Always Run the Latest Version of CircuitPython and Libraries

As we continue to develop CircuitPython and create new releases, we will stop supporting older releases. You need to update to the latest CircuitPython.

You need to download the CircuitPython Library Bundle that matches your version of CircuitPython. Please update CircuitPython and then download the latest bundle.

As we release new versions of CircuitPython, we will stop providing the previous bundles as automatically created downloads on the Adafruit CircuitPython Library Bundle repo. If you must continue to use an earlier version, you can still download the appropriate version of mpy-cross from the particular release of CircuitPython on the CircuitPython repo and create your own compatible .mpy library files. However, it is best to update to the latest for both CircuitPython and the library bundle.

I have to continue using CircuitPython 3.x or 2.x, where can I find compatible libraries?

We are no longer building or supporting the CircuitPython 2.x and 3.x library bundles. We highly encourage you to update CircuitPython to the latest version and use the current version of the libraries. However, if for some reason you cannot update, you can find the last available 2.x build here and the last available 3.x build here.

Switching Between CircuitPython and Arduino

Many of the CircuitPython boards also run Arduino. But how do you switch between the two? Switching between CircuitPython and Arduino is easy.

If you're currently running Arduino and would like to start using CircuitPython, follow the steps found in Welcome to CircuitPython: Installing CircuitPython.

If you're currently running CircuitPython and would like to start using Arduino, plug in your board, and then load your Arduino sketch. If there are any issues, you can double tap the reset button to get into the bootloader and then try loading your sketch. Always backup any files you're using with CircuitPython that you want to save as they could be deleted.

That's it! It's super simple to switch between the two.

The Difference Between Express And Non-Express Boards

We often reference "Express" and "Non-Express" boards when discussing CircuitPython. What does this mean?

Express refers to the inclusion of an extra 2MB flash chip on the board that provides you with extra space for CircuitPython and your code. This means that we're able to include more functionality in CircuitPython and you're able to do more with your code on an Express board than you would on a non-Express board.

Express boards include Circuit Playground Express, ItsyBitsy M0 Express, Feather M0 Express, Metro M0 Express and Metro M4 Express.

Non-Express boards include Trinket M0, Gemma M0, QT Py, Feather M0 Basic, and other non-Express Feather M0 variants.

Non-Express Boards: Gemma, Trinket, and QT Py

CircuitPython runs nicely on the Gemma M0, Trinket M0, or QT Py M0 but there are some constraints

Small Disk Space

Since we use the internal flash for disk, and that's shared with runtime code, its limited! Only about 50KB of space.

No Audio or NVM

Part of giving up that FLASH for disk means we couldn't fit everything in. There is, at this time, no support for hardware audio playpack or NVM 'eeprom'. Modules audioio and bitbangio are not included. For that support, check out the Circuit Playground Express or other Express boards.

However, I2C, UART, capacitive touch, NeoPixel, DotStar, PWM, analog in and out, digital IO, logging storage, and HID do work! Check the CircuitPython Essentials for examples of all of these.

Differences Between CircuitPython and MicroPython

For the differences between CircuitPython and MicroPython, check out the CircuitPython documentation.

Differences Between CircuitPython and Python

Python (also known as CPython) is the language that MicroPython and CircuitPython are based on. There are many similarities, but there are also many differences. This is a list of a few of the differences.

Python Libraries

Python is advertised as having "batteries included", meaning that many standard libraries are included. Unfortunately, for space reasons, many Python libraries are not available. So for instance while we wish you could import numpy, numpy isn't available (look for the ulab library for similar functions to numpy which works on many microcontroller boards). So you may have to port some code over yourself!

Integers in CircuitPython

On the non-Express boards, integers can only be up to 31 bits long. Integers of unlimited size are not supported. The largest positive integer that can be represented is 2³⁰-1, 1073741823, and the most negative integer possible is -2³⁰, -1073741824.

As of CircuitPython 3.0, Express boards have arbitrarily long integers as in Python.

Floating Point Numbers and Digits of Precision for Floats in CircuitPython

Floating point numbers are single precision in CircuitPython (not double precision as in Python). The largest floating point magnitude that can be represented is about +/-3.4e38. The smallest magnitude that can be represented with full accuracy is about +/-1.7e-38, though numbers as small as +/-5.6e-45 can be represented with reduced accuracy.

CircuitPython's floats have 8 bits of exponent and 22 bits of mantissa (not 24 like regular single precision floating point), which is about five or six decimal digits of precision.

Differences between MicroPython and Python

For a more detailed list of the differences between CircuitPython and Python, you can look at the MicroPython documentation. We keep up with MicroPython stable releases, so check out the core 'differences' they document here.