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LittlevGL Brings GUI Tools To Micropython

posted by Fnord666 on Monday March 04 2019, @01:44AM   
from the micro-gooey dept.

janrinok writes:

Arthur T Knackerbracket has found the following story:

Microcontrollers are wonderfully useful things, but programming them can be a little daunting if you’re used to the simplicity of compiling for regular PCs. Over time though, this has become easier. Communities have strayed away from assembly code and created higher-level languages such as Micropython, to allow these devices to be programmed in a more accessible manner. Unfortunately, Micropython has historically lacked a decent high-level GUI library. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case, with [amirgon] porting LittlevGL to the platform.

Putting a GUI into a project with a screen seems simple, until one actually gets down to brass tacks. A simple button can consist of a background color, text, and a symbol – and that’s not even considering the use of shading or other visual effects. Having a library to handle the grunt work can massively cut down development time.

[...] There are other approaches to this problem, too – with MyOpenLab being a particularly versatile example.

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Original Submission

• MicroPython is not the same as Python MicroPython is not the same as Python (Score: 2) by janrinok on Monday March 04 2019, @06:52PM (2 children)

  by janrinok (52) on Monday March 04 2019, @06:52PM (#809914) Journal

  code primarily in an interpreted language?

  You are, I think, confusing MicroPython with Python. MicroPython also runs on bare metal in exactly the same way as eLua. If all you are arguing about is the choice of language then that is surely a matter of personal preference assuming that both have the same choice of libraries for the various functions (GPS, LoRa or whatever).

  http://micropython.org/ [micropython.org]:

  MicroPython is a full Python compiler and runtime that runs on the bare-metal. You get an interactive prompt (the REPL) to execute commands immediately, along with the ability to run and import scripts from the built-in filesystem. The REPL has history, tab completion, auto-indent and paste mode for a great user experience.

  MicroPython strives to be as compatible as possible with normal Python (known as CPython) so that if you know Python you already know MicroPython. On the other hand, the more you learn about MicroPython the better you become at Python.

  In addition to implementing a selection of core Python libraries, MicroPython includes modules such as "machine" for accessing low-level hardware.

  'Interpreted'? - I think not.

  Parent

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• Re:MicroPython is not the same as Python Re:MicroPython is not the same as Python (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 04 2019, @11:17PM (1 child)

  by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 04 2019, @11:17PM (#810041)

  If all you are arguing about is the choice of language then that is surely a matter of personal preference assuming that both have the same choice of libraries for the various functions

  I've not worked with lua for about 15 years but it was designed to be small and embeddible. I mentioned it in response to your C comment because you get strings, tables, pattern matching and a simple C API. With eLua, I do know you can build without the parser (etc) to reduce binary size. Size seems to be my preference when writing embedded code.

  'Interpreted'? - I think not.

  It is a bytecode interpreter is it not ;P

  Parent

  • Re:MicroPython is not the same as Python (Score: 2) by janrinok on Tuesday March 05 2019, @08:20AM

    by janrinok (52) on Tuesday March 05 2019, @08:20AM (#810178) Journal

    From http://micropython.org/ [micropython.org]

    a native emitter that targets machine code directly rather than the bytecode virtual machine

    However you asked:

    It is a bytecode interpreter is it not ;P

    No. it appears not....

    Parent