# CircuitPython Libraries on Linux and the NVIDIA Jetson Nano ## Overview Info: This guide describes using CircuitPython **libraries** on small Linux computers, running under regular Python. It is not about running the CircuitPython firmware itself on those boards. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/056/765/medium800/sensors_blinkatux.gif?1530378720) Here at Adafruit we're always looking for ways to make _making easier_ - whether that's making breakout boards for hard-to-solder sensors or writing libraries to simplify motor control. Our new favorite way to program is **CircuitPython**. ## Why CircuitPython? CircuitPython is a variant of MicroPython, a very small version of Python that can fit on a microcontroller. Python is the fastest-growing programming language. It's taught in schools, used in coding bootcamps, popular with scientists and of course programmers at companies use it a lot! CircuitPython adds the Circuit part to the Python part. It lets you program in Python and talk to Circuitry like sensors, motors, and LEDs! ## CircuitPython on Microcontrollers CircuitPython runs on microcontroller boards, such as our Feather, Metro, QT Py, and ItsyBitsy boards, using a variety of chips, such as the MicroChip SAMD21 SAMD51, the Raspberry Pi RP2040, the Nordic nRF52840, and the Espressif ESP32-S2 and ESP32-S3. All of these chips have something in common - they are _microcontrollers_ with hardware peripherals like SPI, I2C, ADCs etc. We squeeze Python into 'em and can then make the project portable. But...sometimes you want to do more than a microcontroller can do. Like HDMI video output, or camera capture, or serving up a website, or just something that takes more memory and computing than a microcontroller board can do... ## CircuitPython Libraries on Desktop Linux By adding a software layer, you can use CircuitPython hardware control capabilities with "regular Python", as found on your desktop or single-board Linux computer/ There are tons of projects, libraries and example code for CircuitPython on microcontrollers, and thanks to the flexibility and power of Python its' pretty easy to get that code working on micro-computers like the Raspberry Pi or other single-board Linux computers with GPIO pins available. You'll use a special library called [**adafruit\_blinka**](https://pypi.org/project/Adafruit-Blinka/) ([named after Blinka, the CircuitPython mascot](https://www.adafruit.com/?q=blinka)) that provides a layer that translates the CircuitPython hardware API to whatever library the Linux board provides. For example, on Raspberry Pi we use the python [RPi.GPIO](https://pypi.org/project/RPi.GPIO/) library. For any I2C interfacing we'll use ioctl messages to the `/dev/i2c` device. For SPI we'll use the `spidev` python library, etc. These details don't matter so much because they all happen underneath the  **adafruit\_blinka**  layer. The upshot is that most code we write for CircuitPython will be instantly and easily runnable on Linux computers like Raspberry Pi. _In particular_, you'll be able to use all of our device drivers - the sensors, led controllers, motor drivers, HATs, bonnets, etc. And nearly all of these use I2C or SPI! The rest of this guide describes how to install and set up Blinka, and then how to use it to run CircuitPython code to control hardware. - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-libraries-on-linux-and-the-nvidia-jetson-nano/running-circuitpython-code-without-circuitpython.md) ## Featured Products ### USB to TTL Serial Cable - Debug / Console Cable for Raspberry Pi [USB to TTL Serial Cable - Debug / Console Cable for Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/product/954) The cable is easiest way ever to connect to your microcontroller/Raspberry Pi/WiFi router serial console port. Inside the big USB plug is a USB\<-\>Serial conversion chip and at the end of the 36" cable are four wire - red power, black ground, white RX into USB port, and green TX out... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/954) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/954/guides) ### FTDI Serial TTL-232 USB Cable [FTDI Serial TTL-232 USB Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/70) Just about all electronics use TTL serial for debugging, bootloading, programming, serial output, etc. But it's rare for a computer to have a serial port anymore. This is a USB to TTL serial cable, with a FTDI FT232RL usb/serial chip embedded in the head. It has a 6-pin socket at the end... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/70) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/70/guides) ### Adafruit BME280 I2C or SPI Temperature Humidity Pressure Sensor [Adafruit BME280 I2C or SPI Temperature Humidity Pressure Sensor](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2652) Bosch has stepped up their game with their new BME280 sensor, an environmental sensor with temperature, barometric pressure and humidity! This sensor is great for all sorts of indoor environmental sensing and can even be used in both I2C and SPI! This precision sensor from... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2652) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2652/guides) ### Adafruit Ultimate GPS GNSS with USB - 99 channel w/10 Hz updates [Adafruit Ultimate GPS GNSS with USB - 99 channel w/10 Hz updates](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4279) The Ultimate GPS module you know and love has a _glow-up_ to let it be easily used with any computer, not just microcontrollers! With the built-in USB-to-Serial converter, you can now plug-n-play the Ultimate GPS into your computer, laptop, embedded Linux computer, and more. Power and... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4279) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4279/guides) ### Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout - 66 channel w/10 Hz updates [Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout - 66 channel w/10 Hz updates](https://www.adafruit.com/product/746) We carry a few different GPS modules here in the Adafruit shop, but none that satisfied our every desire - that's why we designed this little GPS breakout board. We believe this is the **Ultimate** GPS module, so we named it that. It's got everything you want and... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/746) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/746/guides) ### Premium Male/Male Jumper Wires - 40 x 6" (150mm) [Premium Male/Male Jumper Wires - 40 x 6" (150mm)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/758) Handy for making wire harnesses or jumpering between headers on PCB's. These premium jumper wires are 6" (150mm) long and come in a 'strip' of 40 (4 pieces of each of ten rainbow colors). They have 0.1" male header contacts on either end and fit cleanly next to each other... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/758) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/758/guides) ### Half Sized Premium Breadboard - 400 Tie Points [Half Sized Premium Breadboard - 400 Tie Points](https://www.adafruit.com/product/64) This is a cute, half-size breadboard with 400 tie points, good for small projects. It's 3.25" x 2.2" / 8.3cm x 5.5cm with a standard double-strip in the middle and two power rails on both sides. You can pull the power rails off easily to make the breadboard as... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/64) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/64/guides) ## Related Guides - [No-Code Offline Data Logger with WipperSnapper](https://learn.adafruit.com/no-code-offline-data-logging-with-wippersnapper.md) - [Adafruit Ultimate GPS](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-ultimate-gps.md) - [GPS Dog Collar](https://learn.adafruit.com/gps-dog-collar.md) - [CircuitPython Libraries on Linux and ODROID C2](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-libaries-linux-odroid-c2.md) - [Adding a Single Board Computer to Blinka](https://learn.adafruit.com/adding-a-single-board-computer-to-blinka.md) - [Adafruit IO Environmental Monitor for Feather or Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-io-air-quality-monitor.md) - [I2C Addresses and Troublesome Chips](https://learn.adafruit.com/i2c-addresses.md) - [Textable Sensor with FONA and CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/textable-sensor-with-fona-and-circuitpython.md) - [CircuitPython Libraries with the Binho Nova Multi-Protocol USB Host Adapter](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-with-binho-nova-multi-protocol-usb-host-adapter.md) - [Feather + Raspberry Pi Weather Monitoring Network with LoRa or LoRaWAN](https://learn.adafruit.com/multi-device-lora-temperature-network.md) - [CircuitPython Libraries on Linux and the 96Boards DragonBoard 410c](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-libraries-on-linux-and-the-96boards-dragonboard-410c.md) - [DIY Trinkey No-Soldering USB Air Quality Monitor](https://learn.adafruit.com/diy-trinkey-no-solder-air-quality-monitor.md) - [Adafruit Ultimate GPS with gpsd](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-ultimate-gps-on-the-raspberry-pi.md) - [Reverse Geocache Box](https://learn.adafruit.com/reverse-geocache-engagement-box.md) - [Shadow Box Internet Clock with NeoPixel Visualization](https://learn.adafruit.com/shadow-box-internet-clock-with-neopixel-visualization.md)