MicroPython using a Virtual Machine?

[ZeekDev]

Hear me out here. I came to ask if Micropython was capable of being run on a Windows/Linux virtual machine. What i mean by this is, is there a way I can take the essential backend ROM or init code to set up μPy itself into an ISO, and package it snd run it on a virtualbox? And run it like it is an ARM or X86 implementation? (I heard that these architectures are supported).

It sounds insane, why would I use a microcontroller language on a Virtual machine? My project needs a lot more ram than the pyboard has (Around 300-400k of ram), so this is my best alternative as of now.

[Roberthh]

You could use an ESP32 with SPIRAM, which gives you 4 MByte of heap space.
With PYBD-SF6 you have ~ 400k available heap space.

[ZeekDev]

You could use an ESP32 with SPIRAM, which gives you 4 MByte of heap space.
With PYBD-SF6 you have ~ 400k available heap space.

What is a PYBD-SF6? I didn't see that in the store.
Also, I heard there was a Pi Zero port, as it uses the same CPU. However, I cant find any real way to install it or use it.

[Roberthh]

PYBD_SF6 is this one: https://store.micropython.org/product/PYBD-SF6-W4F2
I do not know the state of the Pi Zero port. Maybe it has been further developed, may it stalled. The GitHub repository is here: https://github.com/boochow/micropython-raspberrypi

[Marius]

Hear me out here. I came to ask if Micropython was capable of being run on a Windows/Linux virtual machine. What i mean by this is, is there a way I can take the essential backend ROM or init code to set up μPy itself into an ISO, and package it snd run it on a virtualbox? And run it like it is an ARM or X86 implementation? (I heard that these architectures are supported).

It sounds insane, why would I use a microcontroller language on a Virtual machine? My project needs a lot more ram than the pyboard has (Around 300-400k of ram), so this is my best alternative as of now.

You gonna run it on AWS Lambda?

[ZeekDev]

No, im wanting to run it on hardware, I just need about double the 128K of ram it has.

Also the Pyboard is about 50$, bit too over my budget sadly.

If only there was a native raspberry implementation

[Roberthh]

Again: Did you consider an ESP32 with SPIRAM extension, like the Wemos LOLIN D32 pro? They come at a low price tag.

[jimmo]

No, im wanting to run it on hardware, I just need about double the 128K of ram it has.

I don't understand what this has to do with wanting to run it in a VM?

But to add some more details:
- There is currently no "bare metal" x86 or x64 port. You cannot directly run MicroPython at boot on PC hardware (VM or otherwise).
- You could however use the Linux (or Windows) port if you just wanted to experiment with running MicroPython with more RAM. You could even run this on your Raspberry Pi (in Rasbian). You can configure the heap (at the top of ports/unix/main.c) to be as big as you like.
- Alternatively, if "bare metal" is the goal, then you can run MicroPython for ARM in QEMU. Have a look at ports/qemu-arm. You could configure that with as much RAM as you want.

Also the Pyboard is about 50$, bit too over my budget sadly.

If all you need is more RAM, there are plenty of options to make a custom board using a STM32 chip with more RAM.

But yeah, the ESP32 with SPIRAM is definitely a cheap, easy and very well supported option.

If only there was a native raspberry implementation

There is -- Robert linked to it above. https://github.com/boochow/micropython-raspberrypi

[nekomatic]

If you're going to run it on Windows or Linux, why not create your project in standard Python?