Adafruit Feather M4 Express - Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the common questions regarding CircuitPython and CircuitPython microcontrollers.

Is ESP8266 or ESP32 supported in CircuitPython? Why not?

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Main Page

Power Pins6
Logic Pins6
QSPI Flash and Neopixel8
Other Pins9
Debugging Interface9
Header Options10
Soldering in Plain Headers13
Soldering on Female Header16
Power Management20
Battery + USB Power20
Power Supplies21
Measuring Battery21
Enable Pin22
Alternative Power Options22
Arduino IDE Setup24
Using with Arduino IDE27
Install SAMD Support27
Install Adafruit SAMD27
Successful Upload31
Compilation Issues32
Manually Bootloading32
What Is Circuitpython34
Circuitpython Is Based on Python34
Why Would I Use Circuitpython34
Set up Circuitpython Quick Start36
Further Information38
Installing Mu Editor39
Creating and Editing Code42
Creating Code42
Editing Code44
Use an Editor that Writes out the File Completely When You Save It44
Eject or Sync the Drive after Writing45
Exploring Your First Circuitpython Program46
More Changes48
Naming Your Program File48
Connecting to the Serial Console49
Are You Using Mu49
Using Something else50
Interacting with the Serial Console51
Returning to the Serial Console57
Circuitpython Libraries59
Installing the Circuitpython Library Bundle59
Example Files60
Library Install on Non-Express Boards62
Updating Circuitpython Libraries/Examples63
Frequently Asked Questions64
Install Putty77
Troubleshooting82
CIRCUITPY Drive Does Not Appear84
Serial Console in Mu Not Displaying Anything84
Circuitpython RGB Status Light84
CIRCUITPY Drive Issues85
Old Way: for Non-Express Boards Without a UF2 Bootloader (Feather M0 Basic Proto, Feather Adalogger, Arduino Zero)87
Running out of File Space on Non-Express Boards87
Uninstalling Circuitpython91
Backup Your Code91
Moving to Makecode91
Moving to Arduino92
Welcome to the Community94
Adafruit Discord94
Adafruit Forums95
Adafruit Github96
Circuitpython Essentials98
Circuitpython Built-Ins99
Thing that Are Built in and Work99
Find the Pins101
Circuitpython Analog in104
Creating the Analog Input104
Circuitpython Analog out109
Creating an Analog Output109
Setting the Analog Output109
Find the Pin110
Circuitpython PWM114
Circuitpython Servo120
Servo Wiring120
Circuitpython Internal RGB LED123
Create the LED123
Circuit Playground Express Rainbow126
Circuitpython Neopixel128
Neopixel Helpers131
Neopixel RGBW131
Circuitpython Dotstar134
Dotstar Helpers138
Circuitpython UART Serial140
Trinket M0: Create UART before I2C145
Find Your Sensor150
I2C Sensor Data151
Circuitpython HID Keyboard and Mouse155
Circuitpython Keyboard Emulator155
Create the Objects and Variables156
The Main Loop157
Circuitpython Mouse Emulator157
Circuitpython HID Mouse Helpers159
Circuitpython Storage161
Logging the Temperature162
Circuitpython CPU Temp165
Circuitpython Expectations166
Switching between Circuitpython and Arduino166
The Difference between Express and Non-Express Boards166
Non-Express Boards: Gemma and Trinket166
Differences between Circuitpython and Micropython167
Differences between Circuitpython and Python167
UF2 Bootloader Details169
Entering Bootloader Mode169
Using the Mass Storage Bootloader171
Using the BOSSA Bootloader172
Running Bossac on the Command Line174
Updating the Bootloader175
Getting Rid of Windows Pop-Ups176
Making Your Own UF2177
Installing the Bootloader on a Fresh/Bricked Board177

Adafruit Feather M4 Express - Frequently Asked Questions

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