MicroPython

This chapter contains the following sections. Please read as needed:

• MicroPython Getting Started Tutorials
• Setting Up Development Environment

MicroPython Getting Started Tutorials

New to ESP32 MicroPython development and want to get started quickly? We have prepared a general introductory tutorial ESP32 MicroPython Getting Started for you.

• Section 1 Set Up Development Environment
• Section 2 Basics
• Section 3 GPIO Digital Output/Input
• Section 4 ADC Analog Input
• Section 5 PWM Output
• Section 6 UART Communication
• Section 7 I2C Communication
• Section 8 SPI Communication
• Section 9 Wi-Fi Networking Basics
• Section 10 Web Server
• Section 11 Bluetooth
• Section 12 Comprehensive Projects

Setting Up Development Environment

1. Flash MicroPython Firmware and Configure Thonny

Please refer to the Set Up MicroPython Development Environment to flash the MicroPython firmware.

2. Other Tips

• MicroPython Firmware Download Link: https://micropython.org/download/ESP32_GENERIC_S3/

• If flashing the MicroPython firmware using the Espressif Flash Download Tool, the flashing address is 0x0.

Demo

Demo	Basic Description
cst816_example.py	Touch the screen, print corresponding coordinates
alien.py	Randomly display the "alien.jpg" image
bitarray.py	Create and display multiple randomly positioned "Pac-Man" sprite animations
hello.py	Randomly display "Hello!" text in different colors, and cycle through different rotation angles
hershey.py	Cycle through displaying different greetings
jpg.py	Display two JPEG images alternately
noto_fonts.py	Display the names of three different fonts
pbitmap.py	Display a pre-compiled bitmap image
rotation.py	Cycle through displaying text effects at different rotation values
scroll.py	Implement smooth scrolling display of characters on the screen

Uploading Demos and Special Demos

Uploading Demos

• To upload a local file to the development board, select the file, right-click, and choose "upload to/" to download

  

• Below is the interface after all files have been downloaded. Ensure the downloaded files match those in the red box exactly, otherwise execution may fail

  

• Select a file with the .py extension, click the green button to flash and run (operation screenshots are provided later)

  

• To run another file, first click the red Stop button; only then can the other file run correctly

  

Special Demos

Among the provided demos, the files bluenarble.py, cst816.py, and cst816_example.py are special. Please read all the following points before trying to flash them yourself.

• bluenarble.py stores an image, and cst816.py contains functions for touchpad operations. Running them shows no visible effect

  

• After running cst816_example.py, touching the screen will print the corresponding coordinates, but the LCD will not light up

  

alien.py

Demo Description

• This demo is used to randomly display the "alien.jpg" image on a specific display

Hardware Connection

• Connect the development board to the computer

  

Code Analysis

• GC9A01(): The GC9A01 constructor is important for establishing hardware connections, setting initial parameters, and creating an operable display object, laying the foundation for subsequent display operations
• spi_interface: Establishes SPI communication with the display
• width and height: Sets the display resolution
• reset_pin: Connects the various control pins of the display
• rotation: Sets the initial rotation angle

Operation Result

• LCD screen display

  

bitarray.py

Demo Description

• The demo creates and displays an animation of multiple randomly positioned "Pac-Man" sprites on a specific display

Hardware Connection

• Connect the development board to the computer

Code Analysis

• The move method of the pacman class: Responsible for updating the state of the "Pac-Man" sprite, achieving its movement and animation effects on the screen
  • First, it increments the sprite's current step count, then uses modulo operation to ensure the step cycles within the defined SPRITE_STEPS range, which likely corresponds to different animation frames or states of the sprite
  • Next, it moves the sprite's position horizontally. When the sprite's horizontal position reaches a specific value (302), it resets the step count, possibly to trigger a specific animation state or behavior. Finally, it ensures the sprite's horizontal position cycles within a certain range using modulo to avoid going out of the display area
• tft.map_bitarray_to_rgb565
  • The tft.map_bitarray_to_rgb565 function selects bitmap data from SPRITE_BITMAPS based on the sprite's current step count and converts it into an RGB565 format buffer sprite. It also specifies the sprite's width, foreground color, and background color
• tft.blit_buffer
  • The tft.blit_buffer function draws the converted buffer onto a specific position on the display, determined by the sprite's current coordinates, and specifies the sprite's width and height

Operation Result

• LCD screen display

  

hello.py

Demo Description

• The demo randomly displays displays "Hello!" text in different colors on a specific display and cycles through different rotation angles

Hardware Connection

• Connect the development board to the computer

Code Analysis

• tft.text: Draws the text "Hello!" on the display
  • It uses the specified font, determines the text position randomly within the display area, and sets the foreground and background colors based on randomly generated RGB565 color values
• while True: Implements the dynamic effect of randomly displaying "Hello!" text at different rotation angles
  • Through an infinite loop and iterating over four rotation angles, it sets the display rotation angle, clears the screen, calculates the text display range, and repeatedly calls the tft.text function to display the text at random positions with random colors

Operation Result

• LCD screen display

  

hershey.py

Demo Description

• The demo cycles through displaying different greetings on a specific display

Hardware Connection

• Connect the development board to the computer

Code Analysis

• main: The loop part in the function, cycles through displaying greetings in different fonts and colors on the display
  • It moves the display position line by line, gets the next color, font, and greeting, clears the previous line content, draws the new content, resets the line position when it exceeds a certain range, and adds a delay to control the display speed
• cycle: Creates a cyclically iterable object
  • It accepts parameters. If the parameter is iterable, it iterates directly. If it's a single element, it converts it into an iterable list and returns it cyclically. This is used to conveniently cycle through lists of colors, fonts, and greetings

Operation Result

• LCD screen display

  

jpg.py

Demo Description

• This demo displays two JPEG images alternately on a specific display

Hardware Connection

• Connect the development board to the computer

Code Analysis

• main: The loop part in the function, cycles through displaying greetings in different fonts and colors on the display
  • It iterates through the list of image filenames, calls the tft.jpg function to display the image at a specific position in slow mode, then waits for 5 seconds
• tft.jpg: Displays a specified JPEG image on the display
  • It reads, decodes the image file, and draws it onto the display. The display position and mode are determined by the passed parameters

Operation Result

• LCD screen display

noto_fonts.py

Demo Description

• The demo displays the names of three different fonts (NotoSans, NotoSerif, NotoSansMono) centered on different lines of a specific display

Hardware Connection

• Connect the development board to the computer

Code Analysis

• main: The main entry point of the program, initializes the display and displays the three font names
  • Creates a display object and initializes it, fills the background with black, and calls the center function to display the three font names sequentially
• center: Displays a given string centered on the display using the specified font
  • Gets the display width, calculates the width of the string. If the string width is less than the screen width, it calculates the coordinates for horizontal centering; otherwise, it left-aligns it. Finally, it displays the string at the calculated position

Operation Result

• LCD screen display
  

pbitmap.py

Demo Description

• This demo displays a pre-compiled bitmap image on a specific display

Hardware Connection

• Connect the development board to the computer

Code Analysis

• main: The main entry point of the program, initializes the display and displays the bitmap
  • Creates a display object, initializes it, fills the background with black, and calls tft.pbitmap to display the image from the pre-compiled bitmap module
• tft.pbitmap: Displays a pre-compiled bitmap on the display
  • Reads the bitmap data and draws it onto the display. The display position is determined by the passed parameters

Operation Result

• LCD screen display
  

rotation.py

Demo Description

• The demo cycles through displaying text effects at different rotation values on a specific display

Hardware Connection

• Connect the development board to the computer

Code Analysis

• main: The main entry point of the program, initializes the display and cycles through displaying text effects at different rotation values
  • Creates a display object and initializes it. In a loop, it sequentially sets different rotation values, clears the screen, displays text containing the rotation value information, and waits for observation
• tft.rotation: Sets the display rotation angle
  • Adjusts the display orientation based on the passed parameter

Operation Result

• LCD screen display
  

scroll.py

Demo Description

• This demo implements smooth scrolling display of characters on a specific display

Hardware Connection

• Connect the development board to the computer

Code Analysis

• main: The main entry point of the program, initializes the display, sets colors, and scrolls characters
• Creates a display object, sets up a color generator to get foreground colors, initializes the display, sets the scrolling area, clears the top line in a loop, displays new characters on a new line, updates colors and character values, implements scrolling by setting the scroll address, and controls the speed
• cycle: Creates a cyclically iterable object
• Accepts parameters. If the parameter is iterable, it iterates directly. If it's a single element, it converts it into an iterable list and returns it cyclically

Operation Result

• LCD screen display