An independent podcast with the people in and around CircuitPython. Created and hosted by Paul Cutler.
The podcast The CircuitPython Show is created by Paul Cutler. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Liz Clark and Noe Ruiz join the show and share how they collaborate on projects, where they get inspiration, and share some of their favorite projects.
Follow the show on Mastodon or Bluesky.
00:00 Intro
00:21 Project inspirations
4:17 Iterating on a project
6:09 Working together to improve a project
8:01 Noe’s favorite project - Adabot
9:41 Liz’s favorite project - the Midi Fighter
11:00 The MX Guitarr
15:12 The The CircuitPython Motorized Camera Slider
17:09 The Jack-o-lantern PropMaker
19:24 The NFC Rapsberry Pi Media Player
24:02 The RP2350 Audio Reactive Video Synth
29:18 Wrap-up
Jan Goolsbey and Tod Kurt return to the show and share their experience in writing libraries and drivers for the CircuitPython Community Bundle.
Follow the show on Mastodon or Bluesky and join our newsletter.
Guests:
00:00 Welcome
00:18 The CircuitPython Community Bundle
2:01 When is your code is ready for the bundle?
2:50 Creating a library using cookiecutter
9:01 Documentation requirements
11:15 Submitting a library to the Community Bundle
14:22 Circup
15:37 Advice for someone sharing their first library
19:03 Can a library move to the Adafruit CircuitPython Bundle?
22:46 Licensing
24:10 Libraries Jan and Tod have written
29:22 Hidden gems in the Community Bundle
34:17 Wrap-up
CircuitPython core developer Dan Halbert joins the show and shares how to build CircuitPython from source.
Dan was previously a guest on episode 28.
Follow the show on Mastodon or Bluesky and join our newsletter.
00:00 Intro
00:24 When would someone want to build CircuitPython?
2:23 The pre-requisites for building CircuitPython and the Building CircuitPython Learn Guide
5:15 Building for different hardware ports using git submodules
6:46 Usage of Python in the build process and virtual environments
9:11 Asking for help in the Adafruit Discord
9:34 Adding a new board to CircuitPython and How to Add a Board Learn Guide
13:58 Obtaining a vendor ID and product ID
16:49 Adding the board to circuitpython.org and its Learn Guide
18:13 Advice for building CircuitPython (XKCD)
21:10 Wrap-up
Welcome to a new episode of The CircuitPython Show! Bradán Lane joins the show for a second time and shares his process, tips, and tricks for designing a PCB that uses CircuitPython.
We’re now on Bluesky!
00:00 Welcome
00:24 Recommended tools
2:54 Where to start when designing a board?
4:24 Finding open source hardware examples and schematics
7:02 Designing a board to support CircuitPython
9:00 The board layout and its constraints
12:28 Creating a feature board aka the kitchen sink
14:12 Picking out parts and components
17:14 Placing parts on the board
19:19 Advice for new board designers
20:37 The DC NextGen Graffiti Badge
25:28 Getting CircuitPython to run on a board
29:39 Wrap-up
Jan Goolsbey joins the show for his second visit. He shares how he built a weather monitoring system using sensors, weather APIs, display devices, CircuitPython, and Adafruit IO.
Jan was previously a guest on episode 33.
The CircuitPython Show is now on Bluesky!
00:00 Intro
00:16 Welcome Jan
00:28 The start of the weather system
2:09 How to solve the corrosion problem
4:50 Internet connected sensors with a PyPortal and Adafruit IO
7:43 Adding external weather conditions from an API to Adafruit IO
9:47 Evolving into a combined weather system
12:40 Discovering Apple WeatherKit integration in Adafruit IO+
14:00 Version 1 of the weather system architecture
14:52 What were the challenges in the new architecture?
17:20 Multiple display devices and Adafruit IO throttling
20:55 Version 2 architecture: Remix
22:34 The user interfaces
27:09 What’s next?
29:09 Wrap-up
Correction: Jan referred to Jerry Needell as working at Apple instead of Adafruit.
Follow Jan on Bluesky.
The CircuitPython Show returns! To kick off season five, Paul welcomes Aaron Pendley, who is known by squid.jpg in the Adafruit community. They discuss how Aaron got started with computers, how he discovered CircuitPython, and a number of his projects.
Follow the show on Mastodon or Bluesky.
00:25 Welcome Aaron and his start with computers
4:23 squid.jpg
5:18 Discovering CircuitPython
8:03 The Top-Secret Lunchbox
12:11 The Zapper lights / sound mod
16:24 The Wii Nunchuk USB Adapter
17:22 The WiFi Matrix Keypad Remote
20:02 Sparkle Specs firmware for Adafruit LED Glasses
22:44 Which microcontroller?
23:33 Wrap-up
Follow Aaron on Bluesky
It’s the final episode! Tod Kurt returns and serves as guest host and interviews Paul. Paul shares how he started with open source, his favorite project, exciting things coming to CircuitPython, and more.
00:00 Welcome
00:40 How Paul first got started with computers
1:45 Paul’s start with open source
5:10 Learning Python
6:38 Discovering CircuitPython
8:50 Paul’s favorite CircuitPython project
13:22 Exciting things coming to CircuitPython
16:34 What would Paul like to see in CircuitPython in the future?
17:55 Tod’s thank you for The CircuitPython Show
18:55 Where to learn more about Paul’s work?
19:25 Which board?
CircuitPython core developer Jeff Epler joins the show. He and Paul discuss how he sees his role as a core developer, adding JPEG support to CircuitPython, and adding over 2000 new fonts.
00:27 Welcome Jeff and his start with computers
00:54 How Jeff started with open source
1:45 Discovering CircuitPython
2:12 Jeff’s role as a CircuitPython core developer
3:43 Retro computing
4:43 The Memento camera and JPEG support in CircuitPython
7:17 Adding over 2000 new fonts to CircuitPython
10:53 Which board?
12:05 Follow Jeff:
Debra Ansell joins the show and shares how she started with computers and electronics, the Orb-sessed LED Sphere, the PixelBlaze Pillow, and more.
00:30 How Debra started with computers and electronics
2:50 Creating the Orb-sessed LED Sphere
5:08 How CircuitPython helped with the project
7:11 Combining maker skills
8:27 The PixelBlaze Pillow
10:32 The WiFI Hot Spot LED Jacket
12:43 Where to learn more about Debra’s projects
13:25 Which board?
Jan Goolsbey joins the show. He and Paul discuss the CircuitPython Community Bundle, Jan’s contributions to the bundle, his IoT wind chimes project, and the string car racer.
Transcripts are available in most podcast players.
00:30 Welcome Jan
2:24 Discovering CircuitPython
3:52 CircuitPython’s Community Bundle
6:10 Jan’s favorite libraries in the Community Bundle: Range Slicer
7:45 Graphics libraries including PaletteFader
9:27 Advice for adding to the CircuitPython Community Bundle
10:30 Using synthio for the Internet of Things Wind Chimes project
14:14 The String Car Racer
19:05 Where to learn more?
20:15 Which board?
Max Lupo joins the show and shares how he uses electronics in his art pieces and installations.
00:00 Welcome Max
00:45 Max’s start with computers and electronics
01:53 Which programming language is best for each art piece?
03:47 Beep-Boopatronics
7:36 Continuous Memory
10:01 The Margin Maker
14:20 Which board?
Tod Kurt joins the show. Tod shares his synthio boards and discusses his recent trip to Hackaday’s Supercon.
00:00 Welcome Tod
1:00 synthio CircuitPython Day Panel Discussion
1:10 What is synthio in CircuitPython?
2:00 Tod’s custom synthio micrococontroller boards (todbot/circuitpython-synthio-tricks: tips, tricks, and examples of using CircuitPython synthio
2:10 Tod’s Tindie store
4:30 Tod’s visit to Hackaday’s Supercon
5:22 Lux Lavalier on The Bootloader and in-person
6:30 CircuitPython at Supercon
7:02 Lightning Talks YouTube
8:40 Sprite_tm Jeroen Domburg: Building a Portable Vectrex, The Right Way
10:15 Cuddly Companion Bots Angela Sheehan: Cuddly Companion Bots
11:50 Stargirl’s KiCad Viewer talk
13:22 This year’s SuperCon Badge
15:44 Adding a capacitive touchpad - GitHub repository
17:30 Lack of speaker diversity at Supercon
17:55 Alpenglow’s Mastodon thread on Supercon speaker diversity Alpenglow Industries (@[email protected])
20:42 Which board do you reach for when starting a new project?
22:50 Wrap-up
Thank you for listening. Until next time, stay positive!
Erin St. Blaine joins the show and shares where she finds inspiration, advice for starting Neopixel projects, diffusion tips and tricks, and more.
00:33 Erin’s start with computers and electronics 03:18 Where Erin finds inspiration 04:42 Advice those starting with Neopixel or LED projects 05:43 What were the challenges with LEDs underwater? 08:41 Diffusion tips and tricks 09:52 Favorite Learn Guides 12:17 Which microcontroller?
Martin Tan joins the show. He and Paul discuss Martin’s new book, micro:bit Projects with Python and Single Board Computers: Building STEAM Projects with Code Club and Kids’ Maker Groups.
Martin’s book at Apress: micro:bit Projects with Python and Single Board Computers
Martin’s book at Barnes & Noble
00:40 Martin’s start with computers and electronics
02:25 micro:bit Projects with Python and Single Board Computers: Building STEAM Projects with Code Club and Kids’ Maker Groups
04:06 What is a Code Club?
05:07 Whom is the book intended for?
6:07 How do you keep the kids engaged?
8:44 Scratch, MicroPython and Python curriculums
10:00 How do the kids collaborate?
12:02 Favorite story from running a Code Club
14:33 Which microcontroller?
Dan Halbert joins the show and shares how he started with computers, discovering CircuitPython, where CircuitPython might be going next, and more
00:31 Dan’s start with computers and electronics
02:54 Making computers easier to use
05:09 Discovering CircuitPython
8:40 Advice for new contributors to CircuitPython’s core
9:40 How CircuitPython is ported to new hardware
11:35 Managing CircuitPython releases
13:49 Where CircuitPython might be going in the near future
16:33 Which board?
Ben Shockley, creator of Mini Fig Boards joins the show. He and Paul chat about the Mini Fig boards and how they came to be, how CircuitPython has helped in development, advice for new PCB designers, and more.
00:22 Ben’s start with computers and electronics
1:27 The MiniFigure boards - what are they and how did they start?
6:40 Comparing the two MiniFig boards
8:53 How has CircuitPython helped with designing the boards ?
9:51 Advice for people starting out in PCB design
11:50 Which board?
Seth Kerr joins The CircuitPython Show and shares what an FPGA is; his creation, the IcyBlue Feather FPGA; and how it might be used with CircuitPython.
Visit CircuitPythonShow.com for show notes, transcripts, and more.
00:33 Seth’s start with computers and electronics
01:24 What is an FPGA?
02:27 What are the advantages to using an FPGA?
03:16 Seth’s process to designing boards
05:25 The IcyBlue FPGA Feather
09:42 How could you use the IcyBlue Feather with a CircuitPython microcontroller?
11:55 Programming an FPGA
14:05 Which board?
Danny Staple joins the show and discusses his latest book, Robotics at Home with Raspberry Pi PIco.
For show notes and transcripts, visit The CircuitPython Show website.
Show Notes:
00:00 Intro
00:58 Danny’s start with computers and robotics
01:51 What the reader can expect from Danny’s book, Robotics with Raspberry Pi Pico
03:04 The robotics shopping list
04:30 Challenges with the parts shortage
06:20 What made CircuitPython a good choice for building the robot?
07:40 What were some of the challenges faced when writing the book?
10:25 Using Bluetooth to control the robot
12:56 How did PIO with the Raspberry Pi Pico help when building the robot?
14:32 The Monte Carlo localization algorithm
20:17 Which board?
Alec Delaney joins Paul and they discuss how CircuitPython uses continuous integration for development and Alec's CircuitPythonukiah project.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your dreams a reality with 10 boards starting at only $5! Thank you to PCBWay for their support of The CircuitPython Show. Learn more at PCBWay.com.
2:28 What is continuous integration (CI)?
4:36 How does CI make it easy for developers and contributors?
8:53 What are the challenges in moving to pyproject.toml?
11:11 What are the benefits of pyproject.toml?
14:56 The CircuitPythonukiah
17:14 Which board?
Mark Komus joins the show and shares how he started with computers, the Monster Eyes project, contributing to CircuitPython's core, and more.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your dreams a reality with 10 boards starting at only $5! Thank you to PCBWay for their support of The CircuitPython Show. Learn more at PCBWay.com.
1:00 Welcome and Mark’s start with computers
2:30 Discovering CircuitPython
5:28 The Monster Eyes
8:37 Working on CircuitPython’s core
11:57 Opportunities from CircuitPython
12:50 Which microcontroller?
Support the show! If you like what you hear, tell a friend or write a review. Sponsor the show financially - your support goes towards covering the costs of hosting, recording, and transcriptions. Thank you for your support. Learn more.
Joey Castillo joins the show. He and Paul discuss the LCD Featherwing, the Open Book and its user interface, and power management.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your dreams a reality with 10 boards starting at only $5! Thank you to PCBWay for their support of The CircuitPython Show. Learn more at PCBWay.com.
Show Notes:
1:12 Welcome and how Joey got started with computers & electronics
2:48 LCD Featherwing and implementing CircuitPython first
5:55 The OpenBook and the user interface
11:10 Managing power consumption
18:08 Which microcontroller?
Follow the show on Twitter at @circuitpyshow
Support the show! If you like what you hear, tell a friend or write a review. Sponsor the show financially - your support goes towards covering the costs of hosting, recording, and transcriptions. Thank you for your support. Learn more.
Paul takes the podcast on the road and visits Jason Pecor in Altoona, Wisconsin. Jason shows Paul CircuitPython powered Trolls and shares how they came to be.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your dreams a reality with 10 boards starting at only $5! Thank you to PCBWay for their support of The CircuitPython Show. Learn more at PCBWay.com.
4:05 How Jason discovered CircuitPython
5:40 Meet the trolls
7:50 The park in the summertime
8:55 Proof of concept using CircuitPython
11:05 CircuitPython hardware in the trolls
12:45 Audio demo
13:30 Surviving the climate
16:05 The Blue Troll
17:41 Which microcontroller?
Follow the show on Twitter at @circuitpyshow
Support the show! If you like what you hear, tell a friend or write a review. Sponsor the show financially - your support goes towards covering the costs of hosting, recording, and transcriptions. Thank you for your support. Learn more.
Jim Mussared, a maintainer of MicroPython, joins the show. He and Paul discuss how MicroPython started, collaborating with CircuitPython, being a maintainer, favorite uses of MicroPython, and more.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your designs a reality with ten boards starting at only $5!
1:02 Welcome and Jim’s start with electronics
3:02 Damien George starting MicroPython
3:50 MicroPython and CircuitPython
5:32 Collaborating with CircuitPython
6:10 MicroPython’s Strengths
6:45 What is it like to be a maintainer of an open source project?
8:50 Balancing open source and professional work
9:40 Favorite uses of MicroPython
11:10 Performance improvements in MicroPython
14:20 Where is MicroPython going next?
16:20 Which microcontroller?
Bradán Lane shares how CircuitPython has helped in creating the JoyPad and LumosRing.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your designs a reality at only $5 for ten boards at PCBWay.
01:10 Bradan’s start with electronics
02:33 Bradan’s first CircuitPython product: the Joypad
06:25 Customizing the JoyPad
09:07 The LumosRing and LumosStick
15:20 Which microcontroller?
Visit CircuitPythonShow.com for show notes and transcripts.
Thea Flowers joins the show and shares about her synthesizer company, Winterbloom, and the role CircuitPython has played.
Show Notes:
00:30 How Thea first got started with computers
00:50 Discovering CircuitPython
2:25 Thea’s synthesizer company, Winterbloom
3:40 Winterbloom products that use CircuitPython
(Sol and Big Honking Button:)
7:00 Castor and Pollux
8:50 Which microcontroller?
Radomir Dopieralski, aka deshipu, joins the show. He shares his interest in computers growing up behind the Iron Curtain, developing games with CircuitPython, robots, and more.
Show Notes:
00:15 Welcome and getting started with computers behind the Iron Curtain
1:45 Discovering MicroPython via its Kickstarter
2:50 Handheld games - the Pew Pew family
4:30 Learning Pew Pew in workshops
6:22 How does CircuitPython make it easy to program games?
7:42 What are the challenges in using CircuitPython to program games?
10:30 Robot building
13:30 Fluff bug
14:30 Which microcontroller?
Brent Rubell joins the show. He and Paul discuss the Internet of Things, Adfafruit's Wippersnapper firmware, their favorite newsletters, and more. Visit https://circuitpythonshow.com/episodes/16 for newsletter links.
Show Notes:
00:30 How Brent got started with computers and electronics
1:45 How does Brent define the Internet of Things?
2:45 What is Adafruit IO?
6:04 Wippersnapper
6:35 What is “no code”?
9:55 How do you add components to Wippersnapper?
12:30 Where is Wippersnapper going next?
14:00 Project advice
15:18 Favorite newsletters
18:37 Which microcontroller?
This episode welcomes Joshua Lowe, the inventor of Edublocks, which helps bridge the gap from Scratch Python 3(including CircuitPython).
Show Notes:
00:20 Welcome and introduction to Edublocks
4:18 Making Edublocks open source
5:20 Working with Edublocks and hardware
9:20 Where is Edublocks going next?
10:40 The pandemic and remote education
13:42 Which microcontroller?
Kevin Matocha joins the show and shares some of his projects, including the Hackpad and TinyLogicFriend.
Show Notes:
00:20 Welcome
00:27 How Kevin started with computers and electronics
3:50 HackPad
8:20 Wiring the HackPad
9:55 TinyLogicFriend - a logic analyzer using Sigrok
15:28 Which microcontroller?
Nicholas Tollervey joins the show and shares his music background, the Mu code editor, and how learning to code can be similar to learning to play an instrument.
Show notes:
0:18 Welcome and Nicholas’ beginning with computing
2:35 The Mu code editor
6:40 Nicholas’ music background
8:20 How is learning music and coding similar?
11:35 Code Grades
15:50 Nicholas and teaching
17:20 Turn the tables
19:05 Which microcontroller?
Guy Dupont joins the show and shares some of his projects, including his Subaru backup camera project, T9 predictive text MacroPad, and more.
00:12 Welcome and Subaru backup camera project
4:40 Link to YouTube Video: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy4Ua8bXRiE)
4:50 Guy’s predictive text MacroPad
7:40 T9 Predictive Text written in CircuitPython
9:55 Favorite coding language
10:40 CircuitPython advantages
11:50 Guy’s music connections
13:20 Raspberry Pi iPod project
16:20 Turn the tables
18:58 Guy’s YouTube channel
Anne Barela discusses her time at Adafruit, writing the Python on Hardware newsletter, retro tech, and more.
00:17 Welcome and Anne’s start with Adafruit
01:15 Anne’s first two books on microcontrollers
03:38 CircuitPython through the years
5:40 What goes into writing an Adafruit Learn Guide?
7:30 ThePython on Microcontrollers newsletter
10:30 When did Anne first get into computers and electronics?
14:05 Turn the tables
16:05 Which microcontroller?
In episode ten, Pierre and Paul have an in-depth conversation about mechanical keyboards and how CircuitPython has helped Pierre with development.
00:15 Welcome and starting with computers and electronics
2:00 Building custom keyboards
4:10 BlueMicro keyboards (get screenshot)
6:40 Developing the BlueMicro keyboard firmware
7:40 What goes into building a custom keyboard?
11:20 Microcontroller keyboard matrices
13:55 Changing from Arduino to CircuitPython for keyboard development
17:35 How has CircuitPython helped with troubleshooting?
20:15 Turn the tables
21:30 Which microcontroller?
Liz Clark joins the show and shares her maker journey, music background, and we talk MIDI for beginners.
00:25 Welcome and Liz’s music background
4:30 BlitzCityDIY https://www.youtube.com/blitzcitydiy
6:30 Getting started with MIDI
10:38 Adafruit MIDI Learn guide, MIDI for Makers: https://learn.adafruit.com/midi-for-makers
12:26 Liz’s music setup at home
15:20 Turn the tables
16:20 Which microcontroller?
Melissa and Paul talk Blink, retro tech, and more.
00:38 Blinka
03:00 What it means to be the maintainer of Blinka
04:37 How Melissa started with CircuitPython
07:12 Melissa’s YouTube channel
07:57 OpenSign Library
8:05 Melissa’s CNC machine
09:28 Melissa’s current retro tech projects
10:30 Retro Macs
12:30 A mysterious box appears
14:35 Turn the tables
15:22 Which microcontroller?
Alie Gonzalez joins the show and shares her maker journey, how she started her professional career, and the tech scene in Miami.
00:50 Welcome and Alie’s journey to becoming a maker
2:22 The start of Alie’s career
4:30 Sparkfun & Alie
6:40 Miami Hack Week
14:45 The tech scene in Miami
18:20 Which microcontroller?
A preview of the upcoming season two and its guests.
00:20 How Scott joined Adafruit
3:00 What are some of the biggest changes and accomplishments over the last five years since CircuitPython was first released?
7:20 Working with upstream MicroPython
9:20 Porting CircuitPython to Raspberry Pi (bare metal)
13:28 ESP32-S3 development
16:30 Scott’s work in community broadband
22:40 Turn the tables
24:30 Which microcontroller?
Episode 5 - Rose Hooper
Support the show: https://circuitpythonshow.com/support
00:35 Getting started with computers
04:36 Early 90s BBS culture & Freeness
07:46 Discovering Python
10:00 Home Assistant
15:20 CircuitPython
23:15 Which microcontroller?
1:00 Tod Kurt introdction
Homepage: https://todbot.com
2:05 BlinkM
2:35 Tod's experiences with Arduino
7:20 Tod's work with synthesizers
12:18 Sound on CircuitPython
15:45 Tod and Python / CPython
21:20 Tod's CircuitPython Tips Github repository
23:20 Turn the tables (Ask Paul a question)
29:45 Which microcontroller would you grab for a prototype or new project?
Professor John Gallaugher of Boston College joins the show and talks CircuitPython in higher education.
01:01 Adding CircuitPython to a higher ed curriculum
05:38 Examples of CircuitPython used in accessibility
7:30 How do you teach students with hardware?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oldZ-6eVhg
16:30 Maker communities
19:27 Professor Gallagher’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/profgallaugher/videos?view=0&sort=dd&flow=grid
23:20 Former students’ success
28:20 Turn the Tables segment: Professor Gallaugher asks Paul his favorite bands
29:40 Go to microcontroller for a new project?
Les Pounder of Tom's Hardware stops by and talks all things microcontrollers, shares his latest project, and retro tech.
1:30 Biggest microcontroller surprise
4:25 Favorite Pico add-on board
5:35 Photo of all the boards
7:25 Microcontroller pick
12:30 Les’ latest CircuitPython project
14:05 Retro tech
18:44 Turn the tables: Retro tech to take to a deserted island? (Where Paul gets the other Sega Genesis name wrong)
20:57 How Les was introduced to CircuitPython
00:40 Kattni’s journey, originally told at PyOhio 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bBHXimlfPQ and first project: https://learn.adafruit.com/circuit-playground-express-piano-in-the-key-of-lime)
6:00 Adafruit Discord: http://adafru.it/discord
7:45 Mentoring
9:55 Community discussion
12:50 CircuitPython 2022 goals
16:00 CircuitPython tagline: Code + Community = CircuitPython
17:50 Learn Guides
22:40 Turn the Tables
23:40 Which microcontroller to start your next project?
The CircuitPython Show is an independent podcast hosted by Paul Cutler. Each episode he will have a conversation with someone doing something cool and awesome in or around CircuitPython.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.