The CircuitPython Show: Recent Episodes
Paul Cutler
An independent podcast with the people in and around CircuitPython. Created and hosted by Paul Cutler.
It’s the final episode! Tod Kurt returns and serves as guest host and interviews Paul. Paul shares how he started with open source, his favorite project, exciting things coming to CircuitPython, and more.
00:00 Welcome
00:40 How Paul first got started with computers
1:45 Paul’s start with open source
5:10 Learning Python
- Talk Python training courses
6:38 Discovering CircuitPython
8:50 Paul’s favorite CircuitPython project
- SilverSaucer.com
13:22 Exciting things coming to CircuitPython
- Memento Camera
- USB host
- Scott Shawcroft’s CircuitPython 2024 blog post
16:34 What would Paul like to see in CircuitPython in the future?
17:55 Tod’s thank you for The CircuitPython Show
18:55 Where to learn more about Paul’s work?
- paulcutler.org - blog and project page
19:25 Which board?
CircuitPython core developer Jeff Epler joins the show. He and Paul discuss how he sees his role as a core developer, adding JPEG support to CircuitPython, and adding over 2000 new fonts.
00:27 Welcome Jeff and his start with computers
00:54 How Jeff started with open source
1:45 Discovering CircuitPython
2:12 Jeff’s role as a CircuitPython core developer
3:43 Retro computing
- The Commordion: linusakesson.net
4:43 The Memento camera and JPEG support in CircuitPython
7:17 Adding over 2000 new fonts to CircuitPython
- adafruit/circuitpython-fonts: A collection of PCF-format fonts packaged for easy use in CircuitPython
10:53 Which board?
12:05 Follow Jeff:
- GitHub
- Mastodon
- Blog
Debra Ansell joins the show and shares how she started with computers and electronics, the Orb-sessed LED Sphere, the PixelBlaze Pillow, and more.
00:30 How Debra started with computers and electronics
2:50 Creating the Orb-sessed LED Sphere
5:08 How CircuitPython helped with the project
- The Seeed XIAO Sense nRF52840
7:11 Combining maker skills
- LED Tote Bag Back to the Future
8:27 The PixelBlaze Pillow
- The PixelBlaze controller
10:32 The WiFI Hot Spot LED Jacket
12:43 Where to learn more about Debra’s projects
- Geekmomprojects.com
- Make Magazine
- Mastodon: @geekmomprojects@mastodon.social
13:25 Which board?
Jan Goolsbey joins the show. He and Paul discuss the CircuitPython Community Bundle, Jan’s contributions to the bundle, his IoT wind chimes project, and the string car racer.
Transcripts are available in most podcast players.
00:30 Welcome Jan
2:24 Discovering CircuitPython
3:52 CircuitPython’s Community Bundle
6:10 Jan’s favorite libraries in the Community Bundle: Range Slicer
7:45 Graphics libraries including PaletteFader
9:27 Advice for adding to the CircuitPython Community Bundle
10:30 Using synthio for the Internet of Things Wind Chimes project
- Wind Chimes repository
14:14 The String Car Racer
19:05 Where to learn more?
- Adafruit Playground
- GitHub repository
- Vintage guitar pedal repair
20:15 Which board?
Max Lupo joins the show and shares how he uses electronics in his art pieces and installations.
00:00 Welcome Max
00:45 Max’s start with computers and electronics
01:53 Which programming language is best for each art piece?
03:47 Beep-Boopatronics
7:36 Continuous Memory
10:01 The Margin Maker
14:20 Which board?
Max’s homepage.
Max’s GitHub repositories.
Tod Kurt joins the show. Tod shares his synthio boards and discusses his recent trip to Hackaday’s Supercon.
00:00 Welcome Tod
1:00 synthio CircuitPython Day Panel Discussion
1:10 What is synthio in CircuitPython?
2:00 Tod’s custom synthio micrococontroller boards (todbot/circuitpython-synthio-tricks: tips, tricks, and examples of using CircuitPython synthio
2:10 Tod’s Tindie store
4:30 Tod’s visit to Hackaday’s Supercon
5:22 Lux Lavalier on The Bootloader and in-person
6:30 CircuitPython at Supercon
7:02 Lightning Talks YouTube
8:40 Sprite_tm Jeroen Domburg: Building a Portable Vectrex, The Right Way
10:15 Cuddly Companion Bots Angela Sheehan: Cuddly Companion Bots
11:50 Stargirl’s KiCad Viewer talk
13:22 This year’s SuperCon Badge
15:44 Adding a capacitive touchpad - GitHub repository
17:30 Lack of speaker diversity at Supercon
17:55 Alpenglow’s Mastodon thread on Supercon speaker diversity Alpenglow Industries (@alpenglow@mstdn.social)
20:42 Which board do you reach for when starting a new project?
22:50 Wrap-up
Thank you for listening. Until next time, stay positive!
Erin St. Blaine joins the show and shares where she finds inspiration, advice for starting Neopixel projects, diffusion tips and tricks, and more.
00:33 Erin’s start with computers and electronics 03:18 Where Erin finds inspiration 04:42 Advice those starting with Neopixel or LED projects 05:43 What were the challenges with LEDs underwater? 08:41 Diffusion tips and tricks 09:52 Favorite Learn Guides 12:17 Which microcontroller?
Martin Tan joins the show. He and Paul discuss Martin’s new book, micro:bit Projects with Python and Single Board Computers: Building STEAM Projects with Code Club and Kids’ Maker Groups.
Martin’s book at Apress: micro:bit Projects with Python and Single Board Computers
Martin’s book at Barnes & Noble
00:40 Martin’s start with computers and electronics02:25 micro:bit Projects with Python and Single Board Computers: Building STEAM Projects with Code Club and Kids’ Maker Groups04:06 What is a Code Club?05:07 Whom is the book intended for?6:07 How do you keep the kids engaged?8:44 Scratch, MicroPython and Python curriculums10:00 How do the kids collaborate?12:02 Favorite story from running a Code Club14:33 Which microcontroller?
Dan Halbert joins the show and shares how he started with computers, discovering CircuitPython, where CircuitPython might be going next, and more
Show Notes00:31 Dan’s start with computers and electronics
02:54 Making computers easier to use
05:09 Discovering CircuitPython
8:40 Advice for new contributors to CircuitPython’s core
9:40 How CircuitPython is ported to new hardware
11:35 Managing CircuitPython releases
13:49 Where CircuitPython might be going in the near future
16:33 Which board?
Ben Shockley, creator of Mini Fig Boards joins the show. He and Paul chat about the Mini Fig boards and how they came to be, how CircuitPython has helped in development, advice for new PCB designers, and more.
Show Notes00:22 Ben’s start with computers and electronics
1:27 The MiniFigure boards - what are they and how did they start?
6:40 Comparing the two MiniFig boards
8:53 How has CircuitPython helped with designing the boards ?
9:51 Advice for people starting out in PCB design
11:50 Which board?
Seth Kerr joins The CircuitPython Show and shares what an FPGA is; his creation, the IcyBlue Feather FPGA; and how it might be used with CircuitPython.
Visit CircuitPythonShow.com for show notes, transcripts, and more.
00:33 Seth’s start with computers and electronics
01:24 What is an FPGA?
02:27 What are the advantages to using an FPGA?
03:16 Seth’s process to designing boards
05:25 The IcyBlue FPGA Feather
09:42 How could you use the IcyBlue Feather with a CircuitPython microcontroller?
11:55 Programming an FPGA
14:05 Which board?
Danny Staple joins the show and discusses his latest book, Robotics with Raspberry Pi PIco.
For show notes and transcripts, visit The CircuitPython Show website.
Show Notes:
00:00 Intro
00:58 Danny’s start with computers and robotics
01:51 What the reader can expect from Danny’s book, Robotics with Raspberry Pi Pico
03:04 The robotics shopping list
04:30 Challenges with the parts shortage
06:20 What made CircuitPython a good choice for building the robot?
07:40 What were some of the challenges faced when writing the book?
10:25 Using Bluetooth to control the robot
12:56 How did PIO with the Raspberry Pi Pico help when building the robot?
14:32 The Monte Carlo localization algorithm
20:17 Which board?
Alec Delaney joins Paul and they discuss how CircuitPython uses continuous integration for development and Alec's CircuitPythonukiah project.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your dreams a reality with 10 boards starting at only $5! Thank you to PCBWay for their support of The CircuitPython Show. Learn more at PCBWay.com.
2:28 What is continuous integration (CI)?
4:36 How does CI make it easy for developers and contributors?
8:53 What are the challenges in moving to pyproject.toml?
11:11 What are the benefits of pyproject.toml?
14:56 The CircuitPythonukiah
17:14 Which board?
Mark Komus joins the show and shares how he started with computers, the Monster Eyes project, contributing to CircuitPython's core, and more.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your dreams a reality with 10 boards starting at only $5! Thank you to PCBWay for their support of The CircuitPython Show. Learn more at PCBWay.com.
1:00 Welcome and Mark’s start with computers
2:30 Discovering CircuitPython
5:28 The Monster Eyes
8:37 Working on CircuitPython’s core
11:57 Opportunities from CircuitPython
12:50 Which microcontroller?
Support the show! If you like what you hear, tell a friend or write a review. Sponsor the show financially - your support goes towards covering the costs of hosting, recording, and transcriptions. Thank you for your support. Learn more.
Joey Castillo joins the show. He and Paul discuss the LCD Featherwing, the Open Book and its user interface, and power management.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your dreams a reality with 10 boards starting at only $5! Thank you to PCBWay for their support of The CircuitPython Show. Learn more at PCBWay.com.
Show Notes:
1:12 Welcome and how Joey got started with computers & electronics
2:48 LCD Featherwing and implementing CircuitPython first
5:55 The OpenBook and the user interface
11:10 Managing power consumption
18:08 Which microcontroller?
Follow the show on Twitter at @circuitpyshow
Support the show! If you like what you hear, tell a friend or write a review. Sponsor the show financially - your support goes towards covering the costs of hosting, recording, and transcriptions. Thank you for your support. Learn more.
Paul takes the podcast on the road and visits Jason Pecor in Altoona, Wisconsin. Jason shows Paul CircuitPython powered Trolls and shares how they came to be.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your dreams a reality with 10 boards starting at only $5! Thank you to PCBWay for their support of The CircuitPython Show. Learn more at PCBWay.com.
4:05 How Jason discovered CircuitPython
5:40 Meet the trolls
7:50 The park in the summertime
8:55 Proof of concept using CircuitPython
11:05 CircuitPython hardware in the trolls
12:45 Audio demo
13:30 Surviving the climate
16:05 The Blue Troll
17:41 Which microcontroller?
Follow the show on Twitter at @circuitpyshow
Support the show! If you like what you hear, tell a friend or write a review. Sponsor the show financially - your support goes towards covering the costs of hosting, recording, and transcriptions. Thank you for your support. Learn more.
Jim Mussared, a maintainer of MicroPython, joins the show. He and Paul discuss how MicroPython started, collaborating with CircuitPython, being a maintainer, favorite uses of MicroPython, and more.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your designs a reality with ten boards starting at only $5!
1:02 Welcome and Jim’s start with electronics
3:02 Damien George starting MicroPython
3:50 MicroPython and CircuitPython
5:32 Collaborating with CircuitPython
6:10 MicroPython’s Strengths
6:45 What is it like to be a maintainer of an open source project?
8:50 Balancing open source and professional work
9:40 Favorite uses of MicroPython
11:10 Performance improvements in MicroPython
14:20 Where is MicroPython going next?
16:20 Which microcontroller?
Bradán Lane shares how CircuitPython has helped in creating the JoyPad and LumosRing.
This episode is brought to you by PCBWay. Make your designs a reality at only $5 for ten boards at PCBWay.
01:10 Bradan’s start with electronics
02:33 Bradan’s first CircuitPython product: the Joypad
06:25 Customizing the JoyPad
09:07 The LumosRing and LumosStick
15:20 Which microcontroller?
Visit CircuitPythonShow.com for show notes and transcripts.
Thea Flowers joins the show and shares about her synthesizer company, Winterbloom, and the role CircuitPython has played.
Show Notes:
00:30 How Thea first got started with computers
00:50 Discovering CircuitPython
2:25 Thea’s synthesizer company, Winterbloom
3:40 Winterbloom products that use CircuitPython
(Sol and Big Honking Button:)
7:00 Castor and Pollux
8:50 Which microcontroller?
Radomir Dopieralski, aka deshipu, joins the show. He shares his interest in computers growing up behind the Iron Curtain, developing games with CircuitPython, robots, and more.
Show Notes:
00:15 Welcome and getting started with computers behind the Iron Curtain
1:45 Discovering MicroPython via its Kickstarter
2:50 Handheld games - the Pew Pew family
4:30 Learning Pew Pew in workshops
6:22 How does CircuitPython make it easy to program games?
7:42 What are the challenges in using CircuitPython to program games?
10:30 Robot building
13:30 Fluff bug
14:30 Which microcontroller?
Brent Rubell joins the show. He and Paul discuss the Internet of Things, Adfafruit's Wippersnapper firmware, their favorite newsletters, and more. Visit https://circuitpythonshow.com/episodes/16 for newsletter links. Show Notes: 00:30 How Brent got started with computers and electronics 1:45 How does Brent define the Internet of Things? 2:45 What is Adafruit IO? 6:04 Wippersnapper 6:35 What is “no code”? 9:55 How do you add components to Wippersnapper? 12:30 Where is Wippersnapper going next? 14:00 Project advice 15:18 Favorite newsletters 18:37 Which microcontroller?
This episode welcomes Joshua Lowe, the inventor of Edublocks, which helps bridge the gap from Scratch Python 3(including CircuitPython). Show Notes: 00:20 Welcome and introduction to Edublocks 4:18 Making Edublocks open source 5:20 Working with Edublocks and hardware 9:20 Where is Edublocks going next? 10:40 The pandemic and remote education 13:42 Which microcontroller?
Kevin Matocha joins the show and shares some of his projects, including the Hackpad and TinyLogicFriend. Show Notes: 00:20 Welcome 00:27 How Kevin started with computers and electronics 3:50 HackPad 8:20 Wiring the HackPad 9:55 TinyLogicFriend - a logic analyzer using Sigrok 15:28 Which microcontroller?
Nicholas Tollervey joins the show and shares his music background, the Mu code editor, and how learning to code can be similar to learning to play an instrument. Show notes: 0:18 Welcome and Nicholas’ beginning with computing 2:35 The Mu code editor 6:40 Nicholas’ music background 8:20 How is learning music and coding similar? 11:35 Code Grades 15:50 Nicholas and teaching 17:20 Turn the tables 19:05 Which microcontroller?
Guy Dupont joins the show and shares some of his projects, including his Subaru backup camera project, T9 predictive text MacroPad, and more. 00:12 Welcome and Subaru backup camera project 4:40 Link to YouTube Video: YouTube 4:50 Guy’s predictive text https://www.etsy.com/listing/1036685552/customizable-t9-keypad-with-mechanical (MacroPad) 7:40 T9 Predictive Text written in CircuitPython 9:55 Favorite coding language 10:40 CircuitPython advantages 11:50 Guy’s music connections 13:20 Raspberry Pi iPod project 16:20 Turn the tables 18:58 Guy’s YouTube channel
Anne Barela discusses her time at Adafruit, writing the Python on Hardware newsletter, retro tech, and more. 00:17 Welcome and Anne’s start with Adafruit 01:15 Anne’s first two books on microcontrollers 03:38 CircuitPython through the years 5:40 What goes into writing an Adafruit Learn Guide? 7:30 ThePython on Microcontrollers newsletter 10:30 When did Anne first get into computers and electronics? 14:05 Turn the tables 16:05 Which microcontroller?
In episode ten, Pierre and Paul have an in-depth conversation about mechanical keyboards and how CircuitPython has helped Pierre with development. 00:15 Welcome and starting with computers and electronics 2:00 Building custom keyboards 4:10 BlueMicro keyboards (get screenshot) 6:40 Developing the BlueMicro keyboard firmware 7:40 What goes into building a custom keyboard? 11:20 Microcontroller keyboard matrices 13:55 Changing from Arduino to CircuitPython for keyboard development 17:35 How has CircuitPython helped with troubleshooting? 20:15 Turn the tables 21:30 Which microcontroller?
Liz Clark joins the show and shares her maker journey, music background, and we talk MIDI for beginners. 00:25 Welcome and Liz’s music background 4:30 BlitzCityDIY https://www.youtube.com/blitzcitydiy 6:30 Getting started with MIDI 10:38 Adafruit MIDI Learn guide, MIDI for Makers: https://learn.adafruit.com/midi-for-makers 12:26 Liz’s music setup at home 15:20 Turn the tables 16:20 Which microcontroller?
Melissa and Paul talk Blink, retro tech, and more. 00:38 Blinka 03:00 What it means to be the maintainer of Blinka 04:37 How Melissa started with CircuitPython 07:12 Melissa’s YouTube channel 07:57 OpenSign Library 8:05 Melissa’s CNC machine 09:28 Melissa’s current retro tech projects 10:30 Retro Macs 12:30 A mysterious box appears 14:35 Turn the tables 15:22 Which microcontroller?
Alie Gonzalez joins the show and shares her maker journey, how she started her professional career, and the tech scene in Miami. 00:50 Welcome and Alie’s journey to becoming a maker 2:22 The start of Alie’s career 4:30 Sparkfun & Alie 6:40 Miami Hack Week 14:45 The tech scene in Miami 18:20 Which microcontroller?
00:20 How Scott joined Adafruit 3:00 What are some of the biggest changes and accomplishments over the last five years since CircuitPython was first released? 7:20 Working with upstream MicroPython 9:20 Porting CircuitPython to Raspberry Pi (bare metal) 13:28 ESP32-S3 development 16:30 Scott’s work in community broadband 22:40 Turn the tables 24:30 Which microcontroller?
Episode 5 - Rose Hooper Support the show: https://circuitpythonshow.com/support 00:35 Getting started with computers 04:36 Early 90s BBS culture & Freeness 07:46 Discovering Python 10:00 Home Assistant 15:20 CircuitPython 23:15 Which microcontroller?
1:00 Tod Kurt introdction Homepage: https://todbot.com 2:05 BlinkM 2:35 Tod's experiences with Arduino 7:20 Tod's work with synthesizers 12:18 Sound on CircuitPython 15:45 Tod and Python / CPython 21:20 Tod's CircuitPython Tips Github repository 23:20 Turn the tables (Ask Paul a question) 29:45 Which microcontroller would you grab for a prototype or new project?
Professor John Gallaugher of Boston College joins the show and talks CircuitPython in higher education. 01:01 Adding CircuitPython to a higher ed curriculum 05:38 Examples of CircuitPython used in accessibility 7:30 How do you teach students with hardware? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oldZ-6eVhg 16:30 Maker communities 19:27 Professor Gallagher’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/profgallaugher/videos?view=0&sort=dd&flow=grid 23:20 Former students’ success 28:20 Turn the Tables segment: Professor Gallaugher asks Paul his favorite bands 29:40 Go to microcontroller for a new project?
Les Pounder of Tom's Hardware stops by and talks all things microcontrollers, shares his latest project, and retro tech. 1:30 Biggest microcontroller surprise 4:25 Favorite Pico add-on board 5:35 Photo of all the boards 7:25 Microcontroller pick 12:30 Les’ latest CircuitPython project 14:05 Retro tech 18:44 Turn the tables: Retro tech to take to a deserted island? (Where Paul gets the other Sega Genesis name wrong) 20:57 How Les was introduced to CircuitPython
00:40 Kattni’s journey, originally told at PyOhio 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bBHXimlfPQ and first project: https://learn.adafruit.com/circuit-playground-express-piano-in-the-key-of-lime) 6:00 Adafruit Discord: http://adafru.it/discord 7:45 Mentoring 9:55 Community discussion 12:50 CircuitPython 2022 goals 16:00 CircuitPython tagline: Code + Community = CircuitPython 17:50 Learn Guides 22:40 Turn the Tables 23:40 Which microcontroller to start your next project?
The CircuitPython Show is an independent podcast hosted by Paul Cutler. Each episode he will have a conversation with someone doing something cool and awesome in or around CircuitPython.