Android Circuit Python Editor

This tutorial will show you how to use an Android device to connect with your Circuit Playground Express. Using the Circuit Python Editor application, you can view the output of your code. You can also load, edit, and save the code.py file. Additionally, you can use the application to interact with the REPL (Read, Evaluate, Print, Loop) on your board.

Are you new to using CircuitPython? No worries; there is a full getting started guide here. Once you understand the basics, come back here.

Going Mobile

The Mu Editor (and Pycharm!) are fantastic tools. I use them all the time to debug, create, and edit python code for CircuitPython boards. However, I found myself wanting a way to do some basic debugging and code editing without the need to lug around a laptop, so I created this Android app.

Mobile devices do have their drawbacks: the screen is pretty small, and typing code on a virtual keyboard is not the easiest thing in the world. So, this is not really meant to replace the desktop editors entirely.

But there are some nice upsides, too. The board will be running off of your phone's battery, so you can be on the go without the need for an additional power source.

In particular I wanted to lower the barrier to entry for showing off the magic of CircuitPython to new people. Now I can take a Circuit Playground Express and some cables with me, and I'll already have my phone on me anyway. With this app, I can quickly show people what the board is and how to make it do neat things.

Parts List

In addition to your Android mobile device you will need the following parts: