{"id":20820,"date":"2021-02-07T14:18:16","date_gmt":"2021-02-07T13:18:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?p=20820"},"modified":"2021-02-07T14:18:16","modified_gmt":"2021-02-07T13:18:16","slug":"use-the-screen-on-the-pimoroni-pico-explorer-from-circuitpython","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?p=20820","title":{"rendered":"Use the screen on the Pimoroni Pico Explorer from CircuitPython"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

A little while ago, on Twitter, I bemoaned that CircuitPython didn’t “just work” with the Pimoroni Pico Explorer<\/a>. On this board, there is a little LCD screen, an ST7789. Theoretically, a CircuitPython library exists for it, but it didn’t quite work when I tried it with the Pico Explorer. On Twitter, @wildestpixel<\/a> picked up on this and we found that we were trying to do the same thing. On Saturday, they announced that they’d managed it<\/a>. So, I thought I’d write up how to do it in detail, based on their code<\/a> which is based itself on this blog post that explains how to use CircuitPython to drive a\u00a0generic<\/em> ST7789<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Huge thanks to @wildestpixel<\/a> for doing the legwork on this! Follow them on Twitter!<\/p>\n

Tutorial<\/h2>\n

As before, I’m using Windows, so if you’re using a Mac or Linux, you will have a slightly different experience getting the firmware on the Pico.<\/p>\n

Download and install CircuitPython<\/h3>\n

The first thing to do is to download the\u00a0very latest<\/strong> CircuitPython from Adafruit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This will give you a .uf2 file, which is the CircuitPython firmware for the Pico. We then need to flash the firmware to the Pico.<\/p>\n

With your Pico unplugged, hold down BOOTSEL and then plug it in. This will give you a folder RPI-RP2. Drag-and-drop the uf2 file onto the Pico. This will cause it to reboot – voila, the firmware is installed. You will get a new drive called CIRCUITPY on your machine. This is the Pico as a “removable drive”.<\/p>\n

Get an editor<\/h3>\n

Next, download the Mu editor<\/a>. You could also use Thonny<\/a>, BUT Mu is what Adafruit recommends, so that’s what we’ll go for. Once downloaded, install it and run it.<\/p>\n

Download the Adafruit libraries and install the right one on the Pico<\/h3>\n

Head over to circuitpython.org and download the latest Bundle<\/a>. This gets you\u00a0all<\/em> the Adafruit libraries.<\/p>\n

Unzip it. We need two things from the ‘lib’ folder that you’ve just unzipped.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The file from the lib folder called adafruit_st7789.mpy<\/strong>. Copy this file and paste it directly into the lib folder on the CIRCUITPY device.<\/li>\n
  2. The entire folder called adafruit_display_text<\/strong>. Copy this folder and paste it into the lib folder on CIRCUITPY so that it is a sub-folder.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    That’s all you need to do to use the library in question.<\/p>\n

    Put the code on the Pico<\/h3>\n

    Go to Wildest Pixel’s Gist on GitHub<\/a> and copy-and-paste the code into Mu. Save it as ‘code.py’ on the CIRCUITPY drive.<\/p>\n

    This\u00a0should<\/em> make the Pico reboot and you should see something on the screen (as pictured above).<\/p>\n

    What next?<\/h3>\n

    Well, the next thing to do will be to change the code so that it displays what I want it to. Then, I can integrate the buttons, maybe to rotate the screen to start with, as the code is in the script to do that. After that, I guess I will be taking a look at\u00a0the CircuitPython documentation over on readthedocs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Let me know in the comments if you have any trouble!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    A little while ago, on Twitter, I bemoaned that CircuitPython didn’t “just work” with the Pimoroni Pico Explorer. On this board, there is a little LCD screen, an ST7789. Theoretically, a CircuitPython library exists for it, but it didn’t quite…<\/p>\n

    Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20821,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Use the screen on the Pimoroni Pico Explorer from CircuitPython","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[20,39,972,51],"tags":[981,151,987,986],"class_list":["post-20820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gpio-boards","category-programming","category-raspberry-pi-pico","category-tutorials","tag-circuitpython","tag-pimoroni","tag-st7789","tag-wildestpixel"],"yoast_head":"\nUse the screen on the Pimoroni Pico Explorer from CircuitPython - Raspberry Pi Pod<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?p=20820\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Use the screen on the Pimoroni Pico Explorer from CircuitPython - Raspberry Pi Pod\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A little while ago, on Twitter, I bemoaned that CircuitPython didn’t “just work” with the Pimoroni Pico Explorer. 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The Raspberry Pi Pico is incredibly \"new and exciting\", but I found myself struggling this afternoon trying\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "GPIO boards"","block_context":{"text":"GPIO boards","link":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?cat=20"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pico-addons-9_1024x1024.jpg?fit=847%2C455&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pico-addons-9_1024x1024.jpg?fit=847%2C455&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pico-addons-9_1024x1024.jpg?fit=847%2C455&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/pico-addons-9_1024x1024.jpg?fit=847%2C455&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20904,"url":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?p=20904","url_meta":{"origin":20820,"position":2},"title":"Modifying an Adafruit CircuitPython library to support the Pimoroni 11×7 LED Matrix Breakout on the Raspberry Pi Pico","author":"Michael Horne","date":"7 March 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"At the moment, I am trying to combine several different products - sensors, displays - into a project for the Raspberry Pi Pico. One of them is the Breakout Garden 11x7 Matrix from Pimoroni. I've chosen to use CircuitPython as there are a\u00a0lot of libraries available from Adafruit. One of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blinkies"","block_context":{"text":"Blinkies","link":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?cat=80"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/11x7_matrix_breakout_2_of_4_1024x1024.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/11x7_matrix_breakout_2_of_4_1024x1024.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/11x7_matrix_breakout_2_of_4_1024x1024.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/11x7_matrix_breakout_2_of_4_1024x1024.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21020,"url":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?p=21020","url_meta":{"origin":20820,"position":3},"title":"Guest post – Building a custom Raspberry Pi Pico-powered WiFi temperature sensor using MQTT and CircuitPython","author":"David Booth","date":"23 April 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"David Booth is here with another guest post. This time a custom temperature sensor using a Raspberry Pi Pico and a self-designed PCB. Overview A custom, low power temperature sensor powered by a Raspberry Pi Pico with an LCD display and WiFi connectivity for integration into an MQTT home automation\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Making"","block_context":{"text":"Making","link":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?cat=50"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fully_populated_sm.jpg?fit=1200%2C568&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fully_populated_sm.jpg?fit=1200%2C568&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fully_populated_sm.jpg?fit=1200%2C568&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fully_populated_sm.jpg?fit=1200%2C568&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fully_populated_sm.jpg?fit=1200%2C568&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20762,"url":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?p=20762","url_meta":{"origin":20820,"position":4},"title":"CircuitPython from Adafruit runs on the Raspberry Pi Pico","author":"Michael Horne","date":"21 January 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"As highlighted by Les Pounder on Twitter and again by 'tannewt' (Scott Shawcroft) on the Raspberry Pi Forums, Adafruit's CircuitPython will run on the Raspberry Pi Pico and, more generally, RP2040 boards, such as Adafruit's upcoming Feather 2040. According to this post on the Forum you just follow these instructions:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Announcements"","block_context":{"text":"Announcements","link":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?cat=952"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/EsPzY45XAAAtSgK.jpeg?fit=1094%2C488&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/EsPzY45XAAAtSgK.jpeg?fit=1094%2C488&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/EsPzY45XAAAtSgK.jpeg?fit=1094%2C488&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/EsPzY45XAAAtSgK.jpeg?fit=1094%2C488&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/EsPzY45XAAAtSgK.jpeg?fit=1094%2C488&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21011,"url":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?p=21011","url_meta":{"origin":20820,"position":5},"title":"Taking the Cytron Maker Pi Pico out for a spin with the Raspberry Pi Pico","author":"Michael Horne","date":"17 April 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Tony Goodhew has been in touch about some experiments he has run on the new, low-cost Maker Pi Pico from Cytron. TL;DR - here's the Instructable. In the UK, the Maker Pi Pico is available from The Pi Hut (also as a version without the Pico pre-soldered, but with header\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Geeky Techiness"","block_context":{"text":"Geeky Techiness","link":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/FY1JLWQKNG1CJTD.jpg?fit=1024%2C456&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/FY1JLWQKNG1CJTD.jpg?fit=1024%2C456&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/FY1JLWQKNG1CJTD.jpg?fit=1024%2C456&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/FY1JLWQKNG1CJTD.jpg?fit=1024%2C456&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20820"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20822,"href":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20820\/revisions\/20822"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.recantha.co.uk\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}