New ESP8266 board on KickStarter to support MicroPython

[gamolina]

A new ESP8266 board supports MicroPython. While it works quite well as a standalone development board, it includes software drivers to implement complex UIs easily on the Nextion TFT touch screen display. Provisions for an enclosure are included as well.

Check it out on Kickstarter: http://kck.st/1PxIbTL

It references and supports Damiens ongoing efforts to port MicroPython to the ESP8266

[platforma]

I don't see any mentions of micropython there. Looks like it's just drivers written on nodemcu. Nothing is preventing one from using python to write the drivers I suppose. But that would be another kickstarter. What is actually being offered to the backers? A board with esp8266 and an FTDI and schematics? The Nextion thing looks rubbish, I wouldn't trust anything that says "How we do it. No Coding!"

[pfalcon]

gamolina is MicroPython ESP8266 campaign backer who also expressed interest in running MicroPython on his device, and we suggested him to post on the forum. So guys, please consider his message to be a friendly hello from folks interested to join uPy community and don't judge his project too harsh. I personally find such projects - which try to make "complete" products based on ESP8266 - at least interesting. Actually, one of the reason we (or maybe just I) didn't treat ESP8266 seriously before is because besides wide popularity in "maker" circles, there was no "end-user" products based on it, and situation started to change only 3-4 months ago.

That said, this is not endorsement of his project in any way, and actually, if I was asked for feedback, I'd say that I find it perplexing that the web site as specified on the campaign page doesn't respond.

[gamolina]

The web site is hosted on github pages and the DNS is hosted by Google. Works fine here.

The Nextion display has a separate on-board processor and works just fine for the intended purpose. It has it's own on board processor and 16mb of flash for storage of graphic assets. There is a new generation of these coming out in March which will also play video. At $24 USD for the 3.5" display it is a pretty good deal.

I would like to add a Python module written in C so that precious RAM is conserved.

Guy

[gamolina]

Another thing to consider. The ESP8266 is an extremely GPIO limited device. NextDev adds another full UART (with buffering) and 8 additional GPIO lines (5V tolerant). The UART is necessary for interfacing with the Nextion.

So, the board is useful standalone as well.

[pfalcon]

The web site is hosted on github pages and the DNS is hosted by Google. Works fine here.

Sorry, gamolina, I meant to provide more info instead of leaving it as an empty claim, but with all other stuff, completely forgot about it, sorry. So, FYI, I still can't access your site (nextdev.io). In Firefox, it's usual "Unable to connect" message, and here's what telnet gives me:

Code: Select all

$ telnet nextdev.io 80
Trying 216.239.32.21...
Trying 216.239.34.21...
Trying 216.239.38.21...
Trying 216.239.36.21...
Trying 2001:4860:4802:36::15...
Trying 2001:4860:4802:32::15...
Trying 2001:4860:4802:38::15...
Trying 2001:4860:4802:34::15...
telnet: Unable to connect to remote host: Network is unreachable

Fairly speaking, that's first time I see such issue (I see that those IP addresses belong to Google's 1e100.net). Anyway, don't care about me here, but as I put it, "for each case reported, there can be dozens - or more - cases when people just shrugged and moved on." So, you may be interested if there're any issues with your domain, like restrictions on international connectivity (again, issue can be very well on my side, but again, I never seen something which behaved like that).

[gamolina]

Count you verify that "http://nextdevboard.github.io/home/" works? nextdev.io is set to redirect to this.

[pfalcon]

Yep, github pages definitely work for me, can access above w/o issues.

[gamolina]

Thank you! Just changed the link on the kickstarter page. I'm assuming that is the one you clicked?