Standalone CircuitPython Computer Ideas

[tannewt]

Here are some random ideas to make CircuitPython better standalone.

• Add hot key to switch between terminal display and program display.
• Add program suspend state that is stored in RAM so that switching between programs doesn't need to lose all state. For example, a code editor may want to save the open file(s) and line numbers. It wouldn't be stored in flash.
• Add program browser to "activate" or "install" programs into slots for F1-F12 keys. Serves as a quick way to switch between them. Could fetch programs from github repo.
• Add foreground and background color support per-tile in TileGrid. This would allow terminal coloring and color inversion.
• Add emoji support. https://emoji.serenityos.org/
• Support gamepad switching too.
• LVGL displayio for speed? Especially scrolling terminal.
• keypad-like buffer for USB HID devices?
• Software
  • Code editor
  • Tracker
  • Image editor. w/tile guides
  • Pong
  • Snake

[jepler]

what if we partitioned the fruit jam so that it has a CIRCUITPY filesystem area (writable by host) plus a second area that is not on USB so it's always writable by code, and is automounted. /local or so.

[eightycc]

Maybe some classic computer emulation? Generic CP/M, Apple ][, perhaps a minicomputer like the PDP-8?

[tannewt]

what if we partitioned the fruit jam so that it has a CIRCUITPY filesystem area (writable by host) plus a second area that is not on USB so it's always writable by code, and is automounted. /local or so.

We could... or is /sd automounting enough?

Maybe some classic computer emulation? Generic CP/M, Apple ][, perhaps a minicomputer like the PDP-8?

I don't think we would from within CircuitPython. It could be another image/Learn guide but not CircuitPython based anyway.

[tannewt]

what if we partitioned the fruit jam so that it has a CIRCUITPY filesystem area (writable by host) plus a second area that is not on USB so it's always writable by code, and is automounted. /local or so.

I couldn't sleep last night and thought maybe /saves would be a good name.

[arturo182]

Not exactly the same, but checking out https://tic80.com (or even https://www.lexaloffle.com/picotron.php if you're aiming big) might give some more ideas 😊