Terminal with RP2040

[last updated: 2024-09-17]
RP2040-Zero home page
MicroPython on RP2040
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This page rough and incomplete ...

• Interacting with the MicroPython on your zero:
  • REPL: = "read-evaluate-print loop"
    This mode allows you to connect to your zero via USB connector on the board, run a terminal program on your host PC,
    Read: type in code (followed by <cr>)
    Evaluate: that is evaluated as python code and executed,
    Print: results are printed back to the terminal,
    Loop: and it then loops back to waiting for more text.
    • The zero has a virtual USB serial port that should show up on your host PC as /dev/ttyACM0 or something similar.
      List ports with:
      $ ls /dev/tty*
      On my system it indeed showed up as /dev/ttyACM0

    • Install the minicom module to access this port:
      $ sudo apt install minicom
    • Open the minicom port (using the port ID on your PC):
      $ minicom -o -D /dev/ttyACM0

      If you do this before the RP-2040 is plugged in, there will be no ACM0 port to access, so it will just close and revert to $ prompt.

      If you plug in the RP-2040 first, then open minicom, my system printed::

      Welcome to minicom 2.8
      OPTIONS: I18n
      Port /dev/ttyACM0, 10:33:01
      Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys

      
      Press enter key a few times if necessary, and you should see a ">>>" prompt.

    • At this point, if you type ctrl-D, your zero should reboot and print out its firmware version and build date.
      On my system it printed:
      MPY: soft reboot
      MicroPython v1.23.0 on 2024-06-02; Raspberry Pi Pico with RP2040
      Type "help()" for more information.

      Otherwise, typing a python command will be executed immediately, with any result printed to the minicom terminal.

      For example, typing:
          >>> print('this')
      indeed will print:
          this

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