Micro Python Now Runs On The ESP8266 – Contributors Wanted To Get Wifi Working

[Damien] sent us a quick email to let us know that Micro Python, a lean and fast implementation of the Python scripting language on microcontrollers is now running on the ESP8266. You may remember him from his interview on Hackaday, back when Micro Python was still at the crowdfunding stage. His campaign gathered £97k (for a £15k objective) and its comment section let us know that the backers are very happy with what he delivered.

As the very cheap ESP8266 Wifi module is gathering a lot of attention, he implemented support for it. You may use the dedicated files in the main repository ESP8266 folder  together with esp-open-sdk or simply use the precompiled binary available here. Unfortunately the software doesn’t have WiFi support yet, as it’s only a Python REPL prompt over UART at the moment. Contributors are therefore welcome to help speed up the development!

15 thoughts on “Micro Python Now Runs On The ESP8266 – Contributors Wanted To Get Wifi Working

  1. Im about to start a project that uses the esp8266 and was trying to figure out if it made sense to use an MCU and AT commands for the increased IO or move to all SPI peripherals so I could use the SDK, with the added overhead of learning yet Another platform. this makes that easy as my PC app is written in python.

    so…/follow

          1. The datasheet mentions the RF side ADC, which is what might have confused some people to assume there is one available for the user. I have seen this mentioned on multiple websites, but there is nothing in text or picture in the datasheet to indicate there is one with user accessible input.

        1. The 8266ex version of the chip has a general purpose, though somewhat limited ADC.

          “ESP8266EX also integrates a generic purpose 10-bit analog ADC. The ADC range is from 0V to 1.0V. It is typically used to measure the voltages from the sensor or battery status. The ADC cannot be used when the chip is transmitting. Otherwise the voltage may be inaccurate.”

          Datasheet link: http://www.mikrocontroller.net/attachment/231858/0A-ESP8266_Specifications_v4.pdf

    1. SPI and I²C peripherals are surprisingly expensive. For high volume products, I always end up using a small micro as a port extender. Those chips look nice on paper, until you see the price.

          1. I like the cheap STM8 parts. I generally get them by the hundred so they are 0.51 ea.
            Still quite a bargain for a 20pin SM uC with 16mips, 8k flash, 1k ram, 128b ee and three timers.

  2. Is there any way to pipe the TTL port to a socket on the wifi side for one way or bidirectional comms ?
    Many devices (I have 3 of them without thinking too hard) have TTL ports on them and this would be a great way to internet enable them, if the ESP supports that. But I’ve read that the serial port is just for setup and nothing more. Which if true is an epic shame.

    The other thing I was thinking of is a I2C bridge to a 1wire master to expand the I/O and environment readings. But as no one has done it yet, I’m thinking it also may not be possible (or at least easy).
    But I’m tuned in for developments on this platform.

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