The Real Python Podcast

Resources and Advice for Building CircuitPython Projects


Listen Later

Are you looking to advance your CircuitPython projects? Would you like a collection of resources and tools to help you along your path? This week on the show, Tod Kurt is here to discuss building projects with CircuitPython.

Tod has been working with embedded electronics for a long time and has been an active member of the Arduino community. He recently started to build projects using CircuitPython, and it has become his preferred prototype method.

He shares software resources, hardware tools, and advice about working with CircuitPython and embedded electronics. We discuss several of his music hardware projects and the libraries and modules that he uses for synthesis. He also shares a powerful online prototyping tool to plan your project before spending money or plugging in a soldering iron.

Course Spotlight: Python Basics: Reading and Writing Files

In this video course, you’ll learn how to move data back and forth between your Python programs and external software by reading and writing files. You’ll practice reading and writing data stored in the CSV file format, one of the most widely supported file formats for transferring tabular data.

Topics:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction
  • 00:02:17 – Tod’s background and ThingM
  • 00:06:37 – The Bootloader Podcast
  • 00:09:58 – Why did you move from C to Python?
  • 00:13:47 – Starting new projects with CircuitPython instead of Arduino
  • 00:17:14 – Advantages of the Arduino language
  • 00:21:07 – Modules that extend CircuitPython with C
  • 00:25:23 – Synthesis and sample playback in CircuitPython
  • 00:32:54 – Video Course Spotlight
  • 00:34:13 – ulab for NumPy-like functionality in CircuitPython
  • 00:39:20 – Raspberry Pi Pico as inexpensive project board
  • 00:46:08 – STEMMA QT and breadboards
  • 00:48:40 – Powering projects with a USB power bank
  • 00:51:25 – Software tools - tio, circup, and discotool
  • 00:56:55 – CircuitPython tricks GitHub repo
  • 00:59:44 – Wokwi simulator for CircuitPython and Raspberry Pi Pico
  • 01:01:25 – PCB board design resources
  • 01:03:27 – todbot projects on Tindie
  • 01:06:11 – Hardware tools for projects
  • 01:08:21 – What are you excited about in the world of Python?
  • 01:09:42 – What do you want to learn next?
  • 01:11:30 – How can people follow your work online?
  • 01:12:50 – Thanks and goodbye
  • Show Links:

    • todbot blog – Random experiments, circuits, and code by Tod Kurt.
    • todbot - YouTube
    • ThingM
    • The Bootloader Podcast
    • The CircuitPython Show Podcast
    • CircuitPython
    • Arduino - Home
    • Extending CircuitPython: An Introduction - Adafruit Learning System
    • Adafruit Feather RP2040 with DVI - HDMI Output
    • Episode #75: Building With CircuitPython & Constraints of Python for Microcontrollers
    • displayio – Native helpers for driving displays - CircuitPython
    • Mozzi
    • synthio: Support for multi-channel audio synthesis - Adafruit
    • ulab: Crunch Numbers fast in CircuitPython - Adafruit Learning System
    • Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 - Adafruit
    • What is STEMMA? - Adafruit STEMMA & STEMMA QT
    • USB Power bank - Current Favorite - Amazon
    • tio: A simple serial device I/O tool - GitHub
    • circup: CircuitPython library updater - GitHub
    • discotool: USB Arduino type boards discovery library and tool - GitHub
    • circuitpython-tricks: Some CircuitPython tricks, mostly reminders to myself - GitHub
    • Wokwi Simulator - CircuitPython on Raspberry Pi Pico Project
    • EAGLE - PCB Design And Electrical Schematic Software - Autodesk
    • KiCad EDA - Schematic Capture & PCB Design Software
    • Introducing KiCanvas - Stargirl (Thea) Flowers
    • PicoTouch - Capsense MIDI keyboard - Tindie
    • PicoStepSeq PCB from todbot synth toys - Tindie
    • USB Voltage and Current Tester - Amazon
    • USB Hub with Individual Power Switches - Amazon
    • CPython Internals Book – Real Python
    • ThinkDSP: Free Book on Digital Signal Processing in Python
    • todbot blog – Random experiments, circuits, and code by Tod Kurt.
    • Tod Kurt (todbot) (@[email protected]) - Mastodon
    • Adafruit Discord - @todbot
    • Level up your Python skills with our expert-led courses:

      • Python Basics: Reading and Writing Files
      • Getting Started With MicroPython
      • Python Basics: File System Operations
      • Support the podcast & join our community of Pythonistas

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store

        The Real Python PodcastBy Real Python

        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7
        • 4.7

        4.7

        134 ratings


        More shows like The Real Python Podcast

        View all
        Hanselminutes with Scott Hanselman by Scott Hanselman

        Hanselminutes with Scott Hanselman

        377 Listeners

        Software Engineering Radio - the podcast for professional software developers by se-radio@computer.org

        Software Engineering Radio - the podcast for professional software developers

        265 Listeners

        The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source by Changelog Media

        The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source

        287 Listeners

        LINUX Unplugged by Jupiter Broadcasting

        LINUX Unplugged

        262 Listeners

        Thoughtworks Technology Podcast by Thoughtworks

        Thoughtworks Technology Podcast

        41 Listeners

        Talk Python To Me by Michael Kennedy

        Talk Python To Me

        584 Listeners

        Software Engineering Daily by Software Engineering Daily

        Software Engineering Daily

        628 Listeners

        Super Data Science: ML & AI Podcast with Jon Krohn by Jon Krohn

        Super Data Science: ML & AI Podcast with Jon Krohn

        294 Listeners

        Python Bytes by Michael Kennedy and Brian Okken

        Python Bytes

        213 Listeners

        Data Engineering Podcast by Tobias Macey

        Data Engineering Podcast

        140 Listeners

        Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats by Wes Bos & Scott Tolinski - Full Stack JavaScript Web Developers

        Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats

        988 Listeners

        CoRecursive: Coding Stories by Adam Gordon Bell - Software Developer

        CoRecursive: Coding Stories

        186 Listeners

        DataFramed by DataCamp

        DataFramed

        269 Listeners

        Practical AI by Practical AI LLC

        Practical AI

        190 Listeners

        The Stack Overflow Podcast by The Stack Overflow Podcast

        The Stack Overflow Podcast

        63 Listeners