Microcontroller programming with Python

[ralf-krause]

Dear developers,
I'm testing a lot of things with microcontrollers and sensors. For a lot of things we can use MicroPython and CircuitPython. The python library must be installed on the "thing", and Thonny is the interface to connect to the files of the python library.

Some examples for things we can use in pedagogical context are: Micro:bit, Calliope, Arduino, Adafruit Circuit Playground Express, Raspberry Pi Pico 2040 (W), Pimoroni Badger 2040 (W).

I found that Thonny 3.2.7 is installed in Puavo Bullseye, and Thonny 4.0.1 in Puavo Bookworm.
Is there a chance to get Thonny 4.1.4 (stable since November 2023)? https://github.com/thonny/thonny/releases/tag/v4.1.4
It could be useful for schools if Thonny would be available in the Puavo menu and in a Puavo software list.

[ralf-krause]

I can't say how interesting the Python programming is for school. Yes, I would use MicroPython or CircuitPython for projects with microcontrollers.

I found the "MU Editor for Python" https://codewith.mu/en/ ... it seems to be easy to use and it comes the a lot of tutorials and examples https://codewith.mu/en/tutorials/1.2/ .

[ralf-krause]

The MU Editor looks much better than the currently installed IDLE Python Shell.
Translations are made for German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish … sorry, no Finnish yet.
And there are a few modes for programming Python on the local computer but also MicroPython for Micro:bit, Lego Spike, ESP32 boards, Raspberry Pi Pico 2040 and CircuitPython for Adafruit Clue an Circuit Playground.