It’s here!!! Last week the CircuitPython team released the first stable version of CircuitPython 3.0.0! It brings support for the SAMD51 (aka M4) that is available now in the Metro, Feather and ItsyBitsy form factors. It also features a number of other improvements that make it the best version of CircuitPython yet! We highly recommend updating.
As always, thank you to the 50+ people who helps make the CircuitPython project and community great. We can’t do it without you. Newcomers are always welcome to participate on Discord, in the weekly meeting, and on GitHub. Join us as we continue to make CircuitPython better!
Our next major release will be 4.0 and will support the nRF52840 which adds native USB to a chipset with Bluetooth Low Energy. So, CircuitPython is going wireless! Stay tuned for more details.
News from around the web!
Over the past year the team at NumWorks, the Python-based calculator, worked with high school educators & students and have added a ton of features. If you have one of these calculators you can update it now to get the new features.
The NumWorks Graphing Calculator matches all the requirements of the ACT calculator policy and is permitted for use on that test. It is also permitted for use on the SAT by the College Board starting with the August 2018 administration. The online simulator is here.
Features include: Advanced graphing, Natural writing input, Equation and system solver, Statistics and regressions, New Python editor, AND … “Python Workshop” an online python workshop that allows sync’ing of scripts between your computer and your calculator, edit and save your scripts online, and browse a comprehensive library of scripts written by other users.
A Coming of Age for CircuitPython
Over on the hackster.io blogs, Alasdair Allan, has an article “A Coming of Age for CircuitPython” – good read … “we’re now heading directly towards another, with interpreted languages like Javascript and Python becoming the new normal for development.
When new hardware arrives being Arduino-compatible is still important, but increasingly new boards also advertise support for a higher level language, with support for MicroPython, and Adafruit’s custom fork CircuitPython, being firmly in the lead.” – Read more.
Also on hackster “The New Adafruit Feather M4.”
Backpack with animatronic tail and RAWR mode with light up Red Glow Monster Menacing Eyes – video, code & guide.
HACK BIT 2018 After Movie – video.
MESH Networks on Pycom – works on Pycom development boards (LoPy4 and FiPy) and OEM modules (L01 and L04) that support LoRa.
EduBlocks for CircuitPython is coming soon! Code and build projects using Adafruit’s line of CircuitPython boards.
PyDev of the Week: Katharine Jarmul from Mouse vs Python
Guido Retires as BDFL (CPython project leader) from Mouse vs Python
Made with Mu
The release candidate for Mu 1.0.0 is out! This is the last step before the final release of Mu 1.0. Apart from a few minor bug fixes, the biggest change from beta 17 is the inclusion of various translations for the user interface. Full details can be found in the changelog. Read more.
Upcoming events!
July 23rd to July 29th, 2018 is EuroPython, a community conference with a call for proposals until May 20th on every aspect of Python: programming from novice to advanced levels, applications and frameworks, or how you have been involved in introducing Python into your organization.
July 28th and 29th, 2018 is PyOhio, a free Python conference held in Ohio. Adafruit is sponsoring through a hardware donation for the Welcome to CircuitPython! tutorial. Check out videos from previous PyOhio conference years here. Registration is open!
August 24-28, 2018 is PyCon.AU in Sydney, Australia. It is the national Python conference for Australia and the home PyCon of MicroPython! Videos of past talks are here.
New Learn Guides!
Hello World of Robotics with Crickit from Mike Barela
CircuitPython-Powered 3-Minute Nightlight from Dan Halbert
Adabox 008 from John Park
Adafruit Feather M4 Express from Ladyada
Paper Craft Zoetrope with Crickit from Dano Wall
CircuitPython 101: Basic Builtin Data Structures from Dave Astels
Updated: CircuitPython Essentials – Audio Out from Kattni
Latest releases
CircuitPython’s stable release is 3.0.0. New to CircuitPython? Start with our Welcome to CircuitPython Guide.
20180714 is the latest CircuitPython library bundle.
v1.9.4 is the latest MicroPython release. Documentation for it is here.
3.7.0 is the latest Python release.
Contribute!
The CircuitPython Weekly Newsletter is a CircuitPython community-run newsletter emailed every Tuesday. It highlights the latest CircuitPython related news from around the web including Python and MicroPython developments. To contribute, edit next week’s draft on GitHub and submit a pull request with the changes. Join our Discord or post to the forum for any further questions.
