CircuitPython 7.0.0 Release Candidate 2 Released! @circuitpython

This is CircuitPython 7.0.0-rc.2, the third release candidate for CircuitPython 7.0.0. We have addressed all the issues we scheduled for the 7.0.0 release. We believe this release is stable, but want to give time for further testing.

Notable additions to 7.0.0 since 6.3.0 include:

• Support for the CircuitPython development workflow over BLE.
• Camera support on ESP32S2.
• qrio: QR code decoding.
• The keypad key-scanning module.
• Run-time customization of USB devices.
• Merging in of MicroPython fixes and enhancements as of MicroPython 1.16.
• _pixelbuf is now adafruit_pixelbuf.
• colorwheel() routine moved to rainbowio.
• supervisor.ticks_ms() to allow easier time-keeping.
• Simplifications to the RGB status LED codes.
• A clocking fix for a few samples of RP2040 boards.
• Rework of vectorio and some of its API. VectorShape is no longer needed for user code.
• atexit module.
• getpass module.
• traceback module.
• supervisor.get_previous_traceback().
• board.LED now consistently present on all boards that have such an LED.
• PulseOut no longer needs a PWMOut.
• Unicode filename support.
• Board ID is now in boot_out.txt and available as board.board_id.
• aesio on for full builds by default.

Download from circuitpython.org

Firmware downloads are available from the downloads page on circuitpython.org. The site makes it easy to select the correct file and language for your board.

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).

Port status

CircuitPython has a number of “ports” that are the core implementations for different microcontroller families. Stability varies on a per-port basis. As of this release, atmel-samd, cxd56 (Spresense), esp32s2, nrf,raspberrypi, stm for the F4 family are stable. stm for other STM chip families is being actively improved but may be missing functionality and have bugs. litex and mimxrt10xx are in an alpha state and will have bugs and missing functionality.

Changes since 7.0.0-rc.1

The full commit log is here. A few changes before 7.0.0-rc.1 are included as well.

Fixes and enhancements

• Correct sdioio name. #5345. Thanks @dhalbert.
• Enhance BLE file service. #5340. Thanks @tannewt.
• Fix 24-bit decoding in bitmaptools.readinto(). #5338. Thanks @lesamouraipourpre.
• Update TinyUSB to pass compliance test suite. #5337, #5286, #5268. Thanks @hathach and @tannewt.
• Fix use of allocations for get_previous_traceback(). #5333. Thanks @microDev1.
• Consistently validate VectorShape location properties. #5327. Thanks @lesamouraipourpre.
• BLE: do not scan and advertise simultaneously. #5321. Thanks @tannewt.
• Update frozen libraries. #5314, #5288. Thanks @dhalbert and @UnexpectedMaker.
• Do not use translated messages for REPL messages read by editors. #5308. Thanks @microDev1.
• Add board.board_id and board.__name__. #5299. Thanks @Neradoc.
• aesio is now available on more builds. #5293. Thanks @microDev1.
• BLE workflow fix. #5284. Thanks @tannewt.
• Move paralleldisplay to its own module. #5260. Thanks @jepler.

Port and board-specific changes

nRF

• Correct I2SOut pin checking. #5326. Thanks @dhalbert.
• Fix builds for use with gcc 11.2. (We still use gcc 10.2.1 for production.) #5319. Thanks @tannewt.
• Fix watchdog crashes. #5272. Thanks @tannewt.

RP2040

• Enable use of WFI when idling. #5341. Thanks @tannewt and @urish.
• Implement microcontroller.Processor.reset_reason. #5320. Thanks @rjp5th.
• Fix I2SOut audio. #5310. Thanks @dhalbert.

ESP32-S2

• Improved fix for heap metadata fix #5245. #5348. Thanks @tannewt and @anecdata.

Spresense

• Update SDK to 2.3.0. #5336. Thanks @kamtom480.
• Update TinyUSB to fix USB MSC issue. #5303. Thanks @kamtom480.

STM32

Individual Boards

• LilyGo T8 S2 ST7789: Add pins. #5279. Thanks @microDev1.
• Nordic PCA10100: shrink flash size. #5339. Thanks @tannewt.
• UnexpectedMaker TinyS2: add _stage. #5289. Thanks @UnexpectedMaker.

New boards Since 6.3.0

• ARAMCON2 Badge. #4627. Thanks @aramcon-badge.
• ATMegaZero ESP32-S2. #4634. Thanks @eddieespinal.
• Adafruit LED Glasses nRF52840 Driver. #5224, #5265, #5326. Thanks @dhalbert and @ladyada.
• Adafruit MacroPad RP2040. #4770, #4864. Thanks @ladyada.
• AiThinker ESP-12K NodeMCU. #5149. Thanks @codetyphon.
• Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect. #4802. Thanks @BlitzCityDIY.
• BlueMicro840. #5114. Thanks @jpconstantineau.
• CP Sapling Rev B. #4677. Thanks @skerr92.
• Challenger RP2040 WiFi. #5323. Thanks @PontusO.
• CrumpSpace CrumpS2. #5143. Thanks @tylercrumpton.
• Cytron Maker Pi RP2040. #4824. Thanks @CytronTechnologies.
• EncoderPad RP2040. #5247 Thanks @jpconstantineau.
• Espressif HMI DevKit 1. Thanks @jepler.
• Espressif HMI Development Kit. #5335. Thanks @skieast.
• Espressif Kalgua v1.3. #4870. Thanks @jepler.
• Gravitech Cucumber M. #5097. Thanks @anecdata.
• Gravitech Cucumber MS. #5097. Thanks @anecdata.
• Gravitech Cucumber R. #5097. Thanks @anecdata.
• Gravitech Cucumber RS. #5097. Thanks @anecdata.
• Lolin Mini S2. #5239, #5297. Thanks @durapensa.
• micro:bit V2 (first BLE-only board). #5002. Thanks @tannewt.
• Morpheans MorphESP-240. #5129. Thanks @skieast.
• Muselab nanoESP32-S2 WROVER. #4834. Thanks @reppad.
• Oak Development Technologies PixelWing ESP32-S2. #5156. Thanks @skerr92.
• Pimoroni Interstate 75. #5099. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.
• Pimoroni PGA2040. #4865. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.
• Pimoroni Plasma 2040. #5099. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.
• RayTac MDBT50Q-RX nRF52840 dongle. #5095. Thanks @dhalbert.
• senseBox MCU. #4576. Thanks @felixerdy.
• SparkFun MicroMod SAMD51. #4852. Thanks @stonehippo.
• SparkFun MicroMod STM32. #5060. Thanks @cdwilson.
• UnexpectedMaker Feather S2 Neo. #5294. Thanks @UnexpectedMaker.
• WarmBit BluePixel nRF52840. #5229 Thanks @warmbit.

Documentation

• Update documentation for vectorio. #5330. Thanks @lesamouraipourpre.
• Remove remaining reference to settings.py. #5324. Thanks @Neradoc.
• Add required Python packages to build documentation. #5322. Thanks @rdoursenaud.
• Add frozen library information for each board. #5304. Thanks @sommersoft.
• Update ColorConverter documentation. #5295. Thanks @lesamouraipourpre.
• Update Display.refresh() documentation. #5292. Thanks @lesamouraipourpre.
• Document ParallelBus.frequency. #5290. Thanks @jepler.
• Update TileGrid argument types. #5285. Thanks @FoamyGuy.

Build and infrastructure changes

• Rename esp32s2 port directory to espressif, to handle future chips. #5342. Thanks @tannewt.
• Only build boards or ports that have changed. #5312, #5238. Thanks @tannewt.
• Add test for traceback. #5296. Thanks @microDev1.
• Fix link templates. #5284. Thanks @tannewt.
• Use MP_REGISTER_MODULE for more built-in modules. #5281. Thanks @capellini.
• Add 0x prefix on %p uses in printf(). #5263. Thanks @jepler.

Translation additions and improvements

• Thanks for translations:
  • @hexthat (Chinese Pinyin)
  • @lesamouraipourpre (English UK)

Breaking changes and deprecations since 6.x

• The RGB status LED codes have changed for clarity and to save power.
• PWMOut is now only in pwmio, and is no longer in both pulseio and pwomio.
• colorwheel() has been moved from _pixelbuf to rainbowio.
• displayio.Group no longer has a max_size parameter.
• vectorio: Rectangle, Circle, and Polygon are added directly to a Group; VectorShape is not needed.
• Using a PWMOut for PulseOut is deprecated and will be removed in 8.0.0.
• gamepad is removed: use keypad. gamepadshift is still present but will be removed in 8.0.0.
• settings.py and settings.txt are no longer alternative names for boot.py.
• The default for displayio.Display.refresh(..., minimimum_frames_per_second, ...) is now 0.
• displayio.Display() argument set_vertical_scroll argument is deprecated and will be removed in 8.0.0.
• displayio.ParallelBus is now available as parallelbus.ParallelBus and will be removed from displayio in 8.0.0.
• busio.OneWire/bitbangio.OneWire is now available as onewireio.OneWire and will be removed from busio and bitbangio in 8.0.0.

Known issues

• See https://ift.tt/2j1euBi for other issues.

Thanks

Thank you to all who used, tested, and contributed since 6.3.0, including the contributors above, and many others on GitHub and Discord. Join us on the Discord chat to collaborate.

Documentation

Documentation is available in readthedocs.io.

This release is based on MicroPython 1.16. Support upstream MicroPython by purchasing a PyBoard (from Adafruit here) or sponsoring MicroPython on GitHub.

Download from circuitpython.org

Firmware downloads are available from the downloads page on circuitpython.org. The site makes it easy to select the correct file and language for your board.

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).

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