MicroPython is a lean and efficient implementation of the Python 3 programming language, specifically designed to run on microcontrollers and in constrained environments. It is highly relevant to the microchip environment because it allows developers to write clean and simple code for embedded systems, leveraging the power of Python. This article will guide you through the process of running MicroPython on Microchip devices, specifically focusing on the PIC and AVR series microcontrollers. We'll cover the basics of setting up your development environment, flashing MicroPython firmware, and running your first MicroPython script.

Examples:

Setting Up the Development Environment

1. Install Python and pip: Ensure you have Python and pip installed on your system. You can download Python from the official website and install it following the instructions for your operating system.

   python --version
   pip --version

2. Install MicroPython Tools: Use pip to install the necessary tools for working with MicroPython, such as esptool for flashing firmware.

   pip install esptool

Flashing MicroPython Firmware

1. Download MicroPython Firmware: Visit the official MicroPython website and download the appropriate firmware for your microchip device. For example, if you are using an ESP8266-based microcontroller, download the corresponding firmware binary.

2. Connect Your Microcontroller: Connect your microcontroller to your computer using a USB-to-Serial adapter.

3. Erase the Flash Memory: Before flashing new firmware, it's a good practice to erase the existing flash memory.

   esptool.py --port COM3 erase_flash

4. Flash the MicroPython Firmware: Use esptool to flash the downloaded MicroPython firmware onto your microcontroller.

   esptool.py --port COM3 --baud 115200 write_flash --flash_size=detect 0 firmware.bin

Running Your First MicroPython Script

1. Access the REPL: After flashing the firmware, you can access the MicroPython REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) using a serial terminal program like minicom or PuTTY.

   minicom -D /dev/ttyUSB0 -b 115200

2. Write and Execute a Script: In the REPL, you can write and execute Python code directly. For example, to blink an LED connected to a GPIO pin:

   import machine
   import time
   
   led = machine.Pin(2, machine.Pin.OUT)
   
   while True:
      led.value(not led.value())
      time.sleep(1)

3. Upload Scripts: You can also upload and run scripts from your computer using tools like ampy or rshell.

   pip install adafruit-ampy
   ampy --port /dev/ttyUSB0 put your_script.py