The Micro Python project

This is the Micro Python project, which aims to put an implementation of Python 3.x on a microcontroller.

WARNING: this project is in its early stages and is subject to large changes of the code-base, including project-wide name changes and API changes. The software will not start to mature until March 2014 at the earliest.

See the repository www.github.com/micropython/pyboard for the Micro Python board. At the moment, finalising the design of the board is the top priority.

Major components in this repository:

• py/ -- the core Python implementation, including compiler and runtime.
• unix/ -- a version of Micro Python that runs on Unix.
• stm/ -- a version of Micro Python that runs on the Micro Python board with an STM32F405RG.
• teensy/ -- a version of Micro Python that runs on the Teensy 3.1 (preliminary but functional).

Additional components:

• unix-cpy/ -- a version of Micro Python that outputs bytecode (for testing).
• tests/ -- test framework and test scripts.
• tools/ -- various tools.
• examples/ -- a few example Python scripts.

"make" is used to build the components, or "gmake" on BSD-based systems. You will also need bash and python (2.7 or 3.3) for the stm port.

The Unix version

The "unix" part requires a standard Unix environment with gcc and GNU make. x86 and x64 architectures are supported (i.e. x86 32- and 64-bit). ARM to be confirmed. Porting to other architectures require writing some assembly code for the exception handling.

To build:

$ cd unix
$ make

Then to test it:

$ ./micropython
>>> list(5 * x + y for x in range(10) for y in [4, 2, 1])

Debian/Ubuntu/Mint derivative Linux distros will require build-essentials and libreadline-dev packages installed. To build FFI (Foreign Function Interface) module (recommended, enable in unix/mpconfigport.mk), libffi-dev is required.

The STM version

The "stm" part requires an ARM compiler, arm-none-eabi-gcc, and associated bin-utils. For those using Arch Linux, you need arm-none-eabi-binutils and arm-none-eabi-gcc packages from the AUR. Otherwise, try here: https://launchpad.net/gcc-arm-embedded

To build:

$ cd stm
$ make

Then to flash it via USB DFU to your device:

$ dfu-util -a 0 -D build/flash.dfu

You will need the dfu-util program, on Arch Linux it's dfu-util-git in the AUR.