CircuitPython

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CircuitPython
Original authorAdafruit Industries
Initial releaseJuly 19, 2017; 8 years ago (2017-07-19)[1]
Repositoryhttps://github.com/adafruit/circuitpython
Written inC[2]
Engine
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    PlatformSupported microcontrollers and single-board computers
    TypePython implementation
    LicenseMIT license[3]
    Websitecircuitpython.org

    CircuitPython[4] is an open-source derivative of the MicroPython programming language targeted toward students and beginners. Development of CircuitPython is supported by Adafruit Industries. It is a software implementation of the Python 3 programming language, written in C.[2] It has been ported to run on several modern microcontrollers.

    CircuitPython consists of a Python compiler to bytecode and a runtime interpreter of that bytecode that runs on the microcontroller hardware. The user is presented with an interactive prompt (the REPL) to execute supported commands immediately. Included are a selection of core Python libraries. CircuitPython includes modules which give the programmer access to the low-level hardware of supported products as well as higher-level libraries for beginners.[5]

    CircuitPython is a fork of MicroPython, originally created by Damien George.[6] The MicroPython community continues to discuss[7] forks of MicroPython into variants such as CircuitPython.

    CircuitPython is targeted to be compatible with CPython, the reference implementation of the Python programming language.[8] Programs written for CircuitPython-compatible boards may not run unmodified on other platforms such as the Raspberry Pi.[9]

    Usage

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    CircuitPython is being used as an emerging alternative solution for microcontroller programming, which is usually done in C, C++, or assembly. The language has also seen uptake in making small, handheld video game devices.[10][better source needed] Developer Chris Young has ported his infrared transmit-and-receive software to CircuitPython to provide interactivity and to aid those with accessibility issues.[11]

    Community

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    The user community support includes a Discord chat room and product support forums.[12] A Twitter account dedicated to CircuitPython news was established in 2018.[13] A newsletter, Python on Microcontrollers, is published weekly since 15 November, 2016 by Adafruit to provide news and information on CircuitPython, MicroPython, and Python on single board computers.[14] A Reddit subreddit, r/CircuitPython, provides news on CircuitPython and related news and projects and has about 4,300 members.[15]

    Hardware support

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    As of July 6, 2025 version 9.2.8 supports over 608 different micro controller boards[16]

    The version 9.1.0 supports a range of platforms, called "ports":[17]

    These ports are considered alpha and will have bugs and missing functionality:

    Previous versions supported the ESP8266 microcontroller, but its support was dropped in version 4.[18]

    Blinka Software Abstraction Layer

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    CircuitPython code may run on MicroPython or CPython using the Adafruit written Blinka compatibility layer.[19] It acts as a translation layer between CircuitPython code and underlying code. This allows CircuitPython code to run on many more devices including a wide range of single-board computers which are listed on circuitpython.org.[20] It is a pip installable Python library. The CircuitPython runtime is not used, as documented in the guide CircuitPython Libraries on Linux and Raspberry Pi.[21]

    Modules (Libraries)

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    Adafruit has fostered a community which has contributed software libraries for more than 488 sensors and drivers.[22][23]

    References

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