# PyPortal LIFX Lighting Controller 

## Overview

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/074/041/medium800thumb/internet_of_things___iot_ezgif.com-video-to-gif_%287%29.jpg?1554410524)

 **_Want to add unique lighting to your room?_ **

A simple solution would be adding a couple of **WiFi-enabled LED smart-bulbs**. These bulbs are energy efficient and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors to fit your space. Smaller bulbs can be used for accent-lighting or lamps, while larger bulbs are more powerful and can light up an entire room!

These types of bulbs are _incredibly_ popular - and are sold in most major electronics brick-and-mortar retailers. 

In this guide, **you'll be turning your PyPortal into a smart lighting controller capable of selecting and setting multiple light sources**.

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/073/550/medium800/internet_of_things___iot_ProductLineUpAbout.jpg?1553265653 The LIFX family of smart-bulbs (src: https://www.lifx.com/pages/about))

Unlike a more complicated smart-lighting system like the [popular Phillips Hue](https://www2.meethue.com/en-us), LIFX lights are incredibly simple to setup. each light has its own wifi radio (_possibly something [ESP32](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3979) or [ESP8266](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2491)-based?_ We can't tell from [the teardown photo](https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/LIFX+Color+1000+Teardown/64739)) and connects to your WiFi network.

Most notable about the LIFX lights is they provide [a well-documented HTTP API](https://api.developer.lifx.com/docs/introduction), similar to the [Adafruit IO HTTP API](https://io.adafruit.com/api/docs/). This means you can easily interface with it using your PyPortal.

If you're looking for a way to **interactively control a room's lighting using your PyPortal** , follow along!

## CircuitPython Code

CircuitPython is perfect for building Internet-of-Things projects. This project uses the [ESP32SPI CircuitPython](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_ESP32SPI)library, which can use the ESP32 as a WiFi-coprocessor to send web requests to the LIFX HTTP Remote Control API.

We've also built a [LIFX helper module for CircuitPython](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_LIFX) to make interfacing with these lights incredibly easy. 

You can rapidly update your code without having to compile and store WiFi and API secret keys on the device. This means that there's no editing code and re-uploading whenever you move the PyPortal to another network - just update a file and you're set. 

![internet_of_things___iot_updated_code.png](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/074/096/medium640/internet_of_things___iot_updated_code.png?1554495184)

## PyPortal

Say hello to PyPortal! The easiest way to build your IoT projects with a touchscreen display! [Make sure to walk through the PyPortal introduction guide and walkthrough the pages. It'll get you setup with CircuitPython and a handful of demo code to play with!](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pyportal)

![internet_of_things___iot_3d_printing_hero_(1).jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/073/554/medium640/internet_of_things___iot_3d_printing_hero_%281%29.jpg?1553269080)

## Prerequisite Guides

If you're new to CircuitPython, take a moment to walk through the following guides to get you started and up-to-speed:

- [Welcome to CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/welcome-to-circuitpython)

## Parts

You only need a PyPortal for this guide - no other sensors or external circuitry required!

Featured
### Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display

[Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
 **PyPortal** , our easy-to-use IoT device that allows you to create all the things for the “Internet of Things” in minutes. Make custom touch screen interface GUIs, all open-source, and Python-powered using tinyJSON / APIs to get news, stock, weather, cat photos,...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4116/guides)
![Front view of a Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display with a pyportal logo image on the display. ](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/4116-00.jpeg)

### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B

[USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller

Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides)
![USB cable - USB A to Micro-B - 3 foot long](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/592-01.jpg)

You can get both of these and a PyPortal stand in AdaBox 011:

- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-lifx-lighting-controller/pyportal-circuitpython-setup.md)

## Guide Products

### Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display

[Adafruit PyPortal - CircuitPython Powered Internet Display](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
 **PyPortal** , our easy-to-use IoT device that allows you to create all the things for the “Internet of Things” in minutes. Make custom touch screen interface GUIs, all open-source, and Python-powered using tinyJSON / APIs to get news, stock, weather, cat photos,...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4116)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4116/guides)
### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B

[USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller

Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/592/guides)
### AdaBox011 - PyPortal

[AdaBox011 - PyPortal](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4061)
Reach out beyond your desk - to the stars and beyond - with **PyPortal**! This ADABOX features a new, easy-to-use IoT device that allows you to customize and create your very own "Internet of Things" portal. We take CircuitPython to the max, pairing a SAMD51 chip with a...

No Longer Stocked
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4061)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4061/guides)

## Related Guides

- [Adafruit PyPortal - IoT for CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pyportal.md)
- [NYE Circuit Playground Drop](https://learn.adafruit.com/nye-circuit-playground-drop.md)
- [PyPortal IoT Data Logger with Analog Devices ADT7410, Adafruit IO and CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/iot-pyportal-data-logger-adafruitio-circuitpython.md)
- [Electronic History of the Day with PyPortal](https://learn.adafruit.com/electronic-history-of-the-day-with-pyportal.md)
- [No-Solder LED Disco Tie with Bluetooth](https://learn.adafruit.com/no-solder-circuit-playground-bluetooth-disco-tie.md)
- [Making oscilloscope images with DACs](https://learn.adafruit.com/dac-oscilloscope-images.md)
- [LED Matrix Hourglass](https://learn.adafruit.com/led-matrix-hourglass.md)
- [Bluetooth Cycling Speed & Cadence Sensor Display with Clue](https://learn.adafruit.com/bluetooth-bicycle-speed-cadence-sensor-display-with-clue.md)
- [Lego Neon NeoPixel Sign with CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/lego-neon-sign.md)
- [MicroBlocks Circuit Playground Express Ornament](https://learn.adafruit.com/microblocks-circuitplayground-express-ornament.md)
- [Trellis M4 Beat Sequencers](https://learn.adafruit.com/trellis-m4-beat-sequencer.md)
- [Using the Android CircuitPython Editor](https://learn.adafruit.com/using-the-android-circuitpython-editor.md)
- [Mini Golf Course with Circuit Playground and Crickit](https://learn.adafruit.com/mini-golf-course-with-makecode-circuit-playground-crickit.md)
- [Adafruit IO Basics: Schedule Actions](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-io-basics-scheduled-triggers.md)
- [Use circup to easily keep your CircuitPython libraries up to date](https://learn.adafruit.com/keep-your-circuitpython-libraries-on-devices-up-to-date-with-circup.md)
- [PyPortal Reddit Stats Trophy](https://learn.adafruit.com/pyportal-reddit-stats-trophy.md)