AREA512 v1.3 has been released.

AREA512 v1.3 has been released.

Markdown Viewer

You can now open .md files from the file manager.

The viewer supports headings, paragraphs, block quotes, ordered and unordered lists, tables, thematic breaks, links, emphasis, inline code, and code blocks. Ruby code blocks also use syntax highlighting.

Main controls:

• j / . / ↓: Scroll down
• k / ; / ↑: Scroll up
• Space / f / / / →: Page down
• b: Page up
• g: Go to the beginning
• G: Go to the end
• ← / BS / Ctrl-C / Esc: Close the viewer

Widget components

Widget components for the Cardputer display have been added.

Ruby applications can use headers, footers, tabs, panels, tables, lists, text views, buttons, checkboxes, sliders, charts, input dialogs, confirmation dialogs, and more.

require 'area512-widget'

The preinstalled /home/tool/gallery app demonstrates the appearance and operation of each component.

Ruby code completion in the editor

Ruby code completion has been added to the editor.

In insert mode for .rb files, press Ctrl-N to display class and method suggestions. Completion also opens automatically after typing . or an uppercase letter.

Each suggestion shows its signature and, when available, its documentation.

Main controls:

• Ctrl-N / ↓: Select the next suggestion
• ↑: Select the previous suggestion
• Enter: Insert the selected suggestion
• ← / →: Scroll the documentation
• Esc: Close completion

Automatic indentation for Ruby code has also been added.

M5Launcher support and microSD card storage

To support running AREA512 from M5Launcher, files used by AREA512 are now stored in the Area512_data directory at the root of the microSD card.

The /home, /lib, /bin, /etc, and /data directories visible from AREA512 are stored on the microSD card as follows:

Area512_data/
├── home/
├── lib/
├── bin/
├── etc/
└── data/

On first boot, only missing top-level directories are restored from the seed content embedded in the firmware. Existing directories are not overwritten.

Data saved by Writer, Scheduler, Calc, and Solitair is also stored under Area512_data/data.

AREA512 v0.1.0 — First Release

The first release of AREA512 — an OS for the M5Stack Cardputer ADV, a tiny device with just 512KB of RAM and 8MB of flash!

Built on FemtoRuby: write Ruby right on the device, then compile and run it — no PC required.

Highlights

• File manager — browse, run, create, and delete files and apps with single-key commands
• On-device vim — a tiny vim with normal / insert / visual / operator / command modes, search, and syntax highlighting
• On-device compiler — compile .rb to .mrb bytecode right on the Cardputer; everything runs in a sandbox
• Preinstalled apps — Writer, Scheduler, Calc, Paint, Solitair, and Bomb, each with its own README on the device

Install

All you need is esptool:

pip install esptool
make flash-firmware

• If the port is not auto-detected, specify it like ESPPORT=/dev/ttyACM0 make flash-firmware.
• Insert a FAT32-formatted microSD card into the Cardputer ADV (it is used to store app data).

Requirements

• M5 Cardputer ADV
• FAT32 microSD card
• USB-C cable

See the README for key bindings, app development, and building from source.