Thonny and Picoware

PicoCalc
1

Hi everyone,
I’m new to the Picocalc world so I apologize in advance if the question is trivial.

I’ve updated the keyboard firmware and I’m trying to write some code with Thonny.
If I connect via MicroUSB (directly to the Raspberry), Thonny sees the Python REPL but I can’t save any files because when I try, it attempts to save to the Pico and not to the SD card.

If instead I connect via USB-C, it sees 4 Python interpreters (MicroPython ESP32, 8266, Generic and CircuitPython). If I try to connect with each one I get this error:

“Device is busy or does not respond. Your options:

  • wait until it completes current work;
  • use Ctrl+C to interrupt current work;
  • reset the device and try again;
  • check connection properties;
  • make sure the device has suitable MicroPython / CircuitPython / firmware;
  • make sure the device is not in bootloader mode.”

There’s definitely something about the basic concepts that I don’t understand - could you please help me?

Thanks,Gian

2

Hey, welcome to the forum, and thanks for checking out Picoware!

To save script on your SD card, you’ll need to connect it to your computer directly and copy-n-paste the files there.

The USB-C port is for charging your PicoCalc and updating keyboard firmware. I think it may also provide serial, but for working with MicroPython and Thonny, you’ll want the micro-usb port on the Pico itself

3

Thank you so much! So, let me see if I understood the workflow: I write code on Thonny, debug via RPL (MicroUSB), then when I’m satisfied I save the script locally on Mac and transfer it to SD.
From MicroPython I then run it from SD (I imagine via file manager). Is that correct?

1 Like
4

No problem!

If you’re using Picoware, here’s the ideal workflow:

  1. Write code via the on-device Python editor (or Thonny IDE)
  2. Debug code using Thonny IDE
  3. Save the script as a Picoware app on your SD card in picoware/apps
  4. Run the app from the Applications menu within Picoware
5

Cool!

But it seems that I need to compile it before moving to the Picocalc, right?

So i compiled via “./mpy-cross/mpy-cross miofile.py” and copied to my SD but when I run I get “Could not load application test”.

I’m looking for beginner’ guides but can’t find anything, If I can solve this last step probably I’ll write one.

6

No need to compile it, you can just copy the .py file into the folder directly.

This guides folder should help also: