MicroPython: a journey from Kickstarter to Space
summary
MicroPython is a compact reimplementation of Python 3 that runs a full REPL and compiles on tiny microcontrollers; a Kickstarter raises ~A$180,000 from ~2,000 backers to fund the pyboard hardware, manufacturing finds a bad capacitor value and fixes yield, and the project lands a 10‑month contract with the European Space Agency as a proof‑of‑concept for uploading scripts to satellites. Memory tricks like pointer tagging, GC‑only objects, and optional micropython.native/asm give C‑level speed or low RAM use on chips with as little as 24–96 KB heap.
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chapters (16)
- 0:00Introduction to Micropython
- 1:21Background and Motivation
- 4:00Why Python for Hardware
- 5:59Choosing Python
- 8:23Designing Micropython
- 10:48Micropython Demo
- 16:14The Kickstarter Campaign
- 20:18Manufacturing Challenges
- 23:29Fulfilling Orders
- 25:43Technical Implementation
- 30:39Performance Optimization
- 34:52Community and Ecosystem
- 37:40BBC Micro:bit Project
- 39:21Micro:bit Demo
- 41:52Micropython in Space
- 46:43Future and Conclusion
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