smolOS

Specialized Microcontroller-Oriented Lightweight Operating System

smolOS is a tiny (<20KB, <500LOC) and simple 🧪 research ⚙️ operating system ⌨️ written in 🐍 MicroPython for microcontrollers giving user a POSIX-like 📁 environment to play. It came with a set of 🧰 tools and 🪄 demos.

System should run on any MicroPython supproted board but it's tested and developed on Seeed XIAO RP2040,

Official homepage:

Real Life Usecases

listing and removing unwanted files on board
checking free space
easy way to write simple programs and run them from the OS
quicly iterating parameters for a program
editing small bugs in programs
having fun with microcontrollers

smolOS Features

Changes microcontroller into a small working PC
Homemade for fun and learning
Super small and fast
Easy to use, simillar to MS-DOS, POSIX-like environments
List and manipulates files
Text editor included (very basic but capable)
Basic tools and demos included (for NeoPixels, Buzzers, LEDs)
Build on MicroPython with clear code
Stability and simplicity are the main principle behind the code
Free and open :)

Additoinal Programs

ansi - Displays ANSI escape codes
life - Game of Life implementation for smolOS (text)
buzz - Simple synthezator for 1-bit music (requies a buzzer)
bytebeat - Implementation of ByteBeat for a buzzer

All of those are for NeoPixel Grid 5x5 BFF:

duck - Yellow Rubber Duck for programmers
neolife - Game of Life implementation
pixel - Tools for playing with one LED
plasma - Demoscene plasma effect
font - Font bitmaps (for scroller)
scroller - Scrolls text

Installation

Super Quick Quide

put main system file smolos.py onto the board flash (that has latest MicroPython firmware)
(optional) for auto-boot copy main.py too
restart device

Detailed Guides

Connecting

As normal user:

$ picocom /dev/ttyACM0

Press ctrl+a+x to exit.

Running

First start. Or after flashing new main.py file. Restart the microcontroller:

>>> machine.soft_reset()

Autoboot

This should restart the device and "boot" you into the smolOS. Like so:

Manual

If you put smolos.py then you need to boot the system by hand. In MicroPython REPL write:

>>> from smolos import smolOS
>>> os = smolOS()
>>> os.boot()

Using

Write help for manual :)

Intresting forks

smolOS by rbenrax - very nice, goes as close to the POSIX as you can get!
pegasusOS by 047pegasus - adds easy networking

Missing Features / ROADMAP

Some kind of a roadmap (from high to low priority)

os: move/copy files
(external, threaded programs) check exception for used core instead of class variable
good manual

w84death/smolOS