — MakeCode Thank You!

EYE on NPI — Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey

New Products – Adafruit Industries – Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers! — #NewProds 7/19/23 Feat. Adafruit Matrix Portal S3 CircuitPython Powered Internet Display!

Get the only spam-free daily newsletter about wearables, running a "maker business", electronic tips and more! Subscribe at AdafruitDaily.com !



No Comments

No comments yet.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.