[Diao Ye Learns Programming] MicroPython Manual ESP32 Specific Port Library esp32.Partition.find()

MicroPython is a lightweight version of the interpreter designed for running the Python 3 programming language in embedded systems. Compared with regular Python, the MicroPython interpreter is small (only about 100KB) and is compiled into a binary Executable file to run, resulting in higher execution efficiency. It uses a lightweight garbage collection mechanism and removes most of the Python standard library to accommodate resource-constrained microcontrollers.

The main features of MicroPython include:
1. The syntax and functions are compatible with standard Python, making it easy to learn and use. Supports most core syntax of Python.
2. Directly access and control hardware, control GPIO, I2C, SPI, etc. like Arduino.
3. Powerful module system, providing file system, network, graphical interface and other functions.
4. Support cross-compilation to generate efficient native code, which is 10-100 times faster than the interpreter.
5. The amount of code is small and the memory usage is small. It is suitable for running on MCU and development boards with small memory.
6. Open source license, free to use. The Shell interactive environment provides convenience for development and testing.
7. The built-in I/O driver supports a large number of microcontroller platforms, such as ESP8266, ESP32, STM32, micro:bit, control board and PyBoard, etc. There is an active community.

MicroPython application scenarios include:
1. Rapidly build prototypes and user interactions for embedded products.
2. Make some small programmable hardware projects.
3. As an educational tool, it helps beginners learn Python and IoT programming.
4. Build smart device firmware to achieve advanced control and cloud connectivity.
5. Various microcontroller applications such as Internet of Things, embedded intelligence, robots, etc.

Things to note when using MicroPython:
1. Memory and Flash space are limited.
2. The explanation and execution efficiency is not as good as C language.
3. Some library functions are different from the standard version.
4. Optimize the syntax for the platform and correct the differences with standard Python.
5. Use memory resources rationally and avoid frequently allocating large memory blocks.
6. Use native code to improve the performance of speed-critical parts.
7. Use abstraction appropriately to encapsulate underlying hardware operations.

Generally speaking, MicroPython brings Python into the field of microcontrollers, which is an important innovation that not only lowers the programming threshold but also provides good hardware control capabilities. It is very suitable for the development of various types of Internet of Things and intelligent hardware.

MicroPython's esp refers to the MicroPython firmware and related software libraries for ESP8266 and ESP32 chips. ESP8266 and ESP32 are a class of low-cost, low-power Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules widely used in IoT and embedded systems. MicroPython's esp provides an advanced scripting environment for both chips, allowing developers to use the Python language for rapid prototyping and development.

ESP8266: It is a low-cost, low-power Wi-Fi module/chip developed by Espressif Systems. It has a built-in TCP/IP protocol stack, can be used to connect to the Internet, and has strong processing capabilities. MicroPython's esp provides firmware and related software libraries for ESP8266, allowing developers to use MicroPython language to develop ESP8266 applications.

ESP32: It is a highly integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module/chip launched by Espressif Systems. Compared with ESP8266, it has more powerful processing power, more peripheral interfaces and more memory. MicroPython's esp also provides firmware and related software libraries for ESP32, allowing developers to use MicroPython language to develop ESP32 applications.

MicroPython's esp firmware: It is a MicroPython firmware version specifically for ESP8266 and ESP32 chips. These firmwares have been specifically optimized to run on ESP8266 and ESP32, and provide APIs for hardware interaction, network communication, and peripheral control.

Software libraries: MicroPython's esp also provides a series of software libraries related to ESP8266 and ESP32 hardware to simplify and accelerate the development process. These software libraries provide a rich set of functional interfaces, covering commonly used hardware and communication protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPIO (General Purpose Input and Output), I2C, SPI, and PWM, allowing developers to easily access and control hardware resources.

esp32.Partition.find() is a function in MicroPython used to find ESP32 partitions. The following explains its main features, application scenarios and matters needing attention in detail, and provides three practical application cases:

main feature:

The esp32.Partition.find() function is used to find partitions that meet the requirements based on given conditions.
You can search based on the partition's name, type, offset and other attributes.
The function returns a partition object containing details of the found partition.

Application scenarios:

Find a partition with a specific name: You can use the esp32.Partition.find() function to find a specific partition based on its name. This is useful in situations where a specific partition needs to be located, such as a firmware upgrade or read and write operations on a specific data partition.
Find a partition based on its type: If you know the type of a partition, you can use the esp32.Partition.find() function to find a partition based on its type. This is useful for managing and working with specific types of partitions, such as SPIFFS file system partitions or NVS non-volatile storage partitions.
Find partition based on offset: If you know the offset of a partition, you can use the esp32.Partition.find() function to find the partition with a specific offset. This can be used to handle situations where direct access to a partition at a specific offset is required, such as bare-metal programming or low-level memory operations.

Precautions:

Before using the esp32.Partition.find() function, the partition table needs to be configured and loaded. The partition table defines the layout and attributes of each partition in the ESP32 memory.
The configuration and loading of the partition table are usually completed during the ESP32 firmware compilation and burning process. Make sure the correct partition table is loaded to use the esp32.Partition.find() function correctly.

Here are a few practical application examples:

Case 1: Find a partition with a specific name::

import esp32

# 根据分区名称查找分区
partition = esp32.Partition.find("data")

# 打印分区的详细信息
print("Partition Info:")
print("Name:", partition.get_label())
print("Type:", partition.get_type())
print("Size:", partition.size())
print("Offset:", partition.offset())

In this example, we use the esp32.Partition.find() function to find the partition named "data". We then get the partition object found and print out its details such as partition name, type, size, offset, etc.

Case 2: Find partitions based on partition type::

import esp32

# 根据分区类型查找分区
partition = esp32.Partition.find(esp32.Partition.TYPE_DATA)

# 打印分区的详细信息
print("Partition Info:")
print("Name:", partition.get_label())
print("Type:", partition.get_type())
print("Size:", partition.size())
print("Offset:", partition.offset())

In this example, we use the esp32.Partition.find() function to find a data partition based on type esp32.Partition.TYPE_DATA. We then get the partition object found and print out its details.

Case 3: Find partition based on offset::

import esp32

# 根据偏移量查找分区
partition = esp32.Partition.find(0x10000)

# 打印分区的详细信息
print("Partition Info:")
print("Name:", partition.get_label())
print("Type:", partition.get_type())
print("Size:", partition.size())
print("Offset:", partition.offset())

In this example, we use the esp32.Partition.find() function to find a partition based on offset 0x10000. We then get the partition object found and print out its details. These examples demonstrate how to use the esp32.Partition.find() function in MicroPython to find ESP32 partitions and locate and operate the partitions according to specific needs. Please make appropriate settings and parameter adjustments according to your specific application scenarios and needs.

Case 4: Find a specific type of partition:

import esp32

partitions = esp32.Partition.find(type='app')
for partition in partitions:
    print("Partition ID: {}".format(partition.id()))
    print("Partition Label: {}".format(partition.label()))
    print("Partition Type: {}".format(partition.type()))
    print("Partition Subtype: {}".format(partition.subtype()))
    print("Partition Size: {} bytes".format(partition.size()))
    print("")

In this example, we use esp32.Partition.find()the method to find partitions of type 'app'. By passing type='app'as parameter, we get all partition objects of type 'app' and iterate over each partition object. Then, we use the methods of the partition object (such as id(), label(), type()etc.) to get the detailed information of the partition and print it out.

Case 5: Find the partition of a specific label:

import esp32

partitions = esp32.Partition.find(label='data')
for partition in partitions:
    print("Partition ID: {}".format(partition.id()))
    print("Partition Label: {}".format(partition.label()))
    print("Partition Type: {}".format(partition.type()))
    print("Partition Subtype: {}".format(partition.subtype()))
    print("Partition Size: {} bytes".format(partition.size()))
    print("")

In this example, we use esp32.Partition.find()the method to find the partition labeled 'data'. By passing label='data'as parameter, we get all partition objects with label 'data' and iterate through each partition object. Then, we use the methods of the partition object (such as id(), label(), type()etc.) to get the detailed information of the partition and print it out.

Case 6: Find partitions of a specific size:

import esp32

partitions = esp32.Partition.find(size=4096)
for partition in partitions:
    print("Partition ID: {}".format(partition.id()))
    print("Partition Label: {}".format(partition.label()))
    print("Partition Type: {}".format(partition.type()))
    print("Partition Subtype: {}".format(partition.subtype()))
    print("Partition Size: {} bytes".format(partition.size()))
    print("")

In this example, we use esp32.Partition.find()the method to find a partition with a size of 4096 bytes. By passing size=4096as parameter, we get all partition objects with size 4096 bytes and iterate through each partition object. Then, we use the methods of the partition object (such as id(), label(), type()etc.) to get the detailed information of the partition and print it out.

Case 7: Find partitions of specified type:

import esp32

# 查找分区类型为数据的分区
partition_type = esp32.Partition.TYPE_DATA
partition = esp32.Partition.find(type=partition_type)

# 打印分区信息
print("分区类型:", partition.type())
print("分区标签:", partition.label())
print("分区大小:", partition.size())
print("分区偏移量:", partition.offset())

Case 8: Find the partition with the specified label::

import esp32

# 查找标签为'my_partition'的分区
partition_label = 'my_partition'
partition = esp32.Partition.find(label=partition_label)

# 打印分区信息
print("分区类型:", partition.type())
print("分区标签:", partition.label())
print("分区大小:", partition.size())
print("分区偏移量:", partition.offset())

Case 9: Find the first partition that meets the conditions::

import esp32

# 查找第一个数据分区
partition = esp32.Partition.find(type=esp32.Partition.TYPE_DATA)

# 打印分区信息
print("分区类型:", partition.type())
print("分区标签:", partition.label())
print("分区大小:", partition.size())
print("分区偏移量:", partition.offset())

These examples show the esp32.Partition.find() method in action. It can help you find specific partitions based on different criteria to meet your application needs. Please note that the specific conditions and matching methods may vary depending on the configuration and firmware version of the ESP32, please adjust according to your actual situation.