Skills Development Managing MicroPython Apps on Cardputer

Managing MicroPython Apps on Cardputer

v20260506
cardputer-buddy
This toolset provides a comprehensive development workflow for iterating on MicroPython applications (such as Claude Buddy, Hello, and Snake) on the Cardputer-Adv device. It allows developers to add new apps, push single updated .py files without full re-flashing, monitor device serial logs, or execute one-shot REPL commands directly from the host machine. Essential for rapid prototyping and debugging embedded systems.
Get Skill
347 downloads
Overview

Cardputer Buddy app bundle

The buddy/ directory in the local build-with-claude clone is the MicroPython payload that m5-onboard installs onto /flash/. Work inside that clone.

Device layout

/flash/
├── main.py              launcher menu (replaces UIFlow's boot flow)
├── buddy_*.py           shared libs (BLE, UI, state, protocol, chars)
├── burst_frames.py      sprite frames
└── apps/
    ├── claude_buddy.py  BLE client → Claude Desktop's Hardware Buddy
    ├── hello_cardputer.py
    └── snake.py

main.py scans /flash/apps/ at boot and lists every .py as a menu entry. Drop a file into buddy/device/apps/, push it, and it appears on next boot.

Adding an app

Crib from buddy/device/apps/hello_cardputer.py — smallest example of keyboard polling, font, and exit conventions. Then push without re-flashing:

python3 onboard/scripts/install_apps.py --port <PORT> --src buddy

<PORT> is whatever detect.py reported last run (e.g. /dev/cu.usbmodem1101, /dev/ttyACM0, COM3).

Dev loop tooling (buddy/scripts/)

# Push a subset of files over USB-serial
python3 buddy/scripts/push.py --port <PORT> --files apps/snake.py

# Watch device logs
python3 buddy/scripts/tail_serial.py --port <PORT>

# One-shot REPL exec
python3 buddy/scripts/repl_run.py --port <PORT> --script "import os; print(os.listdir('/flash'))"
Info
Category Development
Name cardputer-buddy
Version v20260506
Size 1.84KB
Updated At 2026-05-08
Language