This is a replay of The Bootloader's livestream on the Adafruit YouTube channel on CircuitPython Day. Tod and Paul take a look back at the last year and share some of their favorite CircuitPython projects and features. This episode has been slightly edited and we do use screensharing, so you may want to check out the video on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pRVx2xGexU].

Show Notes

00:00 Intro

01:04 CircuitPython in the last year

1:32 CircuitPython 10 Audio Effects

 * Ting alternate CircuitPython voice effects firmware [https://learn.adafruit.com/hacking-the-teenage-engineering-ep-2350-ting]


4:32 CircuitPython 10.1 and 10.2 updates

4:45 MicroPython and upstream

 * MicroPython home page [https://micropython.org]


5:10 The Adafruit Fruit Jam

 * Adafruit Fruit Jam Learn Guide [https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-fruit-jam]
 * Fruit Jam OS [https://learn.adafruit.com/fruit-jam-os/]


5:34 Sean Carolan’s Pac-Man Clone

 * Sean on The CircuitPython Show [https://circuitpythonshow.com/episodes/Season%207/ep054/]


6:31 Dan Cogliano’s Z Machine and Zork [https://danthegeek.com/cpz-machine/]

8:27 Dan Cogliano’s Fruit Jam Screensavers [https://adafruit-playground.com/u/DanCogliano/pages/screensaver-bundle-for-fruit-jam-os]

 * Moon Miner [https://danthegeek.com/2025/12/28/moon-miner-learn-guide/]


9:22 Liz Clark’s Fruit Jam Video Music Player [https://learn.adafruit.com/fruit-jam-video-music]

 * Atari Video Music original hardware [https://atarivideomusic.net/]


11:49 picogame [https://picogame.makerclass.cz] by Vladimir Smitka

 * Write-up of picogame on chiptron.eu [https://chiptron.eu/picogame-a-game-engine-for-circuitpython/]


16:31 Lorraine’s Autonomous LEGO Train with CircuitPython and LIDAR [https://community.element14.com/challenges-projects/element14-presents/project-videos/w/documents/71936/building-an-autonomous-lego-train-with-circuitpython-and-lidar----episode-672?CMP=SOM-YOUTUBE-PRG-E14PRESENTS-EP672-COMM]

 * Amazon LIDAR example [https://amzn.to/4xXjFEj] or dfrobot [https://www.dfrobot.com/product-2803.html]
 * Python code for Raspberry Pi [https://www.gibbard.me/lidar/]


19:50 RV Circuit Studio [https://rvembedded.com/products/circuit-studio/] by Armstrong Subero

24:18 Liz Clark’s

CircuitPython Day 2026

Scott Shawcroft, CircuitPython's project lead, returns to the show. Paul and Scott discuss CircuitPython's move to Zephyr, a look back at ten years of CircuitPython, what the future might hold, and more.

Follow the show on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/circuitpythonshow.com] or follow Paul on Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/paulcutler.org] or Mastodon [https://hachyderm.io/deck/@prcutler)].

Support the show! Join the Supporter tier and get early access to episodes, exclusive content, and more. Visit CircuitPythonshow.com/Support [https://circuitpythonshow.com/support] to learn more.

Show Notes

00:00 Intro

00:39 CircuitPython and Zephyr

2:45 How is the progress moving CircuitPython to Zephyr?

3:30 How are LLMs helping?

7:08 Ten Years of CircuitPython

9:54 The Fruit Jam and the future of CircuitPython

14:03 RP2350 Gameboy Cartridge

18:13 Running a CircuitPython game on the cart

19:48 Wrap-up

Scott Shawcroft Part 2

Tod Kurt returns to the show and shares how to build custom CircuitPython firmware using GitHub Actions. Tod also shares SerialPlotster and his latest hardware creation.

Show Notes

00:57 Using GitHub Actions to build CircuitPython

3:51 CircuitPython Custom on GitHub [https://github.com/todbot/CircuitPython_Custom] repository

 * CircuitPython Custom configuration web page [https://todbot.github.io/CircuitPython_Custom/]


9:24 The CLI display

10:37 Adding custom modules

11:42 How to run CircuitPython Custom

14:34 SerialPlotster [https://github.com/todbot/SerialPlotster]

 * Download [https://github.com/todbot/SerialPlotster/releases/tag/0.3]


19:32 New hardware?

20:40 Creating synth engines

21:32 Wrap-up

 * todbot.com [https://todbot.com]
 * The Bootloader [https://thebootloader.net]


Tod Kurt Part 3

Show Notes

1:22 Michael’s start with electronics

2:38 ScrollKit

 * Scrollkit.dev [https://scrollkit.dev]


5:33 How ScrollKit works

7:08 Scrollkit’s hardware

8:09 How over-the-air-updates work

8:49 Graphics in ScrollKit

10:42 Challenges to overcome

15:09 The ScrollKit simulator

16:35 Theme Park Waits

17:33 What’s next for ScrollKit?

18:18 Which board?

18:51 Wrap-up

 * Michael’s homepage [https://czei.org]


Michael Czeiszperger

Michael “T-Rex” Kadie joins the show and discusses the T-Rex Talk family of assistive devices built with CircuitPython.

1:25 Michael’s start with computers

1:56 How Michael started building communication devices in the 90s

4:46 The T-Rex Talk 3.0

8:55 Using AI to help

9:58 Using the Fruit Jam as an assistive device

13:27 The training game

13:56 The Sip-N-Puff [https://www.tssfaa.com/sip-n-puff.html]

16:38 The CircuitPython reading light

17:07 Jay Leno’s antique electric car - with CircuitPython

21:21 Wrap-up

 * Michael’s website [https://www.tssfaa.com]
 * GitHub repository [https://github.com/mkadie/NeedsBoard]
 * YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@but_Idigress]


Enjoying the show? You can now sponsor the show, learn more at www.circuitpythonshow.com [https://www.circuitpythonshow.com/pages/sponsors]. Thank you for your support!

Michael "T-Rex" Kadie

Michael “T-Rex” Kadie joins the show and discusses the T-Rex Talk family of assistive devices built with CircuitPython.

1:25 Michael’s start with computers

1:56 How Michael started building communication devices in the 90s

4:46 The T-Rex Talk 3.0

8:55 Using AI to help

9:58 Using the Fruit Jam as an assistive device

13:27 The training game

13:56 The Sip-N-Puff [https://www.tssfaa.com/sip-n-puff.html]

16:38 The CircuitPython reading light

17:07 Jay Leno’s antique electric car - with CircuitPython

21:21 Wrap-up

 * Michael’s website [https://www.tssfaa.com]
 * GitHub repository [https://github.com/mkadie/NeedsBoard]
 * YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@but_Idigress]

Enjoying the show? You can now sponsor the show, learn more at www.circuitpythonshow.com [https://www.circuitpythonshow.com/pages/sponsors]. Thank you for your support!

Tom Fox joins the show and shares his creation, the SPOKE board.

Show Notes

00:00 Intro

00:36 Tom’s start with computers and electornics

1:25 Discovering CircuitPython

2:31 The SPOKE board

 * SPOKE [https://www.spokeboard.com]


4:11 Whom is the SPOKE for?

5:38 The SPOKE Mini

7:25 What students have made with the SPOKE

9:15 What were the challenges bringing the SPOKE to life?

10:33 The SPOKE online editor

13:53 What’s next for SPOKE?

14:59 Where to learn more?

 * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Spokeboard]
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/spokeboard]
 * Tom’s home page [https://vulpeslabs.org]


15:26 How much does the SPOKE cost?

15:38 Which board?

16:22 Wrap-up

Enjoying the show? You can now sponsor the show, learn more at www.circuitpythonshow.com [https://www.circuitpythonshow.com/pages/sponsors]. Thank you for your support!

Tom Fox

Tom Fox joins the show and shares his creation, the SPOKE board.

Show Notes

00:00 Intro

00:36 Tom’s start with computers and electornics

1:25 Discovering CircuitPython

2:31 The SPOKE board

 * SPOKE [https://www.spokeboard.com]

4:11 Whom is the SPOKE for?

5:38 The SPOKE Mini

7:25 What students have made with the SPOKE

9:15 What were the challenges bringing the SPOKE to life?

10:33 The SPOKE online editor

13:53 What’s next for SPOKE?

14:59 Where to learn more?

 * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@Spokeboard]
 * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/spokeboard]
 * Tom’s home page [https://vulpeslabs.org]

15:26 How much does the SPOKE cost?

15:38 Which board?

16:22 Wrap-up

Enjoying the show? You can now sponsor the show, learn more at www.circuitpythonshow.com [https://www.circuitpythonshow.com/pages/sponsors]. Thank you for your support!

Paul is joined by three former guests: Tim Cocks, Dan Cogliano, and Cooper Dalrymple who share their experience developing apps, games, and screensavers for the Adafruit Fruit Jam and Fruit Jam OS.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome

00:38 FruitJamOS

 * Cooper’s best practices [https://relic-se.github.io/Fruit_Jam_Pong/]
 * Fruitris [https://adafruit-playground.com/u/relic_se/pages/fruit-jam-fruitris-tetris]


3:44 Cooper’s excitement for the Fruit Jam

7:24 Dan’s interest in the Fruit Jam

 * Z Machine [https://learn.adafruit.com/zork-and-the-z-machine]
 * Moon Miner [https://danthegeek.com/moon-miner/]


8:52 Dan’s screensavers for the Fruit Jam

 * Screensaver bundle [https://danthegeek.com/2026/02/23/screensaver-bundle-for-the-fruit-jam-os-released/]


10:48 Coding for othe Fruit Jam

12:20 The Fruit Jam app library

 * Fruit Jam Library [https://github.com/relic-se/Fruit_Jam_Library]


18:02 GPIO and expansion

19:44 Display support

 * Using DVI Video Learn Guide [https://learn.adafruit.com/using-dvi-video-in-circuitpython]


24:07 Challenges to look out for when developing for the Fruit Jam

 * Mice Learn Guide [https://learn.adafruit.com/using-a-mouse-with-usb-host]
 * Keyboard Learn Guide [https://learn.adafruit.com/using-a-keyboard-with-usb-host]
 * Cooper’s Mystify screensaver [https://github.com/relic-se/Fruit_Jam_Screensaver_Mystify]


31:01 What advice for someone creating a game or app for the Fruit Jam?

 * Cooper’s Fruit Jam / Pong tutorial [https://relic-se.github.io/Fruit_Jam_Pong/]


36:48 Wrap-up

Enjoying the show? You can now sponsor the show, learn more at www.circuitpythonshow.com [https://www.circuitpythonshow.com/pages/sponsors]. Thank you for your support!

Developing for the Fruit Jam

Paul is joined by three former guests: Tim Cocks, Dan Cogliano, and Cooper Dalrymple who share their experience developing apps, games, and screensavers for the Adafruit Fruit Jam and Fruit Jam OS.

Show Notes

00:00 Welcome

00:38 FruitJamOS

 * Cooper’s best practices [https://relic-se.github.io/Fruit_Jam_Pong/]
 * Fruitris [https://adafruit-playground.com/u/relic_se/pages/fruit-jam-fruitris-tetris]

3:44 Cooper’s excitement for the Fruit Jam

7:24 Dan’s interest in the Fruit Jam

 * Z Machine [https://learn.adafruit.com/zork-and-the-z-machine]
 * Moon Miner [https://danthegeek.com/moon-miner/]

8:52 Dan’s screensavers for the Fruit Jam

 * Screensaver bundle [https://danthegeek.com/2026/02/23/screensaver-bundle-for-the-fruit-jam-os-released/]

10:48 Coding for othe Fruit Jam

12:20 The Fruit Jam app library

 * Fruit Jam Library [https://github.com/relic-se/Fruit_Jam_Library]

18:02 GPIO and expansion

19:44 Display support

 * Using DVI Video Learn Guide [https://learn.adafruit.com/using-dvi-video-in-circuitpython]

24:07 Challenges to look out for when developing for the Fruit Jam

 * Mice Learn Guide [https://learn.adafruit.com/using-a-mouse-with-usb-host]
 * Keyboard Learn Guide [https://learn.adafruit.com/using-a-keyboard-with-usb-host]
 * Cooper’s Mystify screensaver [https://github.com/relic-se/Fruit_Jam_Screensaver_Mystify]

31:01 What advice for someone creating a game or app for the Fruit Jam?

 * Cooper’s Fruit Jam / Pong tutorial [https://relic-se.github.io/Fruit_Jam_Pong/]

36:48 Wrap-up

Enjoying the show? You can now sponsor the show, learn more at www.circuitpythonshow.com [https://www.circuitpythonshow.com/pages/sponsors]. Thank you for your support!

An independent podcast with the people in and around CircuitPython. Created and hosted by Paul Cutler.