The CircuitPython Show

Paul Cutler Jan 29, 2024

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

Talk Python training courses

6:38 Discovering CircuitPython

8:50 Paul’s favorite CircuitPython project

SilverSaucer.com

13:22 Exciting things coming to CircuitPython

Memento Camera
USB host
Scott Shawcroft’s CircuitPython 2024 blog post

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?

paulcutler.org - blog and project page

19:25 Which board?

Jeff Epler Jan 15, 2024

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

The Commordion: linusakesson.net

4:43 The Memento camera and JPEG support in CircuitPython

7:17 Adding over 2000 new fonts to CircuitPython

adafruit/circuitpython-fonts: A collection of PCF-format fonts packaged for easy use in CircuitPython

10:53 Which board?

12:05 Follow Jeff:

Debra Ansell Jan 01, 2024

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

The Seeed XIAO Sense nRF52840

7:11 Combining maker skills

LED Tote Bag Back to the Future

8:27 The PixelBlaze Pillow

The PixelBlaze controller

10:32 The WiFI Hot Spot LED Jacket

12:43 Where to learn more about Debra’s projects

Geekmomprojects.com
Make Magazine
Instagram
Mastodon: @geekmomprojects@mastodon.social

13:25 Which board?

Jan Goolsbey Dec 18, 2023

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

Wind Chimes repository

14:14 The String Car Racer

19:05 Where to learn more?

20:15 Which board?

Max Lupo Dec 04, 2023

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?

Max’s homepage.
Max’s GitHub repositories.

Tod Kurt Part 2 Nov 20, 2023

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 (@alpenglow@mstdn.social)

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 Jun 19, 2023

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 Jun 05, 2023

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 May 22, 2023

Dan Halbert joins the show and shares how he started with computers, discovering CircuitPython, where CircuitPython might be going next, and more

Show Notes

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 May 08, 2023

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.

Show Notes

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 Apr 24, 2023

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 Apr 10, 2023

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 Dec 12, 2022

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 Nov 28, 2022

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 Nov 14, 2022

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.

Jason Pecor (and the Trolls) Oct 31, 2022

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 Oct 17, 2022

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 Oct 03, 2022

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 Sep 19, 2022

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 Sep 05, 2022

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 Aug 22, 2022

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?

Joshua Lowe Aug 08, 2022

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 Jul 25, 2022

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 Jul 11, 2022

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 Jun 27, 2022

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 Jun 13, 2022

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?

Pierre Constantineau May 30, 2022

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 May 16, 2022

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 LeBlanc-Williams May 02, 2022

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 Apr 18, 2022

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?

Season 2 Trailer Apr 11, 2022

A preview of the upcoming season two and its guests.

Scott Shawcroft Apr 05, 2022

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?

Rose Hooper Mar 29, 2022

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?

Tod Kurt Mar 22, 2022

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?

John Gallaugher Mar 15, 2022

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 Mar 08, 2022

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

Kattni Rembor Mar 01, 2022

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 Trailer Jan 25, 2022

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.

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