Welcome to CircuitPython! ############################# Hello PyCon - we wanted to have a fun ~electronic~ item, that does more than just a sticker! What you have in your hand is a special edition Circuit Playground Express, brought to you by Adafruit and Digi-Key. This hardware comes pre-loaded with CircuitPython! CircuitPython is Adafruit's branch of MicroPython designed to simplify experimentation and education on low-cost microcontrollers. It makes it easier than ever to get prototyping by requiring no upfront desktop software downloads. With CircuitPython you can write clean and simple Python 3 code to control hardware instead of having to use complex low-level languages like C or C++ (what Arduino uses for programming). It's great for beginners and is powerful for experts. Enjoy PyCon 2019! Thanks! - the Adafruit and Digi-Key teams ############################# Visit the Circuit Playground Express product page here for more info: https://adafruit.com/product/3333 To get started with CircuitPython, which comes built into your Circuit Playground Express, visit: https://learn.adafruit.com/welcome-to-circuitpython For a Circuit Playground Express Quickstart, examples, and content, visit the PyCon 2019 GitHub repo: https://github.com/adafruit/PyCon2019 ############################# The Circuit Playground Express has limited disk space so we have disabled Mac OS X indexing which could take up that valuable space. So *please* do not remove the empty .fseventsd/no_log, .metadata_never_index or .Trashes files! ############################# The pre-loaded demo shows off some of what your Circuit Playground Express can do with CircuitPython: * The NeoPixel ring on the CPX will do one of three LED animations based on your board's unique ID. It will flash Digi-Key colors, Python colors or a red-comet rainbow swirl. * The switch controls the little red LED. Move the switch left and right to turn the red LED on and off. * Press the buttons to play sounds. Button A and button B each play a different wav files. * Change the TONE_PIANO variable to True at the top of the file to enable a tone piano on the touch pads. Once enabled, you can touch the pads labeled A1-A7 to play a scale of tones. For more details on how to use CircuitPython, visit https://learn.adafruit.com/category/circuitpython for all the tutorials we have! ############################# Getting Start with Circuit Playground Express book excerpt! Also included is a special preview edition of "Getting Started with Adafruit Circuit Playground Express: The Multipurpose Learning and Development Board with Built-In LEDs, Sensors, and Accelerometer" by Mike Barela. Make: Magazine gave PyCon, Adafruit & Digi-Key special permission to include the CircuitPython chapter of the book for all attendees to learn from and enjoy! Because CircuitPython allows devices to be USB drives, the PDF is included right on the Circuit Playground Express! The complete book is available on Adafruit and where programming books are sold: https://www.adafruit.com/product/3944 ############################# Discount Code! To help start you on your electronic journey, each PyCon attendee is receiving a Digi-Key + Adafruit Circuit Playground Express! You may decide that you want to explore more of the wonderful world of electronics and Python on hardware, so we're also providing a discount code to the Adafruit store. Use the code PYCONFRUIT and receive 10% off in stock items in the Adafruit store! https://www.adafruit.com ############################# CircuitPython Quick Start: Changing the code is as easy as editing code.py in your favorite text editor. Our recommended editor is Mu, which is great for simple projects, and comes with a built in REPL serial viewer! It is available for Mac, Windows & Linux https://learn.adafruit.com/welcome-to-circuitpython/installing-mu-editor After the file is saved, CircuitPython will automatically reload the latest code. Connecting to the serial port will give you access to sensor information, better error messages and an interactive CircuitPython (known as the REPL). On Windows we recommend Mu, Tera Term or PuTTY. On Mac OSX and Linux, use Mu or 'screen' can be used from a terminal.