AREA512
OPERATING SYSTEM
FOR CARDPUTER
RUBY / PYTHON
04 / AREA512

PROGRAMMING

Ruby and MicroPython. On-device editing, compilation, and execution.

The AREA512 editor showing Ruby source with a completion list
On-device editor / Ruby source

EDITOR & REPL

The editor supports normal, insert, visual, operator, and command modes, plus search.

Ruby and Python files have syntax highlighting, automatic indentation, code completion, diagnostics, and hover information.

In the terminal, irb starts the Ruby REPL and python-repl starts the MicroPython REPL.

Editor controls ↗
01 / EDIT · COMPILE · RUN

ON-DEVICE WORKFLOW

  1. Create a file

    Press N in the file manager and enter a filename ending in .rb or .py.

  2. Edit and save

    Press e to open the editor. Press i to insert text, then Esc and :wq to save and close.

  3. Compile and run

    Press c to compile the selected source. Opening a source file with Enter compiles and runs it.

Source Bytecode Execution
Ruby .rb .mrb Ruby bytecode runs in a sandbox task.
Python .py .mpy Python bytecode runs with MicroPython.
02 / BUILT-IN API

AVAILABLE FEATURES

Feature Ruby MicroPython
Display / Sprite / Dot Yes Yes
Widget / WidgetList / WidgetTextView Yes Yes
GPIO Yes Yes
ADC — Yes
I2C Yes —
SD / File / Dir / IO / RNG Yes Yes
Sandbox Yes —
Console — Yes

These APIs are built in. Ruby does not require require and MicroPython does not require import to access them.

Ruby API reference ↗MicroPython API reference ↗
03 / APPLICATION FILES

DIRECTORY STRUCTURE

myapp/
├── main.manifest   # optional bytecode load order
├── main.mrb        # Ruby entry point
├── main.mpy        # Python entry point
├── *.rb / *.mrb    # Ruby sources and bytecode
├── *.py / *.mpy    # Python sources and bytecode
└── image.h        # optional splash image

Select the application directory and press uppercase R. AREA512 checks main.manifest, then main.mrb, then main.mpy. Compile source files before launching a directory application.

A manifest lists bytecode files one per line, with dependencies first and the entry point last. Ruby and Python manifests load their respective bytecode files in order.

Ruby manifest files are loaded into a single sandbox. Without a manifest or either entry point, the device reports No main.manifest, main.mrb or main.mpy in <directory>.

For interface components, see the Widget API reference and the preinstalled /home/tool/gallery example.