The current MicroPython SDK is the main scripting system for the console. You write your code in the web editor at /web-editor in the repository, which is deployed at editor.louisbourgault.com.
The intention of this system is to provide an easy entry to the console. I am first writing this with my idea being to give these devices to a school as a way to teach students to code, or at least to pitch the idea to a teacher. I think that having an easy to code system that runs fully in a browser without having to install anything is pretty cool, personally.
This is different to the legacy MicroPython SDK. The current firmware has a Go backend which controls the display, input and filesystem, with MicroPython embedded into it and a thin C glue layer in the middle. Student programs use the ferret module to call into that backend.
Using the editor
The editor uses Web Serial, so you need a recent Chromium-based browser such as Chrome or Edge, and the page must be loaded over HTTPS or localhost. Safari and Firefox do not currently support Web Serial.
Every project has a main.py file, which is run automatically when the device starts or soft resets. Other .py files can be imported from main.py. Their names must be valid Python identifiers followed by .py (for example, player.py). Start programs by importing the SDK:
import ferretThe editor can create multiple code files, draw and import images, show the serial terminal, save a project in browser storage, and download or load the complete project as a JSON file. Connect the device, then use Run Script to synchronize the project’s code files to flash (including removing files deleted or renamed in the editor) and soft reset into the new main.py. Images are sent separately with Sync Images.
See the embedded reference for the functions available to games, and the building guide for making the firmware itself.
Included Python modules
The firmware intentionally includes a fairly small set of Python modules. The most useful ones for games are time, math, struct, array, collections, gc and sys. Normal Python filesystem functions such as open() and os.listdir() are not included in the current system; code and images are managed by the Go backend and the web editor.
