Ampy to transfer files to Pycom microcontroller

Authors

For more information contact Adam Simankowicz or Edmond Lascaris

References

• Micropython basics- Load and run code
• Ampy GitHub
• rshell alternative - not used

Installation of Ampy

sudo pip3 install adafruit-ampy

• To check that ampy has installed correct enter the following in the Terminal.

ampy --help

• To upgrade ampy to the latest version enter the code

sudo pip3 install adafruit-ampy --upgrade

Connecting to Pycom using Ampy

• To connect to the Pycom enter the following command:

ampy -p /dev/ttyACM0 ls

• Commands need to be entered one at a time.
• This command list the main directory on the Pycom /flash
• All files on the Pycom are found within this directory.
  • -p the Pycom on the Raspberry Pi is always connected to port /dev/ttyACM0

• To list all files and directories on the Pycom enter the command:

ampy -p /dev/ttyACM0 ls -l /flash

Copying or Tranfering files using Ampy

• Use the get command to copy files from the pycom.
• Use the put command to copy file to the pycom.
• The following commands serves as an example for copying the boot.py file from the Pycom to the host computer.

ampy -p /dev/ttyACM0 get /flash/boot.py /home/pi/boot_backup.py

Running code using Ampy

• You can copy code to the Pycom and then run the code.
• Save the following code in a file named /home/pi/test.py

print('Hello world! I can count to 100:')
for i in range(1,100):
    print(i)

• Copy the file across with the command:

ampy -p /dev/ttyACM0 put /home/pi/test.py /flash/test.py

Uploading and running micropython programs

Using the REPL

• REPL is an abbreviation (acronym) for Read, Evaluate, Print, and Loop
• Developers use REPL Python to communicate with the Python Interpreter or Python Shell.
• You can also input commands and python code directly in the REPL and see the results displayed immediately.