Micropython + LittlevGL

Written by amirgon on February 20, 2019

LittlevGL as a Micropython Library

What is Micropython?

Micropython is Python for microcontrollers.

With Micropython you can write Python3 code and run it on bare metal architectures with limited resources.

Micropython highlights

Compact - fit and run within just 256k of code space and 16k of RAM. No OS is needed, although you can also run it with OS, if you want.

- fit and run within just 256k of code space and 16k of RAM. No OS is needed, although you can also run it with OS, if you want. Compatible - strives to be as compatible as possible with normal Python (known as CPython)

- strives to be as compatible as possible with normal Python (known as CPython) Verstile - Supports many architectures (x86, x86-64, ARM, ARM Thumb, Xtensa)

- Supports many architectures (x86, x86-64, ARM, ARM Thumb, Xtensa) Interactive - No need for the compile-flash-boot cycle. With the REPL (interactive prompt) you can type commands and execute them immediately, run scripts etc.

- No need for the compile-flash-boot cycle. With the REPL (interactive prompt) you can type commands and execute them immediately, run scripts etc. Popular - Many platforms are supported. User base is growing bigger.

Notable forks: MicroPython, CircuitPython, MicroPython_ESP32_psRAM_LoBo

- Many platforms are supported. User base is growing bigger. Notable forks: MicroPython, CircuitPython, MicroPython_ESP32_psRAM_LoBo Embedded Oriented - Comes with modules specifically for embedded systsems, such as the machine module for accessing low-level hardware (I/O pins, ADC, UART, SPI, I2C, RTC, Timers etc.)

Why Micropython + LittlevGL?

Micropython today does not have a good high-level GUI library.

LittlevGL is a good high-level GUI library, it’s implemented in C and its API is in C.

LittlevGL is an Object Oriented Compenent Based library, which seems a natural candidate to map into a higher level language, such as Python.

Here are some advantages of using LittlevGL in Micropython:

Develop GUI in Python, a very popular high level language. Use paradigms such as Object Oriented Programming.

GUI development requires multiple iterations to get things right.

With C, each iteration consists of Change code ➥ Build ➥ Flash ➥ Run .

In Micropython it’s just Change code ➥ Run . You can even run commands interactively using the REPL (the interactive prompt)

Micropython + LittlevGL could be used for:

Fast prototyping GUI.

Shorten the cycle of changing and fine-tuning the GUI.

Model the GUI in a more absract way by defining reusable composite objects, taking advantage of Python’s language features such as Inheritance, Closures, List Comprehension, Generators, Exception Handling, Arbitrary Precision Integers and others.

Make LittlevGL accessible to a larger audiance. No need to know C in order to create a nice GUI on an embedded system.

This goes well with CircuitPython vision. CircuitPython was designed with education in mind, to make it easier for new or unexperienced users to get started with embedded development.

So how does it look like?

TL;DR: It’s very much like the C API, but Object Oriented for LittlevGL componets.

Let’s dive right into an example!

A simple example

import lvgl as lv lv . init () scr = lv . obj () btn = lv . btn ( scr ) btn . align ( lv . scr_act (), lv . ALIGN . CENTER , 0 , 0 ) label = lv . label ( btn ) label . set_text ( "Button" ) lv . scr_load ( scr )

In this example we create a button, align it to center and add a text label on it, “Button”.

Finally, we load the screen with the button, in order to display it.

A little more advanced example

In this example I’ll assume you already have some basic knowledge of LittlevGL. If you don’t - please have a quick look at LittlevGL tutorial.

class SymbolButton ( lv . btn ): def __init__ ( self , parent , symbol , text ): super (). __init__ ( parent ) self . symbol = lv . label ( self ) self . symbol . set_text ( symbol ) self . symbol . set_style ( symbolstyle ) self . label = lv . label ( self ) self . label . set_text ( text )

In this example we create a reusable composite component called SymbolButton .

It’s a class, so we can create object instances from it. It’s composite, because it consists of several native LittlevGL objects:

A Button - SymbolButton inherits from lv.btn . lv.btn is a native LittlevGL Button component.

- inherits from . is a native LittlevGL Button component. A Symbol label - a label with a symbol style (symbol font) as a child of self , ie. child of the parent button that SymbolButton inherits from. lv.label is a native LittlevGL label component that represents some text inside another component.

- a label with a symbol style (symbol font) as a child of , ie. child of the parent button that SymbolButton inherits from. is a native LittlevGL label component that represents some text inside another component. A Text label - a label with some text as another child of self .

SymbolButton constructor ( __init__ function) does nothing more than create the two labels and set their contents and style.

Here is an example of how to use our SymbolButton :

self . btn1 = SymbolButton ( page , lv . SYMBOL . PLAY , "Play" ) self . btn1 . set_size ( 140 , 100 ) self . btn1 . align ( None , lv . ALIGN . IN_TOP_LEFT , 10 , 0 ) self . btn2 = SymbolButton ( page , lv . SYMBOL . PAUSE , "Pause" ) self . btn2 . set_size ( 140 , 100 ) self . btn2 . align ( self . btn1 , lv . ALIGN . OUT_RIGHT_TOP , 10 , 0 )

Here, we set the size of each button, align btn1 to the page and align btn2 relative to btn1 .

We call set_size and align methods of our composite component SymbolButton - these methods were inherited from SymbolButton parent, lv.btn , which is a LittlevGL native object.

The result would look something like this:

For a more complete example, which includes other object types as well as action callbacks and driver registration, please have a look at this little demo script.

Here are some more examples of how to use LittlevGL in Micropython:

Creating a screen with a button and a label

scr = lv . obj () btn = lv . btn ( scr ) btn . align ( lv . scr_act (), lv . ALIGN . CENTER , 0 , 0 ) label = lv . label ( btn ) label . set_text ( "Button" ) # Load the screen lv . scr_load ( scr )

Creating an instance of a struct

symbolstyle = lv . style_t ( lv . style_plain )

symbolstyle would be an instance of lv_style_t initialized to the same value of lv_style_plain

Setting a field in a struct

symbolstyle . text . color = lv . color_hex ( 0xffffff )

symbolstyle.text.color would be initialized to the color struct returned by lv_color_hex

Setting a nested struct using dict

symbolstyle . text . color = { "red" : 0xff , "green" : 0xff , "blue" : 0xff }

Creating an instance of an object

self . tabview = lv . tabview ( lv . scr_act ())

The first argument to an object constructor is the parent object, the second is which element to copy this element from

Calling an object method

self . symbol . align ( self , lv . ALIGN . CENTER , 0 , 0 )

In this example lv.ALIGN is an enum and lv.ALIGN.CENTER is an enum member (an integer value).

Using callbacks

for btn , name in [( self . btn1 , 'Play' ), ( self . btn2 , 'Pause' )]: btn . set_action ( lv . btn . ACTION . CLICK , lambda action , name = name : self . label . set_text ( '%s click' % name ) or lv . RES . OK )

Here, we have a loop that sets an action for buttons btn1 and btn2 .

The action of btn1 is to set label text to “Play click”, and the action of btn2 click is to set label text to “Pause click”.

How does this work?

There are two Python features you first need to understand: lambda and Closure.

set_action function expects two parameters: an action enum ( CLICK in this case) and a function. In Python a functions are “first class”, this means they can be treated as values, and can be passed to another function, like in this case.

The function we are passing is a lambda , which is an anonymous function. Its first parameter is the action, and its second parameter is the name variable from the for loop. The function does not use the action parameter, but it uses the name for setting the label’s text.

After setting the label’s text, the lambda function finishes and returns lv.RES.OK value. A lambda cannot have a return statement since it must be an expression. set_text is evaluated to None, so set_text(...) or lv.RES.OK is evaluated to lv.RES.OK and is treated as the lambda’s function return value.

You might ask yourself - why do we need to pass name as a parameter? Why not use it directly in the lambda like this: lambda action: self.label.set_text('%s click' % name) ?

Well, this will not work correctly! Using name like this would create a Closure, which is a function object that remembers values in enclosing scopes, name in this case. The problem is, that in Python the resolution of name is done when name is executed. If we put name in the lambda function, it’s too late, name was already set to Pause so both buttons will set “Pause click” text. We need name to be set when the for loop iteration is executed, not when the lambda function is executed, therefore we pass name as a parameter and this is the moment it is resolved. Here is a short SO post that explains this.

The complete script.

Currently the binding is limited to only one callback per object.

How does it work?

TL;DR: A script parses LittlevGL headers and creates a Micropython module.

To use LittlevGL in Micropython, you need Micropython Binding for LittlevGL.

This binding is a generator for LittlevGL Micropython module.

It’s essentialy a python script that reads and parses LittlevGL C headers and generates Micropython module from them. This module can be used in Micropython to access most of LittlevGL API.

LittlevGL is an Object Oriented component-based library. There is a base class called lv_obj from which all other components inherit from, and a hierarchy between the components. Objects have their method functions, inherit their parent methods etc.

Micropython Binding for LittlevGL tries to take advantage of this design, and models this class hierarchy in Python. You can create your own (pure Python) composite components from existing LittlevGL components by inheritance.

For more details, please refer to the README of Micropython Binding for LittlevGL.

How can I use it?

TL;DR: The quickest way to start: Fork lv_micropython . It has working Unix (Linux) and ESP32 ports of Micropython + LittlevGL.

Micropython Binding for LittlevGL ( lv_binding_micropython ) was designed to make it simple to use LittlevGL with Micropython. In principle it can support any micropython fork.

To add it to some Micropython fork you need to add lv_binding_micropython under Micropython lib as a git submodule. lv_binding_micropython itself contains LittlevGL as a git submodule.

In the Micropython code itself, very few changes are needed. You need to add some lines to Micropython Makefile in order to create LittlevGL Binding module and in order to compile LittlevGL, and you also need to add the new lvgl module to Micropython by editing mpconfigport.h .

As an example, I’ve created lv_micropython - a Micropython fork with LittlevGL binding.

You can use it as is, or as an example of how to integrate LittlevGL with Micropython.

lv_micropython can currently be used with LittlevGL on the unix port and on the ESP32 port.

LittlevGL needs drivers for the display and for the input device. The Micropython binding contains some example drivers that are registered and used on lv_micropython :

SDL unix drivers (display and mouse)

ILI9341 driver for ESP32.

Raw Resistive Touch for ESP32 (ADC connected to screen directly, no touch IC)

It is easy to create new drivers for other displays and input devices. If you add some new driver, we would be happy to add it to Micropython Binding, so please send us a PR!

FAQ

How can I know which LittlevGL objects and functions are available on Micropython?

Actually, almost all of them are available!

If some are missing and you need them, please open an issue on Micopython Binding Issues section, and I’ll try to add them.

Run Micropython with LittlevGL module enabled (for example, lv_micropython )

) Open the REPL (interactive console)

import lvgl as lv

Type lv. + TAB for completion. All supported classes and functions of LittlevGL will be displayed.

+ for completion. All supported classes and functions of LittlevGL will be displayed. Another option: help(lv)

Another option: print('

'.join(dir(lv)))

You can also do that recursively. For example lv.btn. + TAB , or print('

'.join(dir(lv.btn)))

You can also have a look at the LittlevGL binding module itself. It is generated during Micropython build, and is ususally called lv_mpy.c .

That’s a huge API! There are more than 25K lines of code on the LittlevGL binding module only! Before counting LittlevGL code itself!

It depends on LittlevGL configuration. It can be small or large.

Remember that LittlevGL binding module is generated when you build Micropython, based on LittlevGL headers and configuration file - lv_conf.h .

If you enabled everything on lv_conf.h - the module will be large. You can disable features and remove unneeded components by changing definitions in lv_conf.h , and the module will become much smaller.

Anyway, remember that the module is on Progam Memory. It does not consume RAM by itself, only ROM.

From RAM perpective, every instance of LittlevGL object will usually consume only a few bytes extra, to represent a Micropython wrapper object around LittlevGL object.

I would like to try it out! What is the quickest way to start?

The quickest way to start: Fork lv_micropython . It has working unix (Linux) and ESP32 ports of Micropython + LittlevGL.

LittlevGL on Python? Isn’t it kinda.. slow?

No.

All LittlevGL functionality (such as rendering the graphics) is still in C.

The Micropython binding only provides wrappers for LittlevGL API, such as creating components, setting their properties, layout, styles etc. Very few cycles are spent over there compared to other LittlevGL functionality.

Can I use LittlevGL binding on XXXX Micropython fork?

Probably yes!

You would need to add Micropython Binding for LittlevGL as a submodule in your fork, and make some small changes to the Makefile and mpconfigport.h in your port, but that’s about it.

For more details please have a look at the README.

Can I use LittlevGL binding with XXXX display/input-device hardware?

Yes, but you need a driver.

LittlevGL requires a driver for Display and Input device.

Once you have a C driver for your hardware, it’s very simple to wrap it as a module in Micropython and use it with LittlevGL Binding for Micropython.

You can see some examples of such drivers (and their wrapper Micopython module) on the driver directory of LittlevGL Binding for Micopython.

I need to allocate a LittlevGL struct (such as Style, Color etc.) How can I do that? How do I allocate/deallocate memory for it?

In most cases you don’t need to worry about memory allocation.

That’s because LittlevGL can take advantage of Micropython’s gc! (Garbage Collection)

When some memory is allocated, Micropython will know when to release it, when it is no longer needed.

LittlevGL structs are implemented as Micropython classes under lvgl module.

You can create them as any other object:

import lvgl as lv s = lv . style_t ()

You can also create a struct which is a copy of another struct:

import lvgl as lv s = lv . style_t ( lv . style_plain )

You can access them much like C structs, using Python attributes:

s . text . color = lv . color_hex ( 0xffffff )

Something is wrong / not working / missing in LittlevGL on Micopython!

Please report bugs and problems on the Micopython Binding Issues section of Micropython Binding for LittlevGL on GitHub.

You can also contact us on LittlevGL Forum for questions, or any other discussions.