Electronics Club, IIT Madras

What is Micropython?

MicroPython is a re-implementation of Python 3 targeted for microcontrollers and embedded systems. MicroPython is very similar with regular Python. So, if you already know how to program in Python, you also know how to program in MicroPython.

Python vs MicroPython

Apart from a few exceptions, the language features of Python are also available in MicroPython. The biggest difference between Python and MicroPython is that MicroPython was designed to work under constrained conditions.

Because of that, MicroPython does not come with the full standard library. It only includes a small subset of the Python standard library. However, it does include modules to access low-level hardware – this means that there are libraries to easily access and interact with the GPIOs.

Additionally, devices with Wi-Fi capabilities like the ESP8266 and ESP32 include modules to support network connections.

Why MicroPython?

Python is one of the most widely used, simple and easy-to-learn programming languages around. So, the emergence of MicroPython makes it extremely easy and simple to program digital electronics. If you’ve never programmed digital electronics before, MicroPython is a good starting point.

Setting up Environment for working with Micropython

1)Install Python3 and pip

Installing Python: https://www.tutorialsteacher.com/python/install-python
Download and Install VS code: https://code.visualstudio.com/download
Once installed add this extension : https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python
And you are set :)

Note:Before proceeding Connect you board and check whether the port is working properly if not install the necessary driver

2) Get the .bin file from Micropython website(https://micropython.org/download/esp32)

Given below is the link for stable release

https://micropython.org/resources/firmware/esp32-idf4-20191220-v1.12.bin

3) Install esptool and flash esp32

pip install esptool

Note: with some Python installations that command may not work and you’ll receive an error. If that’s the case, try to install esptool.py with:

pip3 install esptool
                python -m pip install esptool
                pip2 install esptool

Go to folder where you downloaded the .bin file
Using esptool.py you can erase the flash with the command:

esptool.py --port COM5 erase_flash                             # For Windows
                esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 erase_flash                     # For Linux
                esptool.py --port /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART erase_flash           # For Mac

And then deploy the new firmware using:

esptool.py --chip esp32 --port COM5 write_flash -z 0x1000 esp32-idf4-20191220-v1.12.bin                     # For Windows
                esptool.py --chip esp32 --port /dev/ttyUSB0 write_flash -z 0x1000 esp32-idf4-20191220-v1.12.bin             # For Linux
                esptool.py --chip esp32 --port /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART write_flash -z 0x1000 esp32-idf4-20191220-v1.12.bin    # For Mac

To run Micropython code on ESP32

pip install adafruit-ampy

Sample code

from machine import Pin
                import time
                
                p=Pin(2,Pin.OUT)
                
                def toggle(max):
                    lap=0
                
                    while(lap<max):
                        p.value(1)
                        time.sleep(1)
                        p.value(0)
                        time.sleep(1)
                        lap+=1
                
                toggle(5)

Before proceeding with the below commands, go through the link attached in the last line

For uploading the code

ampy --port COM5 put code.py                              # For Windows
                ampy --port /dev/ttyUSB0 put code.py                      # For Linux
                ampy --port /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART put code.py            # For Mac

Then run the code using this command after going to the right directory

ampy --port COM5 run code.py                              # For Windows
                ampy --port /dev/ttyUSB0 run code.py                      # For Linux
                ampy --port /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART run code.py            # For Mac

Some useful commands used in ampy

https://learn.adafruit.com/micropython-basics-load-files-and-run-code/file-operations

MicroPython Installation