Deep Dive w/ Tim: ImageLoad PNG w/ Transparency and More Displayio Stuff #adafruit

Deep Dive w/ Tim: ImageLoad PNG w/ Transparency and More Displayio Stuff #adafruit

Good afternoon, divers! I see we are prepared for the dive. How’s it going SE Grover, Deshipu, and D Devon? Nice to see all of you. Let’s get started here by getting a few things situated. Notably, my chair first and foremost might not work very well due to where the wheels are located, but let’s see how it goes.

Introduction to CircuitPython Deep Dive

Welcome everyone! Thanks for tuning in. My name is Tim, and this is the Deep Dive, a weekly live stream program. Typically, Scott (Scot Shroef) runs this show, providing deep insights into whatever he is working on within the CircuitPython core. If you’re new and unfamiliar with this project, you can learn more at circuitpython.org.

CircuitPython is an open-source version of Python designed to run on tiny computers called microcontrollers. These microcontrollers typically connect to your computer via USB and show up like a thumb drive where you can edit Python code files directly. CircuitPython will execute the new version of the code once saved.

This stream intends to dive into the internals of CircuitPython, focusing on both the core and the surrounding libraries and infrastructure. The CircuitPython project is primarily funded by Adafruit, which designs and manufactures many electronic devices available at adafruit.com.

Updates on Adafruit_ImageLoad

This week, CH4 in su3 updated the ImageLoad library to support PNG transparency. Previously, this library got an update to support JPEGs as well. Let’s dive into the new changes, focusing on adding support for PNG transparency which has been a highly desired feature.

We’ll review the changes introduced, test them out on a P Portal, and ensure everything works as intended.

Testing PNG Transparency

The process started by cloning the latest changes from the GitHub repository and loading them onto the Pi Portal. After running some tests and verifying the changes, it became evident that the update works seamlessly, allowing the PNG transparency to function without any issues when compared to the previous method, which didn't render transparency properly.

Working with Blinka Displayio on Raspberry Pi

Switching gears, we focused on testing Blinka DisplayIO on a Raspberry Pi. The aim was to ensure compatibility and functionality of the new updates on the Blinka layer of DisplayIO. The particular test involved using a TFT Shield with an ST7789 display, ensuring that all functionalities including ‘sleep’ and ‘wake’ are operating as expected.

Through several iterations and adjustments involving wiring the hardware and writing test scripts, the functionality was thoroughly verified.

The sleep function particularly was tested for its effectiveness in conserving power. This essentially ensures that while the device is not in active use, it consumes minimal power.

Conclusion and Review

After verifying the updates and ensuring everything functions correctly, a review was left on the respective GitHub pull requests to provide feedback on the successful tests performed.

Final Remarks

Thanks to all viewers and contributors to the livestream. Special thanks to Adafruit for supporting and funding the CircuitPython project. Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t hesitate to join in the weekly sessions for more deep dives into CircuitPython.

Keywords

• CircuitPython
• Adafruit
• ImageLoad
• PNG Transparency
• DisplayIO
• Raspberry Pi
• Open-Source

FAQ

Q1: What is CircuitPython? A1: CircuitPython is an open-source version of Python designed to run on tiny computers called microcontrollers. It allows you to edit code files directly on connected devices via USB and execute the new version of the code immediately.

Q2: How does CircuitPython handle code updates on microcontrollers? A2: When you save a Python code file on the microcontroller that appears as a USB thumb drive, CircuitPython recognizes the change and executes the updated version of the code.

Q3: What was the recent update in the Adafruit_ImageLoad library? A3: The recent update in the Adafruit_ImageLoad library added support for PNG transparency, allowing users to display PNG images with transparency on their microcontrollers.

Q4: How was the PNG transparency functionality tested? A4: The functionality was tested on a Pi Portal by cloning the latest changes from GitHub, loading them onto the device, and running test scripts to verify the transparency rendering compared to the previous method.

Q5: What is Blinka DisplayIO and what was tested? A5: Blinka DisplayIO is a compatibility layer for running DisplayIO on Raspberry Pi. The tests involved ensuring the functionality of the updated Blinka DisplayIO, focusing on power-saving features such as the 'sleep' and 'wake' functions.

Q6: Can the updates in Adafruit_ImageLoad and Blinka DisplayIO be reviewed? A6: Yes, detailed reviews and feedback on the functionality and tests performed were provided on the respective GitHub pull requests to ensure clear communication and documentation of the updates.