Exploring CircuitPython

Have you ever wanted to explore using Python with electronics? CircuitPython is a great platform to get started with. This week we have Thea Flowers on the show. Thea has been creating several hardware projects based around CircuitPython, and she talks about getting started on the platform.

She also answers questions about how she taught herself to design and prototype printed circuit boards. Thea discusses several of her open source projects, including Nox, ConductHotline, and getting involved with CircuitPython.

Thea was the conference co-chair for PyCascades, and we talk about how someone could get involved in volunteering for conferences. We also discuss building diversity in the community.

This episode was initially recorded at an earlier date, so we asked Thea to come back for a few minutes to discuss updates on her projects and about a recent honor she received.

Topics:

• 00:00:00 – Introduction
• 00:01:25 – Thea’s programming background
• 00:02:45 – Working with Google Cloud Platform
• 00:04:10 – Flutter developer relations
• 00:04:52 – Learning Python
• 00:06:07 – Working on open source projects
• 00:06:33 – Nox - Automated Python testing
• 00:07:03 – ConductHotline
• 00:07:38 – Contributing to CircuitPython
• 00:07:53 – More background on Nox and Tox
• 00:10:03 – Getting involved with CircuitPython
• 00:12:38 – MicroPython and CircuitPython
• 00:14:20 – Suggestions for starter board or kit
• 00:15:49 – What are you excited about in CircuitPython?
• 00:16:31 – Nina Zakharenko CircuitPython project
• 00:17:47 – Things you’d like to see improved in CircuitPython?
• 00:21:30 – Working toward consensus in open source projects?
• 00:25:41 – Winterbloom - Big Honking Button
• 00:30:25 – Creating circuit boards
• 00:34:32 – Winterbloom - Sol
• 00:38:49 – Code editor for CircuitPython
• 00:40:08 – Something you thought you knew about Python, but were wrong about?
• 00:42:14 – What are you excited about in the world of Python?
• 00:44:21 – Do you listen to music when coding?
• 00:45:29 – Being an organizer for PyCascades
• 00:46:53 – Getting involved and volunteering for events
• 00:48:16 – Ways to increase diversity
• 00:53:51 – Extended episode conversation
• 00:54:25 – Updates on the WInterbloom projects
• 00:55:24 – 2020 Q1 PSF Fellow Member!
• 00:56:32 – PyCon 2020 moves to online only
• 00:58:45 – How would you learn Python if starting from scratch?
• 01:02:10 – Thanks and ending

Show links:

• Thea’s blog: thea.codes
• GameMaker
• Google Cloud platform
• Flutter: UI toolkit
• Nox
• Break the Cycle: Three excellent Python tools to automate repetitive tasks - Pycon 2019
• ConductHotline
• Genesynth: Creating a Sega-inspired synthesizer
• Circuit Python
• Contributing to CircuitPython
• Lessons learned from building a custom CircuitPython board
• Circuit Playground Express
• Nina Zakharenko CircuitPython Twitch Streams
• Thea’s thoughts on CircuitPython: Blog post
• Winterbloom Store
• John Edgar Parks: Sol quantizing demo
• DigiKey KiCad series
• Code with Mu
• Celeste: video game soundtrack
• PyCascades
• PSF Fellows 2020 Q1
• PyCon 2020: Online

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