CircuitPython with Pico 2 W

jblanked · July 30, 2025, 8:13pm

This initializes the screen (it’ll show the REPL if you hit STOP in Thonny)

from fourwire import FourWire
from adafruit_ili9341 import ILI9341 # https://circuitpython.org/libraries
from busio import SPI
import digitalio

spi = SPI(clock=board.GP10, MOSI=board.GP11, MISO=board.GP12)

if not spi.try_lock():
   print("Failed to lock SPI bus")
   return

spi.configure(baudrate=40000000)
spi.unlock()

tft_cs = board.GP13
tft_dc = board.GP14

display_bus = FourWire(spi, command=tft_dc, chip_select=tft_cs,reset=board.GP15)
               
fb_display = ILI9341(display_bus, width=320, height=320, rotation=270)

That comes from:

github.com/jblanked/Picoware

src/CircuitPython/lib/picogui/draw.py

main

import board
from gc import collect as free
from terminalio import FONT
from displayio import (
    Bitmap,
    Group,
    OnDiskBitmap,
    Palette,
    TileGrid,
    release_displays,
)  # https://circuitpython.org/libraries - add to the /lib folder

from adafruit_display_text.bitmap_label import (
    Label,
)  # https://circuitpython.org/libraries - add to the /lib folder

from adafruit_imageload import (
    load as load_image,
)  # https://circuitpython.org/libraries - add to the /lib folder

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jblanked · August 29, 2025, 1:22am

I wish I saw this like 4 hours ago I ran into the same keyboard issue, which to my current understanding is a bit odd because a similar I2C setup in micropython works just fine.

CircuitPython seems better for memory management and I love its file system, but honestly, the Adafruit libraries (mainly the graphic ones) aren’t that good compared to the MicroPython ones.

I also see that some developers have already created some MicroPython drivers for the PicoCalc so I’m discontinuing CircuitPython support in Picoware for now.

If anyone figures out the keyboard in the future, certainly tag me

Here’s a Draw class that handles graphics:

github.com/jblanked/Picoware

src/CircuitPython/lib/picogui/draw.py

main

import board
from gc import collect as free
from terminalio import FONT
from displayio import (
    Bitmap,
    Group,
    OnDiskBitmap,
    Palette,
    TileGrid,
    release_displays,
)  # https://circuitpython.org/libraries - add to the /lib folder

from adafruit_display_text.bitmap_label import (
    Label,
)  # https://circuitpython.org/libraries - add to the /lib folder

from adafruit_imageload import (
    load as load_image,
)  # https://circuitpython.org/libraries - add to the /lib folder

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Image class

github.com/jblanked/Picoware

src/CircuitPython/lib/picogui/image.py

main

from sys import byteorder as sys_byteorder
from gc import collect as free
from displayio import release_displays
from framebufferio import FramebufferDisplay
from adafruit_framebuf import (
    FrameBuffer,
    RGB565,
)  # https://circuitpython.org/libraries - add to the /lib folder

from .vector import Vector

SEEK_CUR = 1


class Image:
    """
    Represents an image. On CircuitPython this uses adafruit_framebuf.FrameBuffer
    for pixel manipulation, and displayio + framebufferio to put it on-screen.
    """

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Keyboard

github.com/jblanked/Picoware

src/CircuitPython/lib/picoware/system/keyboard.py

main

import time
from board import GP7, GP6
from busio import I2C
from collections import deque
from micropython import const

_REG_CFG = const(0x02)  # config
_REG_KEY = const(0x04)  # key status
_REG_BKL = const(0x05)  # backlight
_REG_RST = const(0x08)  # reset
_REG_FIF = const(0x09)  # fifo
_REG_BK2 = const(0x0A)  # backlight 2
_REG_BAT = const(0x0B)  # battery
_KEY_COUNT_MASK = const(0x1F)
_WRITE_MASK = const(1 << 7)
_StatePress = const(1)
_StateLongPress = const(2)


class Keyboard:

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Neusse · December 30, 2025, 1:36am

OK I have the southbridge working on a CircuitPython Build. I took the southbridge code from the Micropython picoware user module. I added that to CircuitPython and had to do some tweaks. I had to remove the interrupt handling and change it to a polling method. But it all seems to be working now. I have 8meg of heap and 16meg of flash now on my Pimoroni pico plus2w board under Circuitpython. It should compile fine under the RPI_PICO_2W build in circuitpython. but you do need to build a custom UF2 that compiles in this module to get it working

Neusse · December 30, 2025, 2:28am

Here is a circuitpython Launcher.

Here is an app the proxies through an RPI to pull public pictures from the web. I just cant get the new Cert authentication to work. It is a real PITA. So I gave up and moved the heavy lifting of web work to an RPI 5.

here is a system info screen

Neusse · December 30, 2025, 2:31am

Here is a Four Letter Word sculpture. google it. It is of Playboy magazine fame 40-50 years ago. This one also has a clock at the bottom.

Here is an analog clock. Circuitpython easy.

Here is some charting from a nice module someone wrote for circuitpython. I will post details later. cool stuff.

Neusse · January 14, 2026, 9:37pm

If you use this driver is causes the screen to be inverted. I had to do an XOR with 0xFFFFFF co correct the screen colors. But it still was not quite right. I fished around and found there were a couple of errors in the init “stream” for the controller. This is a corrected init. No invertion needed and corrects some other problems. much better now.

OLD
_INIT_SEQUENCE = (
b"\xE0\x0F\x00\x03\x09\x08\x16\x0A\x3F\x78\x4C\x09\x0A\x08\x16\x1A\x0F"
b"\xE1\x0F\x00\x16\x19\x03\x0F\x05\x32\x45\x46\x04\x0E\x0D\x35\x37\x0F"
b"\xC0\x02\x17\x15" # Power Control 1 Vreg1out Verg2out
b"\xC1\x01\x41" # Power Control 2 VGH,VGL
b"\xC5\x03\x00\x12\x80" # Power Control 3 Vcom
b"\x36\x01\x48" # Memory Access
b"\x3A\x01\x55" # Interface Pixel Format 16 bit
b"\xB0\x01\x00" # Interface Mode Control
b"\xB1\x01\xA0" # Frame rate 60Hz
b"\xB4\x01\x02" # Display Inversion Control 2-dot
b"\xB6\x00" # Display Function Control RGB/MCU Interface Control
b"\x02\x01\x02" # MCU Source,Gate scan direction
b"\xE9\x01\x00" # Set Image Function Disable 24 bit data
b"\xF7\x04\xA9\x51\x2C\x82" # Adjust Control D7 stream, loose
b"\x11\x80\x78" # Sleep out delay 120ms
b"\x29\x00"
)

NEW FIXED
_INIT_SEQUENCE = (
b"\xE0\x0F\x00\x03\x09\x08\x16\x0A\x3F\x78\x4C\x09\x0A\x08\x16\x1A\x0F"
b"\xE1\x0F\x00\x16\x19\x03\x0F\x05\x32\x45\x46\x04\x0E\x0D\x35\x37\x0F"
b"\xC0\x02\x17\x15" # Power Control 1 Vreg1out Verg2out
b"\xC1\x01\x41" # Power Control 2 VGH,VGL
b"\xC5\x03\x00\x12\x80" # Power Control 3 Vcom
b"\x36\x01\x48" # MADCTL (try 0x40 if R/B swapped)
b"\x3A\x01\x55" # COLMOD = 16bpp
b"\xB0\x01\x00" # Interface Mode Control
b"\xB1\x01\xA0" # Frame rate 60Hz
b"\xB4\x01\x02" # DIC = 2-dot inversion (drive scheme), not color invert
b"\xB6\x03\x80\x02\x3B" # FIX: proper DFC(B6) 3 params
b"\xE9\x01\x00" # Set Image Function Disable 24 bit data
b"\xF7\x04\xA9\x51\x2C\x82" # Adjust Control D7 stream, loose
b"\x11\x80\x78" # SLPOUT + 120ms delay
b"\x21\x00" # NEW: INVOFF (stop needing XOR)
b"\x29\x00" # DISPON
)

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CircuitPython with Pico 2 W

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