Forsaking Arduino IDE

For Adafruit customers who seek help with microcontrollers

Moderators: adafruit_support_bill, adafruit

Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.
Locked
User avatar
ray_leiter
 
Posts: 49
Joined: Wed Mar 16, 2016 9:09 pm

Forsaking Arduino IDE

Post by ray_leiter »

I'm not sure if I'm in the correct place with these comments? Please steer me if I need steering.
The Subject of this post suggests where I'm trying to go.
For several years I have been using Arduino IDE to program various controllers. I have only programmed in C since I believe there is no other choice with Arduino IDE. For some time now, I have been hearing about Circuitpython to program controllers. I have been using Python on laptops, so I'm somewhat familiar with the language.
When I use Arduino, I translate C to some machine code for the controller and then upload it to the controller.
But if I were to want to use Python to program my various controllers, I think I would have to have a Python interpreter embedded in the controller? Could I do this with my current stock of controllers or would I need to buy controllers that have been designed to use Python?
Its all too confusing!
Here is another question: Can I use a Python language translator to translate Python to the particular machine code I need for the controller I'm currently working with?
Or is that idea just beyond what is reasonable to do?
I do have a controller (I think I bought it from Adafruit) that allows me to use Python -- the controller shows up as a USB based disk which I transfer my code to and I guess there is a Python interpreter embedded in the controller?
I would prefer to start using Python in my programming of micro controllers but I hate to give up all my current inventory of controllers.
I know this is a rather large rambling post, but can anyone supply some insight for my situation?
Thanks;
Ray

User avatar
adafruit_support_bill
 
Posts: 88088
Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am

Re: Forsaking Arduino IDE

Post by adafruit_support_bill »

Python, being an interpreted language is much more resource intensive than a compiled language like C++ At a minimum, you need a processor with sufficient memory. And if speed is important, a faster processor.

We carry a variety of boards that are designed to work with CircuitPython: https://www.adafruit.com/category/957
These come with a CircuitPython interpreter installed.

CircuitPython is derived from MicroPython. MicroPython is targeted more towards efficiency than ease-of-use. And it is supported on a number of processors also. For details, see the MicroPython site. https://micropython.org/

There are some Python to C translators around. I do not have any hands-on experience with any of them. Here is one: http://www.mpsinc.com/Python2c.html

Locked
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.

Return to “Microcontrollers”