CircuitPython with Raspberry Pi Pico - Getting Started

Build a Keyboard and Mouse Emulator, make a rainbow with RGB LEDs, and work with a microSD card - all with CircuitPython on a Raspberry Pi Pico!

Once again we are working with the Raspberry Pi Pico, the 4-dollar microcontroller that uses the new RP2040 MCU. And today we’ll be programming it using CircuitPython.

After installing CircuitPython and the MU Editor we will build a Keyboard Emulator for the popular audio program Audacity. You can use the same technique to make a custom keypad for any application, with as many keys as you need.

Next, we emulate a mouse using a Joystick and two pushbuttons. Just because we can.

Then we hook up a microSD card module through the SPI port and learn how to create a file, write to it and read it back. All the basic operations you need to start using microSD cards in your Pico projects.

And finally, we will hook up soon addressed;e REGB LEDs, otherwise known as Neopixels, to our Pico and control them using a few Adaruit libraries and sample code. It's a rainbow inside the workshop!

CircuitPython is a fork of MicroPython, the language we used in the previous Raspberry Pi Pico video. It was created by Adafruit and has a lot of advantages, especially for beginners.

Using CircuitPython gives us access to over 300 libraries and drivers, allowing us to work with the many features of the Raspberry Pi Pico right now.

We’ll install CircuitPython on a Pico and then work with it using the MU Editor, a Python editor designed for beginners with CircuitPython integration built-in. Of course, you can use any editor that you wish, that's one of the strengths of CircuitPython - no special software required.

Here is what we will cover today:

00:00 - Introduction
04:13 - CircuitPython
06:47 - Installing CircuitPython on Pico
09:40 - Installing MU Editor
12:44 - Testing (Blink)
14:43 - Build a Keyboard Emulator
22:49 - Build a Mouse Emulator
28:28 - Write & Read a microSD card
34:32 - Addressable RGB Strip (Neopixels)
39:24 - Conclusion

Hope you enjoy the video and that it helps you get the most out of your Raspberry Pi Pico!

[dougsteel]

You are the only person who doesn't skip over the detailed bits that some YouTube creators assume people are aware of, well, probably they've done it so many times it doesn't occur to them they might cause confusion. Great insight, always appreciated

[mike]

This video is amazing. I've been trying to get a pico working as an emulator for a week now and all the other videos assume I know more than I do. Programming microcontrollers starting at the age of 54 maybe wasn't a great idea but you just gave me 4 AH HA moments that in this video alone got the project working. Much thanks and great job!

[Funkotronimus]

Yes! All the reasons why I was excited to pick up CircuitPython + pi Pico! —it’s been over 10 years since I’ve really done anything with microcontrollers, and this seemed like a great place to jump back in. The idea is that I’ll grow in my understanding of it while the landscape around it continues to evolve.

[sbsarkar]

Bill is looking dashing with the RPI T-Shirt. And thanks Bill for the new vid.

[parietal]

Thank you. Such a simple way to connect the Pi Pico with action.

[mechaform]

Good video. Thanks for putting it together. Bonus points for the #0, 1, and 2 Robertsons over your right shoulder.

[underwoodblog]

best "Getting Started" for the Pico I've seen so far!

[unknownvivek]

These 40 minutes were just like 5 minutes, it was all done in so interesting way. 😍😍👌👌❤❤

[josseman]

Ohhhh yes! This is a video I want to see! Thanks for elaborating on the pico

[youssefblt]

wow i wasn't expecting that now words can explain my gratitude

[jeraldgooch]

I believe Andreas Spiess - hope I spelled that right - also has noted that micropython supports threading so you can use both cores while circuitpython currently does not. Bill - another great video. Thanks.

[tonybaceski]

Ha ha... About an hour ago I popped online to see if you had any new videos. Just got the notification and can't wait to watch!

[marklewus]

In the event you still read comments from old videos, I’d like to suggest that you wire your switches using the internal pullup resistor and the switch referenced to ground, rather than the way you do it now. It obviously makes no functional difference but it’s best practice to do it the other way around. Most older processors, including every 8-bit Arduino, do not have internal pulldown resistors, only pull ups. Doing this one way on one project, and another way on a different project, is likely to lead to code errors.

[videosonix]

Thanks to this great video I've been able to build two excellent emulator keyboards for Audacity and another audio editor called Reaper. Don't think I would have got this off the ground without the level of detail given here. Thanks Bill.

[djbongwater]

wow, this channel is exactly what I've been looking for!! Assume the viewers know nothing (like me!!)

[michael]

great video, long but very in-depth, ensuring we understand EVERYTHING and assuming we know nothing. I love it!

[baldrickdaisy]

Thank you Bill for another very informative video on the Raspberry Pi Pico and the introduction to Circuit Python 👌

[WD]

OMG, after i love you learned about arduino and stepper motor from you, now learned more about this pico. You are the best teacher sir thank you very very much for the video🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[PhG]

Waw Bill, this video is really awesome. Very well explained, very entertaining. But also very exhausting... recently I'm working out on a hometrainer/stepper while watching your videos. So after a workout of around 42 minutes... you get the idea... ;-)
Keep up the good work, my stamina is improving and I'm buring belly fat more than ever before thanks to your videos !

[CriusDigital]

I REALLY THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!! BEST EVER EXPLANATION for a noob like me!!! You're GREAT!! Keep it up!