6.2.0 rc.0 release notes

[dhalbert]

This release, 6.2.0-rc.0, is the first release candiate for the stable release of CircuitPython 6.2.0. Notable changes since 6.2.0-beta.4 include displayio and vectorio fixes and improvements, many i.MX fixes and additions, and RP2040 I2C improvement. See Port status below for details on port stability for each port, and Known issues for known problems. If you find any issues with this release, please file an issue.

Download from circuitpython.org

Firmware downloads are available from the downloads page on circuitpython.org. The site makes it easy to select the correct file and language for your board.

Installation

To install follow the instructions in our new Welcome to CircuitPython! guide. To install the latest libraries, see this page in that guide.

Try the latest version of the Mu editor for creating and editing your CircuitPython programs and for easy access to the CircuitPython serial connection (the REPL).

Port status

CircuitPython has a number of "ports" that are the core implementation for a variety of microcontroller families. Stability varies on a per-port basis. As of this release, atmel-samd, cxd56 (Spresense), nrf, and stm for the F4 family are stable. esp32s2, raspberrypi, and stm for other STM chip families are being actively improved but may be missing functionality and have bugs. litex and mimxrt10xx are in an alpha state and will have bugs and missing functionality.

Changes since 6.2.0-beta.4

Full commit log is here.

Fixes and enhancements

• Turn off remote wakeup in USB configuration descriptor. Turn off remote wakeup in USB configuration descriptor #4517. Thanks @dhalbert.
• Correct TypeError message in time. Add a missing parameter to an error message (Fixes #4505) #4509. Thanks @lesamouraipourpre.
• Allow memoryview() to be used for RGBMatrix. RGBMatrix: fix memoryview(matrix) #4501. Thanks @
• bitbangio.SPI enhancements. Spi enhancements #4497. Thanks @jepler.
• displayio and vectorio internal improvements. Thanks @kmatch98.
• Correct vectorio.Rectangle sizes. Corrects vectorio.Rectangle size dimensions #4484. Thanks @kmatch98.
• Correct displayioredrawing when using TileGrid.transform_xy. update logic for displayio.TileGrid's transform_xy #4464. Thanks @kmatch98.
• Fix support for MS25R1635F chip. fix for MX25R1635F QSPI mode of operation #4460. Thanks @lyusupov.
• Handle 4-bit colors in bitmaptools properly. Fix reading 4-bit data #4454, update bitmask for 4-bit colors #4455. Thanks @jepler and @kmatch98.
• Improve handling of dirty areas in displayio.Bitmap. Bitmap dirty improvements #4432. Thanks @jepler.
• Mark bitmap area as dirty in bitmaptools.arrayblit(). arrayblit: mark bitmap area as dirty #4430. Thanks @jepler.
• display.BitMap can be a memoryview(). displayio.Bitmap: Make memoryview()able #4429. Thanks @jepler.
• Add reverse_rows capability to bitmaptools.readinto(). Add reverse_rows to speedy bitmaptools.readinto function #4428. Thanks @kmatch98.

Port and board-specific changes

• ESP32-S2
  • Use correct byte order for recvfrom_into() port. swap recvfrom_into() port byte-order #4465. Thanks @anecdata.
• i.MX
• Fix assertion in busio.UART. mimxrt10xx: Fix bogus assertion. #4518. Thanks @jepler.
• Fix UART pin checking. mimxrt1011: UART: Add additional error checking #4513. Thanks @jepler.
• Fix SPI gaps. Fix spi gaps #4487. Thanks @jepler.
• Correct SPI baudrate. mimxrt: SPI: Set the TCR value returned by MasterBaudSetRate #4474. Thanks @jepler.
• Fix reset to bootloader. mimxrt1011: Fix reset-to-bootloader #4442. Thanks @jepler.
• nRF
  • Fix BLE remote service list crash; fix central pairing. 6.2.0 rc.0 release notes #4437. Thanks @tannewt.
• RP2040
  • Allow mpconfigboard.mk to override additional build flags. raspberypi: Allow mpconfigboard to override additional items #4519. Thanks @jepler.
  • Calculate I2C SDA hold time, fixing I2C problems with several devices.  Calculate RP2040 SDA hold time #4508, Lengthen RP2040 I2C SDA hold time #4499. Thanks @fivdi and @dhalbert.
  • Use nvm.toml for flash settings. Switch RP2040 flash settings to nvm.toml #4446. Thanks @tannewt.
• Spresense
• STM32
• i.MX1010 EVK
  • Delete pins that are not connected. imxrt1010_evk: Delete pins that are not connected #4443. Thanks @jepler.
• Metro M7 1011
  • Fix flash capacity. metro m7: another place to fix flash capacity #4441. Thanks @jepler.
  • Enable USB MIDI, change flash chip, fix compiler warnings. Fixes for Metro M7 #4435. Thanks @jepler.
• QT Py RP2040
  • Revise board definition. QTPY RP2040 - add USBBOOT switch, move RX pin, re-enable UART (tested) #4456. Thanks @ladyada.

Build and infrastructure changes

• Remove problematic sentence from bug issue template. Remove sentence about a link that fixes a problem #4511. Thanks @jepler.
• List modules for alias boards. fix list of modules for alias boards #4507. Thanks @Neradoc.
• Use allowed language list when building circuitpython.org information. Implement issue #4470 #4483. Thanks @Neradoc.
• Use nvm.toml data for flash device information. Switch devices.h to nvm.toml data #4481. Thanks @tannewt.
• Use gcc @file mechanism to shorten linker command line. Use GCC @file to shorten linker command length #4480. Thanks @tannewt.
• Correct USB mount checking so that CIRCUITPY_USB_MSC = 0 will compile. storage: Correct when we check for USB mounts #4462. Thanks @jepler.

Documentation

• (no PRs in this category)

Translation Additions and Improvements

• English - UK (new translation). Thanks @garethcoleman. Enabled by add en_GB translation to builds #4521. Thanks @dhalbert.
• French. Thanks @hugodahl.
• Portuguese - Brazil. Thanks @wtuemura .
• Spanish. Thanks. @jposada202020.
• Swedish. Thanks @bergdahl

Breaking changes since 5.x

• i2cslave is now i2cperipheral and the class in it is changed as well.
• The stop kwarg has been removed from I2C.writeto(). If no stop is desired, then use writeto_then_readfrom.
• The default speed of busio.I2C and board.I2C is now 100khz, not 400khz as before. Use busio.I2C to set the speed explicitly.
• _bleio.ConnectionError has been removed. Code will now raise the native ConnectionError instead.

Known issues

• See https://github.com/adafruit/circuitpython/issues for other issues.

Thanks

Thank you to all who used, tested, and contributed since 6.2.0-beta.4, including @anecdata, @bergdahl, @d-c-d, @deshipu, @dhalbert, @FoamyGuy, @gamblor21, @garethhcoleman, @hexthat, @hierophect, @hugodahl, @jepler, @jposada202020, @kmatch98, @ladyada, @lesamouraipourpre, @lyusupov, @miclooking, @microdev1, @Neradoc, @tannewt, @tyomitch, @WarriorOfWire, @weblate, @wtuemura, and many others on GitHub and Discord. Join us on the Discord chat to collaborate.

New boards since 6.2.0-beta.4

• Adafruit ItsbyBitsy RP2040. add itsybitsy rp2040 #4459. Thanks @ladyada.
• Adafruit Rotary Trinkey. adventure together with rotary trinkey #4449. Thanks @ladyada.
• Adafruit FunHouse. Adafruit funhouse #4439. Thanks @dhalbert.

Breaking changes since 5.x

• i2cslave is now i2cperipheral and the class in it is changed as well.
• The stop kwarg has been removed from I2C.writeto(). If no stop is desired, then use writeto_then_readfrom.
• The default speed of busio.I2C and board.I2C is now 100khz, not 400khz as before. Use busio.I2C to set the speed explicitly.
• _bleio.ConnectionError has been removed. Code will now raise the native ConnectionError instead.

Known issues

• See https://github.com/adafruit/circuitpython/issues for other issues.

Thanks

Thank you to all who used, tested, and contributed since 6.2.0-beta.4, including [[FILLIN]], and many others on GitHub and Discord. Join us on the Discord chat to collaborate.

Documentation

Documentation is available in readthedocs.io.

This release is based on MicroPython 1.9.4 @25ae98f. Support upstream MicroPython by purchasing a PyBoard (from Adafruit here) or sponsoring MicroPython on GitHub.