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Compiling MicroPython for embedded devices

What is MicroPython​

MicroPython is a software implementation of a programming language largely compatible with Python 3, written in C, that is optimized to run on a microcontroller.

MicroPython consists of a Python compiler to bytecode and a runtime interpreter of that bytecode. The user is presented with an interactive prompt (the REPL) to execute supported commands immediately. Included are a selection of core Python libraries; MicroPython includes modules which give the programmer access to low-level hardware.

How to build firmware (Let's use Xiao SAMD as an example)​

Seeeduino XIAO SAMD already supports micropython development.

First: Prepare the relevant software​

"arm-none-linux-gnueabi" is the toolchain that can be installed in Debian-based systems using a package manager like apt (the package is called gcc-arm-linux-gnueabi). On Ubuntu the arm-none-linux-gnueabi is included in ubertooth-firmware-source , We also need to prepare the environment by installing the necessary tools such as gcc python and git make. So we execute this command

sudo apt update
sudo apt install cmake make gcc ubertooth-firmware-source python3 git

Second: Switching workspaces Cloning source code​

Clone the source code and download the code for the necessary sub-modules

Execute the following statements in sequence

cd ~
git clone https://github.com/micropython/micropython
cd ~/micropython
git submodule update --init --recursive

The information we will download is in this file, which contains the path to the download and the address of the code repository

cat ~/micropython/.gitmodules

Third: Build the mpy-cross , MicroPython cross-compiler​

Most ports require the MicroPython cross-compiler to be built first. This program, called mpy-cross, is used to pre-compile Python scripts to .mpy files which can then be included (frozen) into the firmware/executable for a port. To build mpy-cross use:

cd ~/micropython/mpy-cross
make

Next : Build external dependencies​

We use the Seeeduino XIAO SAMD already supports micropython development.. It is a controller based on the arm architecture samd chip. So we specify the version number and go to the corresponding directory and compile:

cd ~/micropython/ports/samd
BOARD=SEEED_XIAO make V=1

Finally :Burning firmware​

we can see the generated firmware here, we copy the firmware to the device and the micro python is available on the XIAO SAMD

ls ~/micropython/ports/samd/build-SEEED_XIAO/ |grep firmware.uf2
sudo cp ~/micropython/ports/samd/build-SEEED_XIAO/firmware.uf2 /media/$USER/Arduino/

Test our firmware​

Copy the code below and you will see the blue led flashing

from machine import Pin, Timer

led = Pin(19, Pin.OUT)
Counter = 0    
def fun(tim):
    global Counter
    Counter = Counter + 1
    state  =  Counter%2
    led.value(state)
 
tim = Timer(-1)
tim.init(period=1000, mode=Timer.PERIODIC, callback=fun)

As you can see Seeeduino XIAO SAMD already supports micropython development.

You can also refer to this process to compile micropython firmware for other devices.

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