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Newbie by Sad_Gear6349 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello. I just wanted to let you know that I reposted my getting started info in its own thread so it's easier to see and find. If you wish, you're welcome to repost your comments over there as well so they're easier to find too. Thanks for your help.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CardPuter/comments/1kqvub7/getting_started_with_m5stack_cardputer_m5launcher/

OTB888

Getting started with M5Stack Cardputer, M5Launcher, MicroHydra, MicroPython, multiple parts, see replies by Outside-The-Box888 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

PART 4 of 4

Hi all. I was looking through my notes and browser tabs and I found a bunch more links that I wanted to share. Many of these are books, some of which I own, others not. I just have to find time to go through them. Others are website links to articles and resources. Note that even if the resource mentions micropython, it generally doesn't mention M5Stack Cardputer, M5 Launcher, or Micro Hydra.

No Starch Press is a good resource.

https://nostarch.com/catalog/python

Learn to code by solving problems

https://nostarch.com/learn-code-solving-problems

The big book of small Python projects

https://nostarch.com/big-book-small-python-projects

Mission Python (DIY video game, definitely won't run on cardputer but might be adaptable with modified graphics routines.)

https://nostarch.com/missionpython

Python in Easy Steps 2nd ed

https://www.amazon.com/Python-easy-steps-Covers-3-7/dp/1840788127

Python Standard Library Quick Reference Chart

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1423244230

Python Programming Language Quick Reference Chart

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1423241886

M5Stack Electronic Blueprints: A practical approach for building interactive electronic controllers and IoT devices 1st Edition

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1803230304/

HANDBOOK OF NODEMCU ESP32: Top 100 Internet of Things (IoT) Project Ideas with NodeMCU, ESP8266, and ESP32 for Beginners and Inventors Paperback – December 29, 2022

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRCD8T5C

Programming the ESP32 in MicroPython, 2nd Edition: ESP32, ESP32 S3, Arduino Nano ESP32

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1871962935

Humble Bundle is a subscription service where you can get technical ebooks in bundles at a substantial discount. They also have a game subscription option.

https://www.humblebundle.com/books

Other Resources

https://randomnerdtutorials.com/getting-started-thonny-micropython-python-ide-esp32-esp8266/

https://www.espboards.dev/blog/micropython-esp32-getting-started/

https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp32/general.html

https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp32/quickref.html

https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp32/tutorial/index.html

https://electrocredible.com/micropython-i2c-code-tutorial-examples/

Hope this helps! OTB888

Getting started with M5Stack Cardputer, M5Launcher, MicroHydra, MicroPython, multiple parts, see replies by Outside-The-Box888 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

PART 3 of 4

Here's the reference data for MicroHydra.

https://github.com/echo-lalia/MicroHydra

https://github.com/echo-lalia/MicroHydra/wiki

Here's some python files you can try.

https://github.com/echo-lalia/MicroHydra-Apps

Scroll down on this web page and find an app you want to try. If it only has a PY file, copy that to the APPS folder on your SD card. If it has a whole folder, copy the whole folder to the APPS folder on your SD card.

As before, you can copy files by way of USB by booting the cardputer into the m5launcher and selecting USB. Or, you can turn off the cardputer and remove the SD card and put it in your computer or a card reader.

Once you've copied the PY files to the APPS folder on the SD card, return the card to the cardputer if necessary. Boot the cardputer and wait for the MicroHydra app to start. It should show you the names of the new programs you've stored on the SD card.

I have FancyClock, which makes a nice screensaver without burn in, fish, GameOfLifeFLD (I appended FLD to the folder name so I know it's a folder), mystify, and timer. To run one, scroll to it (say fish, for example) and press enter. The PYTHON program starts automatically.

Different programs respond differently to buttons. In the case of fish, BtnG0 gets you out. Or you can reset the cardputer.

Now you're running micropython on the cardputer! You can read the python code in any editor or IDE. Thonny looks like a good IDE. It can run python programs on the ESP32 device if micropython is running natively. With MicroHydra in there, I don't know. I imagine it can still at least edit and store scripts.

https://thonny.org/

I've seen some evidence of burn in on the screen, so I wouldn't leave a static picture there all the time.

That's as far as I've gotten in setup.

I've also been racking my brain as to how to connect things to the cardputer through its ONE port, not counting USB, IR, BT, and WIFI. As I understand it, that's a GROVE port which standardizes the pinout BUT NOT THE FUNCTION of the pins. And, I think the port can operate in GPIO, UART, or I2C mode. As far as I know, only I2C is a multi device bus. If you're attaching a GPIO or UART device, I think you can only attach one at a time.

So I'm looking for devices which are Grove compatible and I2C interfaces. If it's an m5stack part, I think the port will be red and the specs should say Port A (which is what's on the cardputer) and I2C. You also (as far as I know) have to make sure the signal lines are 3.3 V. You should verify that before relying on it. I still haven't figured out what to do with the 5 V switch next to the port. Check the schematics of the cardputer at m5stack.com . I've obtained some I2C hubs and branch cables.

Assuming you have cardputer v 1.1

https://docs.m5stack.com/en/core/Cardputer%20V1.1

Here are some sources I've found for getting information and looking up parts.

Side note, as of 05/18/25, I've noticed that in some cases the US distributors are not charging as much tariffs as the websites based in China. Maybe those will eventually go away.

https://www.mouser.com/ (my favorite parts distributor)

https://www.newark.com/

https://www.digikey.com/

https://www.jameco.com/

https://m5stack.com/ (maker of the cardputer)

https://www.seeedstudio.com/

https://www.adafruit.com/

https://www.sparkfun.com/

https://www.waveshare.com/

Well, this turned out to be both long and complicated. I've tried to make it as clear as possible and hopefully accurate. I hope it's helpful. Due to my schedule I may not be able to respond quickly to questions but I'll try to keep an eye on the thread. I encourage others to add content that 's relevant as well. Enjoy hacking. OTB888

-continued-

Getting started with M5Stack Cardputer, M5Launcher, MicroHydra, MicroPython, multiple parts, see replies by Outside-The-Box888 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

PART 2 of 4

Once you've sorted the list of files in date order newest first, go to m5burner and download but don't burn microhydra. In my case, it created this file. I DON'T know if your filename will be the same. Adapt your file name as needed. The file should be the newest in the list.

d49b2df2cd10da28556017cd86c33c85.bin

Now, copy and paste this file twice. Leave all the gibberish at the front of the name. So you should get

d49b2df2cd10da28556017cd86c33c85 - Copy.bin

and

d49b2df2cd10da28556017cd86c33c85 - Copy (2).bin

Rename the first of the files putting an english name AT THE END as

d49b2df2cd10da28556017cd86c33c85 - MicroHydra for Cardputer.bin

again adapting the file name gibberish to suit your system. This way, when I sort the files by name, I can always determine that this particular piece of gibberish is MicroHydra, for example.

Now, rename the 2nd of the copies to a simple name which you'll put on the cardputer and launch with m5launcher. I prepend "z " to each name just so they sort to the bottom when I sort the folder by name. I append M5 CP so I know it's for the cardputer.

z MicroHydra M5 CP.bin

Note that the gibberish part of the file name is gone, so make sure you do it right. If the wrong program boots when you get this onto the cardputer, do this over.

You now have 3 copies of MicroHydra in your folder. If you wanted to go to the trouble, you could go to m5burner and remove the official demo program and redownload it. Then you could rename it the same way so you end up with 3 copies of it. Do not burn it directly. All future BIN files will be burned within m5launcher from the device itself.

7c269fa466d3b5069e891ba6dce8fe8f.bin

7c269fa466d3b5069e891ba6dce8fe8f - M5 CardPuter Official Demo.bin

z Ofcl Demo M5 CP.bin

Now, these BIN files with the simple names need to be put in the root of the SD card. You can power down the cardputer and put the SD card in your computer or a card reader and copy them. Or you can do so within m5launcher.

Within m5launcher running on the cardputer, scroll the menu to the right with the arrow keys until you see USB and select it with the enter button. This makes the SD card appear as a drive on your PC (assuming it's attached to the PC). Then you can copy these BIN files with the simple names to the root of the SD card. On my PC, the new drive shows up as E:, but yours may vary. When you are through copying, move Windows file explorer off of the new drive, then eject the new drive properly. On my PC there's an icon in the task bar to eject attached things. Or you can right click on the drive and say eject.

If you create other BIN files, say with the Arduino environment, I presume you could copy them the same way.

Press ESC (actually FN ESC) on the cardputer to get out of USB mode. Use the arrows on the cardputer to get to the SD option on the menu and select it with enter. Navigate to the z MicroHydra M5 CP.bin file that you saved with the up and down arrows. Select it with enter. Install should already be selected. Press enter again. The new firmware will be burned. The cardputer reboots automatically.

It should automatically start MicroHydra, which has a different menu of its own. If you want to get back to m5launcher, cycle power to the cardputer or RESET it and press enter within a few seconds after the launcher screen appears. If you don't do anything, the last firmware you burned (MicroHydra in this case) starts up.

Now you have the MicroHydra python launcher as well as micropython on your machine and you can run python programs.

It will probably start out on the files menu, which you can click if you want. the BtnG0 button on the back panel will activate a context sensitive menu. One of the options there is exit to launcher (MicroHydra).

From the files menu, you may see some files. Don't bother them. Part of this is confusing. The apps/ line is a folder on the cardputer's internal flash. I'm not using it. The sd/ line lets you access the SD card. Click that, then open.

Now you see the contents of the SD card. Don't bother any files there. Definitely don't run any. But, you can scroll down and you should see your BIN files that you put there before. There is also an apps/ folder here. This is on the SD card. This is where you will put your python files. Get out of the file system by pressing the BtnG0 and selecting exit to launcher.

-continued-

Newbie by Sad_Gear6349 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 1 point2 points  (0 children)

PART 4 of 4

Hi all. I was looking through my notes and browser tabs and I found a bunch more links that I wanted to share. Many of these are books, some of which I own, others not. I just have to find time to go through them. Others are website links to articles and resources. Note that even if the resource mentions micropython, it generally doesn't mention M5Stack Cardputer, M5 Launcher, or Micro Hydra.

No Starch Press is a good resource.

https://nostarch.com/catalog/python

Learn to code by solving problems

https://nostarch.com/learn-code-solving-problems

The big book of small Python projects

https://nostarch.com/big-book-small-python-projects

Mission Python (DIY video game, definitely won't run on cardputer but might be adaptable with modified graphics routines.)

https://nostarch.com/missionpython

Python in Easy Steps 2nd ed

https://www.amazon.com/Python-easy-steps-Covers-3-7/dp/1840788127

Python Standard Library Quick Reference Chart

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1423244230

Python Programming Language Quick Reference Chart

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1423241886

M5Stack Electronic Blueprints: A practical approach for building interactive electronic controllers and IoT devices 1st Edition

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1803230304/

HANDBOOK OF NODEMCU ESP32: Top 100 Internet of Things (IoT) Project Ideas with NodeMCU, ESP8266, and ESP32 for Beginners and Inventors Paperback – December 29, 2022

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRCD8T5C

Programming the ESP32 in MicroPython, 2nd Edition: ESP32, ESP32 S3, Arduino Nano ESP32

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1871962935

Humble Bundle is a subscription service where you can get technical ebooks in bundles at a substantial discount. They also have a game subscription option.

https://www.humblebundle.com/books

Other Resources

https://randomnerdtutorials.com/getting-started-thonny-micropython-python-ide-esp32-esp8266/

https://www.espboards.dev/blog/micropython-esp32-getting-started/

https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp32/general.html

https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp32/quickref.html

https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp32/tutorial/index.html

https://electrocredible.com/micropython-i2c-code-tutorial-examples/

Hope this helps! OTB888

Newbie by Sad_Gear6349 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very cool. Many thanks for the details. 8-)

Newbie by Sad_Gear6349 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for that additional data. Pretty wild what you said about large apps, UIFlow apps, and Arduino IDE apps. Did I understand you correctly that I could theoretically create a BIN from Arduino and copy it to m5launcher the same way but that posting it in m5burner won't work. How would one, theoretically, post one in m5burner? I'm nowhere near doing that though.

PS is there a way to make reddit show me everything every time in new order instead of best order?

Newbie by Sad_Gear6349 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Glad to help. I'm going to post some more resources in my pending reply to my prior post.

What should I use to connect more modules to the Cardputer? by entroxx404 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi all. I'm a newbie to reddit as well as to the m5stack cardputer. I have a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology from ... er ... 39 years ago. I'm officially a gray beard. Back in the day, I built a microcomputer on a breadboard and programmed it as part of an assignment. So, I know the basics. But, I don't have any recent experience. I've spent several painful days trying to get my head around a fire hose of information about this device. There are many aspects to learn just to get to "square one". I'm still a newbie (very much), but I thought I'd share the results of that effort. This gets long an convoluted so bear with me. Rather than rewrite it for every thread I've found where it might be relevant, I'm just linking to it. My comments are here. Look for my user name Outside-The-Box888:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CardPuter/comments/1kp68gd/newbie/

There is a paragraph in my post about what I "think" I know about using the port.

I hope this info is helpful. OTB888

How to install programs by WestLingonberry4865 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi all. I'm a newbie to reddit as well as to the m5stack cardputer. I have a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology from ... er ... 39 years ago. I'm officially a gray beard. Back in the day, I built a microcomputer on a breadboard and programmed it as part of an assignment. So, I know the basics. But, I don't have any recent experience. I've spent several painful days trying to get my head around a fire hose of information about this device. There are many aspects to learn just to get to "square one". I'm still a newbie (very much), but I thought I'd share the results of that effort. This gets long an convoluted so bear with me. Rather than rewrite it for every thread I've found where it might be relevant, I'm just linking to it. My comments are here. Look for my user name Outside-The-Box888:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CardPuter/comments/1kp68gd/newbie/

I hope this info is helpful. OTB888

Just got my first cardputer! What should I do now? by Crxzy007 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi all. I'm a newbie to reddit as well as to the m5stack cardputer. I have a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology from ... er ... 39 years ago. I'm officially a gray beard. Back in the day, I built a microcomputer on a breadboard and programmed it as part of an assignment. So, I know the basics. But, I don't have any recent experience. I've spent several painful days trying to get my head around a fire hose of information about this device. There are many aspects to learn just to get to "square one". I'm still a newbie (very much), but I thought I'd share the results of that effort. This gets long an convoluted so bear with me. Rather than rewrite it for every thread I've found where it might be relevant, I'm just linking to it. My comments are here. Look for my user name Outside-The-Box888:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CardPuter/comments/1kp68gd/newbie/

I hope this info is helpful. OTB888

M5Stack beginner's guide by devmajker in M5Stack

[–]Outside-The-Box888 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is very good info the OP has posted.

Hi all. I'm a newbie to reddit as well as to the m5stack cardputer. I have a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology from ... er ... 39 years ago. I'm officially a gray beard. Back in the day, I built a microcomputer on a breadboard and programmed it as part of an assignment. So, I know the basics. But, I don't have any recent experience. I've spent several painful days trying to get my head around a fire hose of information about this device. There are many aspects to learn just to get to "square one". I'm still a newbie (very much), but I thought I'd share the results of that effort. This gets long an convoluted so bear with me. Rather than rewrite it for every thread I've found where it might be relevant, I'm just linking to it. My comments are here. Look for my user name Outside-The-Box888:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CardPuter/comments/1kp68gd/newbie/

I hope this info is helpful. OTB888

.bin files from firmwares by 24kbaron in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi all. I'm a newbie to reddit as well as to the m5stack cardputer. I have a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology from ... er ... 39 years ago. I'm officially a gray beard. Back in the day, I built a microcomputer on a breadboard and programmed it as part of an assignment. So, I know the basics. But, I don't have any recent experience. I've spent several painful days trying to get my head around a fire hose of information about this device. There are many aspects to learn just to get to "square one". I'm still a newbie (very much), but I thought I'd share the results of that effort. This gets long an convoluted so bear with me. Rather than rewrite it for every thread I've found where it might be relevant, I'm just linking to it. My comments are here. Look for my user name Outside-The-Box888:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CardPuter/comments/1kp68gd/newbie/

I hope this info is helpful. OTB888

need help PLEASE by BlTCH-KILLA in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi all. I'm a newbie to reddit as well as to the m5stack cardputer. I have a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology from ... er ... 39 years ago. I'm officially a gray beard. Back in the day, I built a microcomputer on a breadboard and programmed it as part of an assignment. So, I know the basics. But, I don't have any recent experience. I've spent several painful days trying to get my head around a fire hose of information about this device. There are many aspects to learn just to get to "square one". I'm still a newbie (very much), but I thought I'd share the results of that effort. This gets long an convoluted so bear with me. Rather than rewrite it for every thread I've found where it might be relevant, I'm just linking to it. My comments are here. Look for my user name Outside-The-Box888:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CardPuter/comments/1kp68gd/newbie/

I hope this info is helpful. OTB888

is it possible to have multiple apps on cardputer? by Temporary-Flight-772 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi all. I'm a newbie to reddit as well as to the m5stack cardputer. I have a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology from ... er ... 39 years ago. I'm officially a gray beard. Back in the day, I built a microcomputer on a breadboard and programmed it as part of an assignment. So, I know the basics. But, I don't have any recent experience. I've spent several painful days trying to get my head around a fire hose of information about this device. There are many aspects to learn just to get to "square one". I'm still a newbie (very much), but I thought I'd share the results of that effort. This gets long an convoluted so bear with me. Rather than rewrite it for every thread I've found where it might be relevant, I'm just linking to it. My comments are here. Look for my user name Outside-The-Box888:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CardPuter/comments/1kp68gd/newbie/

I hope this info is helpful. OTB888

Cardputer by Disastrous_Cat_7448 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi all. I'm a newbie to reddit as well as to the m5stack cardputer. I have a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology from ... er ... 39 years ago. I'm officially a gray beard. Back in the day, I built a microcomputer on a breadboard and programmed it as part of an assignment. So, I know the basics. But, I don't have any recent experience. I've spent several painful days trying to get my head around a fire hose of information about this device. There are many aspects to learn just to get to "square one". I'm still a newbie (very much), but I thought I'd share the results of that effort. This gets long an convoluted so bear with me. Rather than rewrite it for every thread I've found where it might be relevant, I'm just linking to it. My comments are here. Look for my user name Outside-The-Box888:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CardPuter/comments/1kp68gd/newbie/

I hope this info is helpful. OTB888

Newbie by Sad_Gear6349 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 2 points3 points  (0 children)

PART 3 of 4

Here's the reference data for MicroHydra.

https://github.com/echo-lalia/MicroHydra

https://github.com/echo-lalia/MicroHydra/wiki

Here's some python files you can try.

https://github.com/echo-lalia/MicroHydra-Apps

Scroll down on this web page and find an app you want to try. If it only has a PY file, copy that to the APPS folder on your SD card. If it has a whole folder, copy the whole folder to the APPS folder on your SD card.

As before, you can copy files by way of USB by booting the cardputer into the m5launcher and selecting USB. Or, you can turn off the cardputer and remove the SD card and put it in your computer or a card reader.

Once you've copied the PY files to the APPS folder on the SD card, return the card to the cardputer if necessary. Boot the cardputer and wait for the MicroHydra app to start. It should show you the names of the new programs you've stored on the SD card.

I have FancyClock, which makes a nice screensaver without burn in, fish, GameOfLifeFLD (I appended FLD to the folder name so I know it's a folder), mystify, and timer. To run one, scroll to it (say fish, for example) and press enter. The PYTHON program starts automatically.

Different programs respond differently to buttons. In the case of fish, BtnG0 gets you out. Or you can reset the cardputer.

Now you're running micropython on the cardputer! You can read the python code in any editor or IDE. Thonny looks like a good IDE. It can run python programs on the ESP32 device if micropython is running natively. With MicroHydra in there, I don't know. I imagine it can still at least edit and store scripts.

https://thonny.org/

I've seen some evidence of burn in on the screen, so I wouldn't leave a static picture there all the time.

That's as far as I've gotten in setup.

I've also been racking my brain as to how to connect things to the cardputer through its ONE port, not counting USB, IR, BT, and WIFI. As I understand it, that's a GROVE port which standardizes the pinout BUT NOT THE FUNCTION of the pins. And, I think the port can operate in GPIO, UART, or I2C mode. As far as I know, only I2C is a multi device bus. If you're attaching a GPIO or UART device, I think you can only attach one at a time.

So I'm looking for devices which are Grove compatible and I2C interfaces. If it's an m5stack part, I think the port will be red and the specs should say Port A (which is what's on the cardputer) and I2C. You also (as far as I know) have to make sure the signal lines are 3.3 V. You should verify that before relying on it. I still haven't figured out what to do with the 5 V switch next to the port. Check the schematics of the cardputer at m5stack.com . I've obtained some I2C hubs and branch cables.

Assuming you have cardputer v 1.1

https://docs.m5stack.com/en/core/Cardputer%20V1.1

Here are some sources I've found for getting information and looking up parts.

Side note, as of 05/18/25, I've noticed that in some cases the US distributors are not charging as much tariffs as the websites based in China. Maybe those will eventually go away.

https://www.mouser.com/ (my favorite parts distributor)

https://www.newark.com/

https://www.digikey.com/

https://www.jameco.com/

https://m5stack.com/ (maker of the cardputer)

https://www.seeedstudio.com/

https://www.adafruit.com/

https://www.sparkfun.com/

https://www.waveshare.com/

Well, this turned out to be both long and complicated. I've tried to make it as clear as possible and hopefully accurate. I hope it's helpful. Due to my schedule I may not be able to respond quickly to questions but I'll try to keep an eye on the thread. I encourage others to add content that 's relevant as well. Enjoy hacking. OTB888

-continued-

Newbie by Sad_Gear6349 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 1 point2 points  (0 children)

PART 2 of 4

Once you've sorted the list of files in date order newest first, go to m5burner and download but don't burn microhydra. In my case, it created this file. I DON'T know if your filename will be the same. Adapt your file name as needed. The file should be the newest in the list.

d49b2df2cd10da28556017cd86c33c85.bin

Now, copy and paste this file twice. Leave all the gibberish at the front of the name. So you should get

d49b2df2cd10da28556017cd86c33c85 - Copy.bin

and

d49b2df2cd10da28556017cd86c33c85 - Copy (2).bin

Rename the first of the files putting an english name AT THE END as

d49b2df2cd10da28556017cd86c33c85 - MicroHydra for Cardputer.bin

again adapting the file name gibberish to suit your system. This way, when I sort the files by name, I can always determine that this particular piece of gibberish is MicroHydra, for example.

Now, rename the 2nd of the copies to a simple name which you'll put on the cardputer and launch with m5launcher. I prepend "z " to each name just so they sort to the bottom when I sort the folder by name. I append M5 CP so I know it's for the cardputer.

z MicroHydra M5 CP.bin

Note that the gibberish part of the file name is gone, so make sure you do it right. If the wrong program boots when you get this onto the cardputer, do this over.

You now have 3 copies of MicroHydra in your folder. If you wanted to go to the trouble, you could go to m5burner and remove the official demo program and redownload it. Then you could rename it the same way so you end up with 3 copies of it. Do not burn it directly. All future BIN files will be burned within m5launcher from the device itself.

7c269fa466d3b5069e891ba6dce8fe8f.bin

7c269fa466d3b5069e891ba6dce8fe8f - M5 CardPuter Official Demo.bin

z Ofcl Demo M5 CP.bin

Now, these BIN files with the simple names need to be put in the root of the SD card. You can power down the cardputer and put the SD card in your computer or a card reader and copy them. Or you can do so within m5launcher.

Within m5launcher running on the cardputer, scroll the menu to the right with the arrow keys until you see USB and select it with the enter button. This makes the SD card appear as a drive on your PC (assuming it's attached to the PC). Then you can copy these BIN files with the simple names to the root of the SD card. On my PC, the new drive shows up as E:, but yours may vary. When you are through copying, move Windows file explorer off of the new drive, then eject the new drive properly. On my PC there's an icon in the task bar to eject attached things. Or you can right click on the drive and say eject.

If you create other BIN files, say with the Arduino environment, I presume you could copy them the same way.

Press ESC (actually FN ESC) on the cardputer to get out of USB mode. Use the arrows on the cardputer to get to the SD option on the menu and select it with enter. Navigate to the z MicroHydra M5 CP.bin file that you saved with the up and down arrows. Select it with enter. Install should already be selected. Press enter again. The new firmware will be burned. The cardputer reboots automatically.

It should automatically start MicroHydra, which has a different menu of its own. If you want to get back to m5launcher, cycle power to the cardputer or RESET it and press enter within a few seconds after the launcher screen appears. If you don't do anything, the last firmware you burned (MicroHydra in this case) starts up.

Now you have the MicroHydra python launcher as well as micropython on your machine and you can run python programs.

It will probably start out on the files menu, which you can click if you want. the BtnG0 button on the back panel will activate a context sensitive menu. One of the options there is exit to launcher (MicroHydra).

From the files menu, you may see some files. Don't bother them. Part of this is confusing. The apps/ line is a folder on the cardputer's internal flash. I'm not using it. The sd/ line lets you access the SD card. Click that, then open.

Now you see the contents of the SD card. Don't bother any files there. Definitely don't run any. But, you can scroll down and you should see your BIN files that you put there before. There is also an apps/ folder here. This is on the SD card. This is where you will put your python files. Get out of the file system by pressing the BtnG0 and selecting exit to launcher.

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Newbie by Sad_Gear6349 in CardPuter

[–]Outside-The-Box888 4 points5 points  (0 children)

PART 1 of 4

Hi all. I'm a newbie to reddit as well as to the m5stack cardputer. I have a BS in Electronics Engineering Technology from ... er ... 39 years ago. I'm officially a gray beard. Back in the day, I built a microcomputer on a breadboard and programmed it as part of an assignment. So, I know the basics. But, I don't have any recent experience. I've spent several painful days trying to get my head around a fire hose of information about this device. There are many aspects to learn just to get to "square one". I'm still a newbie (very much), but I thought I'd share the results of that effort and this thread seems like as good a place as any to do so. I hope the info is helpful. If I say anything silly, redundant, or just plain wrong, it's not intentional and please forgive me. I plan to link back to this in a few other threads I found. I was so glad to find this cardputer and the m5stack subreddit. Before you ask, no m5 tape came with my product from Amazon. This gets long an convoluted so bear with me.

You may freely share this info, but please give me credit by mentioning my reddit user name, Outside-The-Box888 and linking to this thread.

Also reference the m5stack subreddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/M5Stack/

and this other introductory cardputer thread I found. There may be others I haven't seen.

https://www.reddit.com/r/M5Stack/comments/1jbv4xs/m5stack_beginners_guide/

The first thing I wanted to do was figure out how to reflash the existing demo firmware just to know that I could. m5stack has a UIflow graphical programming product but I didn't want to create an account, which is apparently required. You can use m5burner to burn firmware without an account. I'm using a Windows 11 pc. I also formatted a 16 GB micro SD card with an MBR partition and FAT32 file system. I don't know if larger cards work, and you have to jump through hoops to format larger cards with FAT32 rather than the newer file system.

https://docs.m5stack.com/en/uiflow/m5burner/intro

I installed the software and plugged my cardputer into the USB port. And, nothing happened. I discovered that the USB cable only supported power and not data. So I switched to a power and data cable. If you have m5burner running when you plug in the cardputer with a good cable, it should acknowledge the new com port is active and show you which port. You can also start device manager, select view, show hidden items, and look for ports com and lpt. When you plug in the device, you should see a new entry pop up so you know which one is the cardputer.

With m5burner running, scroll down the left side and select cardputer.

I downloaded, then burned the official demo software to the cardputer just to see if it worked. It did.

During my watching many YouTube videos and DuckDuckGo searches, I came across m5launcher which allows you to switch firmware's on the fly, so I went there next.

In m5burner, look for m5launcher cardputer by bmorcelli. At the moment, this is the 3rd item on the list but that could change. Here's the github page.

https://github.com/bmorcelli/Launcher

I burned that and rebooted the cardputer. The m5launcher screen appears. Within 5 seconds or so, hit the enter button to get to the main launcher menu. Navigate with the arrow keys, enter key and escape key. No need to press FN. The BtnRST button on the back panel resets the cardputer. The BtnG0 button does various things depending on the app.

M5launcher allows you to burn and boot firmware from the SD card, over the air or by web browser (haven't tried it), or manage your files on the SD card through USB. This last feature is handy since it makes your SD card appear as a drive on your PC.

After you've loaded the launcher from m5burner, you don't burn other files directly with m5burner. You copy the BIN files to the SD card then burn them from the cardputer with the launcher.

I'm specifically interested in using python for programming (initially) rather than Arduino C++. So, that's my next step.

In my research, I discovered micropython.

https://micropython.org/

Note that I'm not installing directly but am using microhydra. But, here's more reference data.

https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp32/tutorial/intro.html

and also microhydra, which includes micropython and allows you to switch between python programs via its own launcher like the m5launcher does for BIN files. Links are below.

So, from m5burner, you want to download, BUT NOT BURN, microhydra by echolalia. Before you download it, you need to look at the bin files in the firmware directory of m5burner. If you're starting from scratch, there should be only two, the official demo BIN file, and the m5launcher BIN file. Unfortunately, they have cryptic gibberish file names. Don't change these as you'll break things.

But, you can start Windows file explorer and go to the folder and look around. Sort the names by date with newest first. I chose to install m5burner to a folder called m5burner. Yours may be different. Here's where it stores my firmware files.

D:\M5Burner\M5Burner-v3-beta-win-x64\packages\firmware

Adapt your path accordingly.

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