6.2.0 beta 4 release notes

[dhalbert]

This release, 6.2.0-beta.4, is the fifth beta release of CircuitPython 6.2.0. Notable changes since 6.2.0-beta.3 include new RP2040 fixes and features, enhancements to bitmaptools, and turning off usb_cdc by default. See Port status below for details on port stability for each port, and Known issues for known problems. If you find any issues with this release, please file an issue.

Download from circuitpython.org

Firmware downloads are available from the downloads page on circuitpython.org. The site makes it easy to select the correct file and language for your board.

Installation

To install follow the instructions in our new Welcome to CircuitPython! guide. To install the latest libraries, see this page in that guide.

Try the latest version of the Mu editor for creating and editing your CircuitPython programs and for easy access to the CircuitPython serial connection (the REPL).

Port status

CircuitPython has a number of "ports" that are the core implementation for a variety of microcontroller families. Stability varies on a per-port basis. As of this release, atmel-samd, cxd56 (Spresense), nrf, and stm for the F4 family are stable. esp32s2, raspberrypi, and stm for other STM chip families are being actively improved but may be missing functionality and have bugs. litex and mimxrt10xx are in an alpha state and will have bugs and missing functionality.

Changes since 6.2.0-beta.3

Full commit log is here.

Fixes and enhancements

• Mark bitmaptools.arrayblit() destination as dirty. arrayblit: mark bitmap area as dirty #4430. Thanks @jepler.
• Add displayio.Palette.is_transparent(palette_index). Add getter for displayio.Palette item transparency/opacity. #4426. Thanks @kmatch98.
• Add uniform board.LED pin names for several boards. More later. Adding LED for D13/L pin name. #4421. Thanks @kattni.
• Add bitmaptools.readinto() and bitmaptools.arrayblit(). bitmaptools: Add readinto, arrayblit #4403. Thanks @jepler.
• Disable usb_cdc, the second USB serial port, by default. it was on by default in 6.2.0-beta.3. It is still available to use in a custom build. disable default usb_cdc #4384. Thanks @dhalbert.
• Save ~1500 bytes of firmware space via slight changes in vm execution with a minor speed penalty. Vm size optimizations: Get back 1500 bytes for 3.2% VM speed decrease #4344. Thanks @jepler.
• Refactor displayio set_pixel for use in bitmap_tools. refactor displayio set_pixel for use in bitmap_tools #4357. Thanks @kmatch98.
• Update TinyUSB. fix rp2040 use of tud_disconnect #4327. Thanks @hathach.
• Fix regression of TinyUSB version. Update TinyUSB #4365. Thanks @tannewt.
• Fix incorrect 16-bit signedness in displayio.TileGrid. Use uint16 for temporary variables in displayio.TileGrid #4287. Thanks @deshipu.
• Fix TileGrid.transpose_xy crash. Tilegrid transpose fix #4331. Thanks @dhalbert.
• Update ulab to fix matrix vetor multiplication issue. matrix vector multiplication broken in ulab #4250. Thanks @jepler.
• Code and documentation cleanups. [nrf] No need to store buffer_length as part of audiopwmio_pwmaudioout_obj_t #4335. [stm] curr_pulseout can be STATIC #4337, [audiocore] buffer_read was never used #4338, [readme] minor clarification / deduplication #4351, [vfs_fat_diskio] pdrv is not a drive number since f5f4cdae89 #4391. Thanks @tyomitch.

Board- and port-specific changes

• ESP32-S2
  • Fix wifi and I2C interfering with each other. Esp32-S2 I2C fixes #4387. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • Fix watchdog deinit(). ESP32S2: Fix watchdog deinit #4325. Thanks @microdev1.
• RP2040
  • Add displayio.ParallelBus. Add RP2040 displayio.ParallelBus Support #4130. Thanks @gamblor21.
  • Add rotaryio. raspberrypi: Implement rotaryio, improve StateMachine #4329. Thanks @jepler.
  • Enable audiomp3; it works at low bit rates. raspberrypi: Enable mp3 playback #4380. Thanks @jepler.
  • Lower default flash speed. Lower default flash speed. #4392, Speed up a bit more #4393. Thanks @tannewt.
  • Initalize rtc with a reasonable time. raspberrypi: RTC: Ensure a time is set #4379. Thanks @jepler.
  • Add new features to rp2pio.StateMachine. raspberrypi: Implement rotaryio, improve StateMachine #4329. Thanks @jepler.
  • Add double reset into UF2 bootloader. rp2040 add double reset to uf2 #4375. Thanks @hathach.
  • Fix use of tud_disconnect(). fix rp2040 use of tud_disconnect #4327. Thanks @hathach.
  • Fix clock stretch on board.I2C(). correct clock stretch timeout for board.I2C() #4390. Thanks @dhalbert.
  • Allow more than one program per PIO. Issue 4237 - Changed initial setting in program_struct #4405. Thanks @DavePutz.
• SAMD51
  • Use SDASETUP to improve I2C rise times. I2CPeripheral samd51 corrections in the CTRLC bit #4370. Thanks @jposada and thanks @k3wals for the diagnosis.
• Spresense
  • Minor I2C, SPI, and UART fixes. spresense: minor i2c and spi fixes #4386, spresense: minor changes for i2c, spi and uart #4412. Thanks @kamtom480.
• STM32
  • Add all modules enabled in STM32F405 to STM32F407. STM32: add all F405 modules to F407 #4385. Thanks @hierophect.
  • Fix UART.deinit(). STM32: Fix UART deinit #4383. Thanks @hierophect.
  • Add GD25Q16C as a possible flash chip. add GD25Q16C flash to BlackPill #4356. Thanks @jerryneedell.
• Teensy 4.0 and 4.1
  • Enable EVE. Enable EVE low-level for Teensy 4.0 and 4.1 #4342. Thanks @jamesbowman.

Build and infrastructure changes

• Run code-formatting over source code based and add to pre-commit. Add code formatting and translations check #4362, pre-commit: code formatter fixes #4415. Thanks @microdev1 and @jepler.
• Shrink some builds, using optimization flags. Shrink the smallest builds with compile options #4333. Thanks @dhalbert.
• Avoid secondary build failure when a test fails. build.yml: Fix 'Print failure info' to not error #4340. Thanks @jepler and thanks @microdev1 for the original inspiration PR.
• Automatically count EXTERNAL_FLASH_DEVICES. Automatically count EXTERNAL_FLASH_DEVICES #4358. Thanks @jepler.

Documentation

• Improve documentation for RTC, TouchIn, and analogio. Change in documentation in Analogio #4402, RTC and Touchin docs changes #4407. Thanks @jposada2020.
• Add README.rst link to SourceGraph, which provides searching in the circuitpython repo. Add Sourcegraph link and raspberrypi port #4416. Thanks @tannewt.
• Add RP2040 port to README.rst. Add Sourcegraph link and raspberrypi port #4416. Thanks @tannewt.
• Correct and enhance documentation for usb_cdc. Add caveat for usb_cdc.Serial.connected; fix another doc bug #4359. Thanks @dhalbert.
• Fix typos in microcontroller.nvm documentation. nvm: fix doc markup #4346. Thanks @jepler.
• Translation additions and improvements. Thanks:
  • @MisterD66 (German)
  • @Edrig (French)
  • @hugodahl (French)
  • @Padanian (Italian)
  • @bergdahl (Swedish)
  • Amir Muhammad Al-Omari (Swedish)
  • @fede2cr (Spanish)
  • @jposada202020 (Spanish)
  • @wtuemura (Portuguese - Brazil)
  • @hexthat (Chinese - Pinyin)
  • Luca De Filippo (Italian)

New boards since 6.2.0-beta.3

• Franzininho WiFi Wroom. Adding Circuitpython port for Franzininho WIFI board with the ESP32-S2 wroom module #4347. Thanks @FBSeletronica.
• Franzininho WiFi Wrover.Franzininho wifi ESP32-S2 Wrover #4348. Thanks @FBSeletronica.
• Pimoroni Tiny 2040. Added definitions for Pimoroni RP2040-based boards #4228. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.
• Pimoroni Keybow 2040. Added definitions for Pimoroni RP2040-based boards #4228. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.
• Pimoroni PicoSystem. Added definitions for Pimoroni RP2040-based boards #4228. Thanks @ZodiusInfuser.
• SparkFun MicroMod nRF52840. Add new nRF port for SF MicroMod nRF52840. #4350. Thanks @nitz.
• SparkFun Pro Micro RP2040. Add board definition for Sparkfun Pro Micro RP2040 #4419. Thanks @spe2.

Breaking changes since 5.x

• i2cslave is now i2cperipheral and the class in it is changed as well.
• The stop kwarg has been removed from I2C.writeto(). If no stop is desired, then use writeto_then_readfrom.
• The default speed of busio.I2C and board.I2C is now 100khz, not 400khz as before. Use busio.I2C to set the speed explicitly.
• _bleio.ConnectionError has been removed. Code will now raise the native ConnectionError instead.

Known issues

• RP2040: A few I2C devices do not work on the RP2040 with busio.I2C. Use bitbangio.I2C instead, and use bitbangio.I2C(..., probe=False) if necessary. See Raspberry Pi Pico I2C issue with TCS34725 #4082 and RasPi Pico: Often (but not always) Errno 19 on i2c writes #4235.
• See https://github.com/adafruit/circuitpython/issues for other issues.

Thanks

Thank you to all who used, tested, and contributed since 6.2.0-beta.3, including @ajs256, @askpatrickw, @bergdahl, @caternuson, @danielwarnersmith, @DavePutz, @dglaude, @dhalbert, @dpgeorge, @Edrig, @falkenad, @FBSeletronica, @fede2cr, @FoamyGuy, @hathach, @hexthat, @hierophect, @hugodahl, @ismael-miguel, @jamesbowman, @jepler, @jerryneedell, @jposada202020, @kamtom480, @kattni, @kevinjwalters, @kmatch98, @ladyada, @makermelissa, @microdev1, @mintakka, @MisterD66, @nitz, @Padanian, @siehputz, @skieast, @spe2, @tannewt, @tylercrumpton, @tyomitch, @v923z, @weblate, @wtuemura, and many others on GitHub and Discord. Join us on the Discord chat to collaborate.

Documentation

Documentation is available in readthedocs.io.

This release is based on MicroPython 1.9.4 @25ae98f. Support upstream MicroPython by purchasing a PyBoard (from Adafruit here) or sponsoring MicroPython on GitHub.

Translations

One important feature of CircuitPython is translated control and error messages. With the help of fellow open source project Weblate, we're making it even easier to add or improve translations. Sign in with an existing account such as Github, Google or Facebook and start contributing through a simple web interface. No forks or pull requests needed!

Troubleshooting

Check out this guide for info on common problems with CircuitPython. If you are still having issues, then post to the Adafruit Support Forums and join Discord.

[dhalbert]

(Explanation - after accidentally pressing "Publish Release" instead of "Save Draft", I am going to keep draft release notes in an issue, so that can't happen again. Two other advantages are that the editing interface has a menu bar, unlike the release notes editor page, and it's public. I'll create an issue for each upcoming release and then close it on release.)

[microdev1]

I'll create an issue for each upcoming release and then close it on release.

This is a good change. 👍
Should these upcoming release notes be pinned?

[dhalbert]

Good idea - pinned.

[ajs256]

Suggestion: The last release to include builds as release assets was for 4.x, maybe we don't need the explanation that assets aren't on the release page anymore.

[ajs256]

Now that there are issue templates, the "file an issue link" should link to /issues/new/choose. The current link opens a blank issue, instead of the template list.

[dhalbert]

Now that there are issue templates, the "file an issue link" should link to /issues/new/choose. The current link opens a blank issue, instead of the template list.

Fixed -thanks!

[dhalbert]

6.2.0-beta.4 released.