MicroPython Newsletter Issue 2

dcexpert

MicroPython Newsletter Issue 2 [Copy link]

 Welcome to the second edition of the MicroPython Newsletter! Hardware Last week we announced the upcoming release of the new pyboard D series, which we hope to have rolling out in the coming months. We have now found solutions to most of the logistical issues we faced, and are working towards volume production. If all goes to plan, we expect to start fabricating PCBs in the coming weeks, with SMD production to follow shortly thereafter. Software On the software development side, in addition to the ongoing enhancements and new features, we are still digging in small but significant optimizations in various parts of the core code. In the last week, some local reductions have been made to the baseline code size, as well as lowering RAM usage for generators, and using frozen bytecode for large integer constants. The original pyboard PYBv1.x or PYBLITEv1.0 have single precision hardware floating point, which is the default mode of the firmware. But did you know that it is possible to use firmware with double precision software floating point? This will make floating point operations run a bit slower, but if you need the extra precision, this is now possible. You can also try preemptive multithreading on the pyboard by installing special firmware and using the `_thread` module. You can try `_thread.start_new_thread(my_func, ('arg1', 'arg2'))`. To download these different firmwares, visit https://micropython.org/download/#pyboard. Note that there is no harm in trying this firmware, your file system will not be corrupted and you can easily revert to the standard firmware (also available at that link). Events In March we held a MicroPython workshop in Berlin to get people excited about MicroPython and the pyboard, you can read more about it here: https://pyladiesberlin.github.io/blog.html . Last weekend Pyladises in Berlin had a booth at pydataberlin where they demonstrated their MicroPython using the pyboard, see https://twitter.com/PyLadiesBer/status/ ... 4860719104 . There's a London MicroPython meetup on July 9th! If you’re in the London area today, be sure to head over to the MicroPython meetup: https://www.meetup.com/London-MicroPython-Meetup/events/251679691/ for a great talk from Damien and the MicroPython team.