smolOS

smolOS for MicroPython (ESP8266)

Features:

• easy to use
• listing and removing files
• simple text editor

Install

Requiments

$ python3 -m venv venv
$ source venv/bin/activate
$ pip install esp-tool adafruit-ampy

Flashing MicroPython on ESP8266

Remember to ground PIN 0 for flash mode. I've added a push button to the UART-to-USB dongle for that. I then push it while plugging in.

Get the latest firmware from MicroPython Download Page for ESP8266 1MB. That's the chip I got.

In the time of writeing this was the latest file: esp8266-1m-20230426-v1.20.0.bin.

As super user.

$ su
$ esptool.py chip_id
$ esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 erase_flash
$ esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baud 115200 write_flash --flash_size=detect -fm dout 0 esp8266-1m-20230426-v1.20.0.bin

• chip_id lists specs and confirms that everything works
• erase_flash clears everything
• write_flash flashes the MicroPython firmware

pushing OSs

$ ampy --port /dev/ttyUSB0 put main.py
$ ampy --port /dev/ttyUSB0 put hello.txt

• main.py is the smolOS, this file name will run at boot
• hello.txt is just a test file so you have something to play with
• put your own files the same way
• do not ovevrite the system boot.py file!

Connecting

As normal user:

$ picocom /dev/ttyUSB0 -b115200

Press ctrl+a+x to exit.

Running

First start. Or after flashing new main.py file. Restart the microcontroller:

>>> machine.soft_reset()

This should restart the device and "boot" you into the smolOS. Like so:

______________________________________________
                                 ______  _____
           _________ ___  ____  / / __ \/ ___/
          / ___/ __ `__ \/ __ \/ / / / /\__ \
         (__  ) / / / / / /_/ / / /_/ /___/ /
 _[..]  /____/_/ /_/ /_/\____/_/\____//____/
==============================================

       smolOS Version 0.3
       MicroPython: 2.2.0-dev(9422289)
       Firmware: v1.20.0 on 2023-04-26
       CPU Speed: 80.0 MHz




smolInfo: Type [help] for smol manual.




smol $:

In MicroPython REPL write:

>>> smolOS()

Using

Write help for help :)

Example user session

smolEDitor

First application! Very early alpha at this point.