CircuitPython

Last updated
CircuitPython
Original author(s) Adafruit Industries
Initial releaseJuly 19, 2017;7 years ago (2017-07-19) [1]
Stable release
9.2.8 [2]   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg / 28 May 2025;39 days ago (28 May 2025)
Repository https://github.com/adafruit/circuitpython
Written in C [3]
Platform Supported microcontrollers and single-board computers
Type Python implementation
License MIT license [4]
Website circuitpython.org

CircuitPython [5] is an open-source derivative of the MicroPython programming language targeted toward students and beginners. Development of CircuitPython is supported by Adafruit Industries. It is a software implementation of the Python 3 programming language, written in C. [3] It has been ported to run on several modern microcontrollers.

Contents

CircuitPython consists of a Python compiler to bytecode and a runtime interpreter of that bytecode that runs on the microcontroller hardware. The user is presented with an interactive prompt (the REPL) to execute supported commands immediately. Included are a selection of core Python libraries. CircuitPython includes modules which give the programmer access to the low-level hardware of supported products as well as higher-level libraries for beginners. [6]

CircuitPython is a fork of MicroPython, originally created by Damien George. [7] The MicroPython community continues to discuss [8] forks of MicroPython into variants such as CircuitPython.

CircuitPython is targeted to be compatible with CPython, the reference implementation of the Python programming language. [9] Programs written for CircuitPython-compatible boards may not run unmodified on other platforms such as the Raspberry Pi. [10]

Usage

CircuitPython is being used as an emerging alternative solution for microcontroller programming, which is usually done in C, C++, or assembly. The language has also seen uptake in making small, handheld video game devices. [11] [ better source needed ] Developer Chris Young has ported his infrared transmit-and-receive software to CircuitPython to provide interactivity and to aid those with accessibility issues. [12]

Community

The user community support includes a Discord chat room and product support forums. [13] A Twitter account dedicated to CircuitPython news was established in 2018. [14] A newsletter, Python on Microcontrollers, is published weekly since 15 November, 2016 by Adafruit to provide news and information on CircuitPython, MicroPython, and Python on single board computers. [15] A Reddit subreddit, r/CircuitPython, provides news on CircuitPython and related news and projects and has about 4,300 members. [16]

Hardware support

As of July 6, 2025 version 9.2.8 supports over 608 different micro controller boards [17]

The version 9.1.0 supports a range of platforms, called "ports": [18]

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

Previous versions supported the ESP8266 microcontroller, but its support was dropped in version 4. [19]

Blinka Software Abstraction Layer

CircuitPython code may run on MicroPython or CPython using the Adafruit written Blinka compatibility layer. [20] It acts as a translation layer between CircuitPython code and underlying code. This allows CircuitPython code to run on many more devices including a wide range of single-board computers which are listed on circuitpython.org. [21] It is a pip installable Python library. The CircuitPython runtime is not used, as documented in the guide CircuitPython Libraries on Linux and Raspberry Pi. [22]

Modules (Libraries)

Adafruit has fostered a community which has contributed software libraries for more than 488 sensors and drivers. [23] [24]

References

  1. ↑ Shawcroft, Scott (19 July 2017). "CircuitPython 1.0.0!". Adafruit Blog. Adafruit Industries. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  2. ↑ "Release 9.2.8". 28 May 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 "adafruit/circuitpython". GitHub . Adafruit Industries . Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  4. ↑ George, Damien P. (4 May 2014). "circuitpython/LICENSE". GitHub . Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "CircuitPython is an education friendly open-source derivative of MicroPython". GitHub . Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "CircuitPython". Read the Docs . Adafruit Industries. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  7. ↑ George, Damien (20 May 2016). "Damien P. George". Damien P. George. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Adafruit CircuitPython". MicroPython Forum. MicroPython.org. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  9. ↑ Lewis, James (14 February 2018). "Circuit Python adds Python to Microcontrollers". The Bald Engineer. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Ganne, Simon. "Can I use circuitPython code on my raspberry?". Element 14 Community. Element 14.
  11. ↑ Dopieralski, Radomir. "CircuitPython LAMEBOY". BitBucket. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  12. ↑ Young, Chris (6 June 2018). "Announcing IRLibCP — a Circuit Python Module for Infrared Transmitting and Receiving". CY's Tech Talk. Chris Young. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  13. ↑ "Adafruit CircuitPython and MicroPython". Adafruit Support Forums. Adafruit Industries. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  14. ↑ "CircuitPython". Twitter . Adfafruit Industries. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "The Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter". Adafruit Daily. Adafruit Industries. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  16. ↑ "r/CircuitPython". Reddit.com. Adafruit Industries. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  17. ↑ "Circuitpython.org downloads".
  18. ↑ "CircuitPython 9.1.0". GitHub. 17 July 2024.
  19. ↑ "Why are we dropping support for ESP8266?". Adafruit.com. Adafruit Industries. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  20. ↑ "Blinka". CircuitPython. Adafruit Industries. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  21. ↑ "Blinka". CircuitPython. Adafruit Industries. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  22. ↑ "CircuitPython Libraries on Linux and Raspberry Pi". Adafruit Learning System. Adafruit Industries Industries. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  23. ↑ "Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter" . Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  24. ↑ "CircuitPython Libraries" . Retrieved 17 July 2024.
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