microbit-micropython package (Linux)

Atom package to support micropython development on the mircobit.

!!! Please note, that this package only supports Linux (and most likely Mac) !!!

The package offers the following features:

• Flash Microbit with Micropython including the current Python file
• Create firmware HEX including Micropyton and current Python file
• Serial terminal to Micropython REPL
• Directely execute selected Python code from editor on Microbit (without flashing)
• Configurable trough settings

Prerequisites

A working Python installation including the pip tool.

For combining the Python code with the Micropython firmware into a HEX file and for flashing the firmware to the Microbit, the uflash utility is used. To install it via pip:

sudo pip install uflash

As an alternative for using uflash, pyOCD (and DAP-link) could be used. Thus, it is recommanded to install pyOCD too via pip (note, it needs Python 2.7):

sudo pip2 install pyOCD

For the serial terminal to the REPL, you have the choice between screen, miniterm.py and microrepl.py. On Linux screen would be the best choice (and it most likely comes with your distro).

Note: you only have to install one of the below!

The microrepl could be installed with pip:

sudo pip install microrepl

miniterm.py is part of pyserial, also installable via pip:

sudo pip install pyserial

Optional

To have nice auto-completion when writing your Python code, I would recommend installing e.g. autocomplete-python:

apm autocomplete-python

And to make Python known about the Microbit specific classes, you might want install the dummy package:

sudo pip install microbit-dummy

Installation

To install this package from the package repository:

apm install microbit-micropython

Or install from git:

cd $HOME/$MY_GIT_REPOS
git clone https://github.com/wendlers/atom-microbit-micropython

Change into the newly cloned directory and link the package into your atom install:

cd atom-microbit-micropython
apm link

Next, install required node packages:

apm install

Now, when you start your atom next time, you will be asked to also install the atom dependencies.

Note: this package will ask to install termination, console-panel and tool-bar packages as dependencies.

Usage

• Connect your Microbit to your PC, make sure it is mounted as drive
• Open a Python file containing your Micropython code
• To open an REPL to the Microbit, call Microbit Micropython: REPL or clicking on the terminal icon on the tool-bar (may take some seconds until it is able to connect, be patient)
• To flash your code open the desirec Python file in the editor and call Microbit Micropython: Flash, or click the flash icon on the tool-bar
• To directly execute Python code (without flashing), select the code in the editor windows, right-click it and select microbit: execute selected (or call Microbit Micropython: Execute Selected, or click the tool-bar icon with the triangle).

Known Issues

• Runs only on Linux (maybe on Mac too)
• Sometimes, when switching from REPL to direct script execution, the serial line seams to get messed up leading to "double echo" in the REPL and timeout errors in direct script execution. In this case a hard-reset (by using the button on the board) seams to be the only thing that fixes it.

Trouble Shooting

• Flash target was not found: auto-detection of uflash is not working in all cases. Try specifying the path to your Microbit drive in the settings.
• REPL not connecting: Maybe your port is not /dev/ttyACM0. Try specifying the correct port in the settings.

Improvements

• Monitor the flashing process:
  • check when HEX file is gone on drive
  • check error file