On hardware the app rendered, beeped and took input, then died with MemoryError at the text Bitmap alloc — the two ~37KB base64 font strings stayed pinned in RAM. Move the fonts to small binary files read at boot (font_m.bin / font_l.bin), drop the base64 + binascii, and gc.collect() before each text bitmap. code.py 56KB -> 20KB and RAM use drops ~37KB+. Also: cyan rendered as yellow (R/B swapped) -> MADCTL 0x40 -> 0x48. Bundle + README updated to include the font blobs. (LED still needs the neopixel lib.) Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
56 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
56 lines
3.1 KiB
Markdown
# PM_K‑1 "Kit" — CircuitPython edition (USB drive + editor)
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The **CircuitPython** firmware for the 52Pi EP‑0172 Pico kit. Unlike the MicroPython version
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(`../pico/main.py`), this makes the Pico mount as a **USB drive (`CIRCUITPY`)** that carries the
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firmware and your tracks — so you can edit on the web and reprogram it without Thonny. It runs the
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same program‑string language as <https://metronome.varasys.io>.
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> **Status: experimental, phase 1.** This drives the screen/touch/joystick/buzzer and reads your
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> grooves from `programs.json`. The editor's one‑click "Save to device" and USB‑MIDI audio‑to‑computer
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> are landing in later phases. The simpler **MicroPython** firmware (`../pico/main.py`) remains the
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> rock‑solid fallback — and the Pico can't be bricked (BOOTSEL → drag a MicroPython `.uf2` back).
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## Install
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1. **Flash CircuitPython:** hold **BOOTSEL**, plug in, and drop the CircuitPython `.uf2` for your board
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onto the `RPI‑RP2` drive (<https://circuitpython.org/board/raspberry_pi_pico/> — or the Pico 2 / W
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build). It reboots and a **`CIRCUITPY`** drive appears.
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2. **Copy everything from the bundle** onto `CIRCUITPY` (drag‑and‑drop — it's a normal drive now):
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- `code.py` (this firmware — runs on boot)
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- `programs.json` (your grooves)
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- `font_m.bin`, `font_l.bin` (the anti‑aliased fonts — kept as files to save RAM)
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3. It starts immediately. Editing `programs.json` (or re‑saving it from the editor) makes CircuitPython
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**auto‑reload** with the new tracks.
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## Controls (same as the MicroPython build)
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- **Touch:** on‑screen `◀◀ / ▶ / ▶▶` (prev · play/stop · next) and `− / TAP / +`.
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- **Joystick:** up/down = tempo, left/right = previous/next groove.
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- **Button A (GP15)** play/stop · **Button B (GP14)** tap tempo.
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- **RGB LED** flashes each beat; **buzzer** clicks (accent/normal/ghost).
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## programs.json
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```json
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{ "title": "PolyMeter",
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"programs": [ { "name": "Four on the floor", "prog": "t120;kick:4;snare:4=.x.x;hatClosed:4/2" } ] }
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```
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Each `prog` is a program string from the web editor. Add/replace entries and save — the device reloads.
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## Calibration (flip flags at the top of `code.py`)
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- **Red/blue swapped:** flip `MADCTL` between `0x48` (default) and `0x40`.
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- **Colours look negative:** toggle `INVERT_COLORS`.
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- **Taps land wrong:** set `TOUCH_DEBUG = True`, watch the serial output, then set
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`TOUCH_SWAP_XY` / `TOUCH_INVERT_X` / `TOUCH_INVERT_Y`.
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- **Joystick reversed:** toggle `JOY_INVERT_X` / `JOY_INVERT_Y`.
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- **Screen blank / garbled:** the panel lot may differ; drop `SPI_BAUD`, and if it's a 240×320 ILI9341
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instead of the 320×480 ST7796, the init/size need changing (this targets the 320×480 you have).
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- **No RGB LED:** the WS2812 needs the `neopixel` library on `CIRCUITPY/lib` (`circup install neopixel`)
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— everything else works without it.
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If `code.py` ever errors, CircuitPython prints the traceback **on the screen and over USB serial** —
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copy that to me and I'll fix it.
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The fonts are the same baked anti‑aliased blobs as the MicroPython build (see `../pico/gen_font.py`).
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