This post is a wishlist for CircuitPython in 2025. Each year Adafruit asks the community to contribute their thoughts or requests for the open source microcontroller language as outlined on the Adafruit blog.
In 2025 I would like a library for working with vectors, similar to that of p5.js Vector.
Early this year I spent some time re-visiting the MatrixPortal M4, specifically trying to reproduce some of the examples found in the excellent book Nature of Code by Daniel Shiffman on two 64×32 RGB LED panels.
This latest book uses JavaScript, and the p5.js library to simulate natural systems. A rewrite of the original book using Processing. I had some success getting the first few examples to work with DisplayIO and CircuitPython.
Particles created with a random vector and magnitude, affected by “gravity”.
I was able to do some of the basic matrix addition / subtraction / multiplication etc. with custom functions but where I started to run in to some difficulty was with some of p5.Vector handy methods: limit() – Limits a vector’s magnitude to a maximum value. heading() – Calculates the angle a 2D vector makes with the positive x-axis. rotate() – Rotates a 2D vector by an angle without changing its magnitude.
Looking back this year at some of my CircuitPython projects, I definitely levelled up on displayio and enjoyed the Live streams of FoamyGuy, JP’s workshop, and of course Adafruit’s Show & Tell. I appreciate the contributions from all the Adafruit developers as well as the community.
My commitment this year will be to “Use what you have” and hopefully contribute if I can.
Recently Microsoft released the open 3D generation software Trellis. I decided to try a few tests as reviews had been quite favourable with results creating 3D models with “AI”.
The website describes the technology as unified Structured LATent (SLAT) representation and there is a demo page to try it out. https://trellis3d.github.io/
I chose an image-to-3D example, meaning I upload an image and get back a textured 3D model. Having been a long-time fan of photogrammetry, or creating geometry from two dimentional images, and also a 3D genralist that regularly creates 3D models using Blender, I was eager to see how it would perform.
Using the prompt example seen on VFX & Chill live stream where two artists used Z-Brush to sculpt food in a 20 minute timed challenge, I set out to create a seasonal gingerbread model.
First, Adobe’s Firefly image generation created this image using the prompt: “elaborate gingerbread house with icing“. Impressive start.
Next, dragging the image to the demo site and clicking “Generate” with default settings impressively separated the image from the background and in about 30 seconds showed what it thought the full model would look like. The entire unseen back of the house is amazingly “imagined”.
What’s produced is a GLB file that contains mesh and texture that can be dragged into your 3D program and edited or used as any other asset. In about 4 minutes I have any model loaded ready to use.
As for the model quality, it created a 52K face mesh count which could be considered medium quality. There are lots of artifacts and non-manifold holes but for any background shot it might be just enough to pass the test. Some retopology is almost certainly required and honestly given the choice to “fix” this model or start from scratch I might be tempted to just build it again.
Great from far, far from great.
I don’t give it long, maybe two years, before anyone can drop any fully 3D asset they can think of into any scene realtime.
As with any AI/ML generative model please understand the environmental and ethical implications.
Often inviting. This terrain just off the Whistler peak road can be an enticing sun-swept run of untouched powder. Understanding that you need to come back up the same way you go down, can make you question if it’s really worth it. Know before you go.
Cake Hole by Andrew Smith Acrylic on canvas Framed by artist 12 x 16 in $3600
In the autumn of 1892, two miners, Earl and Edward, found themselves high in the Pacific Northwest mountains, searching for a legend as old as the hills: the lost crate of gold. The tale of “Shining Creek Gold” was whispered in every saloon from Seattle to San Francisco, a cache of gold bars rumored to be hidden beneath an ancient cedar tree.
Earl, rugged and quick-tempered, squinted at the worn, hand-drawn map in his hand. Edward, the quieter of the two, adjusted his broad-brimmed hat and gazed over the valley, where fiery autumn leaves painted the landscape.
“We’re close, Ed,” Earl grunted, his voice hoarse from the chilly mountain air. “This map’s leading us right up that ridge.”
As they rode up the narrow trail, their horses’ hooves echoed against the mountain rocks, amplifying the silence around them. The forest grew denser, and the shadows longer, as if the land itself was hiding secrets.
Just before dusk, they spotted it—a massive cedar tree towering over the ridge, its trunk thick as any they’d ever seen. At its roots lay an ancient crate, cracked and splintered, the wood moss-covered and decaying. Inside, stacked neatly, were gleaming bars of gold, catching the last rays of sunlight.
Earl’s eyes lit up, but he kept his voice low. “Look at that, Ed. All the riches we dreamed of.” He grinned and took a step toward the crate.
But Edward didn’t move. His eyes were fixed on something beside the crate—a weathered shovel and, half-buried under fallen leaves, a bleached skull. He crouched down, examining it. The skull’s fractured surface suggested a violent end.
“Looks like someone beat us to it… and paid the price,” Edward murmured.
Earl chuckled, but his laughter had an edge. “Maybe they didn’t know when to quit.”
Edward glanced up, noting Earl’s hand resting just a little too close to his pistol. The air grew tense, thick with unspoken words and simmering greed.
As night fell, the two men set up camp by the tree. They barely spoke, each stealing glances at the crate, the gold gleaming in the firelight. The shadow of the cedar stretched over them, as if watching, waiting.
The next morning, Edward awoke to find Earl standing over him, a grim smile on his face.
“Sorry, Ed,” Earl said, drawing his pistol. “Splitting this gold ain’t in my plans.”
But just as he aimed, a gust of wind rustled the leaves, and a low whisper seemed to carry through the forest. Earl hesitated, looking around as if he’d heard his name. Edward took the moment to roll to the side, grabbing the shovel by the crate.
A shot rang out, but Edward managed to swing the shovel, striking Earl’s arm and sending the gun flying. They grappled by the cedar, the promise of gold twisting their friendship into a deadly game. Suddenly, Earl slipped on loose dirt, tumbling backward, his head colliding with a jagged rock.
Edward stood over him, breathing heavily. Earl lay still, his eyes staring blankly into the sky. Edward let out a shaky breath, realizing what he’d done.
But then he heard it—a faint, rattling breath, coming from Earl’s lips. Earl’s eyes flickered, his hand reaching out, fingers curling around an invisible shovel, as if in some strange delirium.
In his final moments, Earl’s gaze drifted to the skull near the crate, and he muttered, almost as if speaking to it. “Guess I should’ve known… they all come back for their gold.”
Edward shivered, feeling the weight of his actions. He knew he couldn’t take the gold now. It was cursed, a trap that had already claimed more than one life.
As dawn broke, Edward left the mountain, abandoning the crate under the old cedar, untouched. To this day, travelers say they can still hear faint voices near Shining Creek, whispering warnings to those who dare to seek the legendary gold.
And the crate remains, a silent reminder of greed’s deadly grip, hidden beneath the ancient cedar, waiting for the next soul brave—or foolish—enough to try.
Happy Halloween!
Do you know what’s really scary?
This short story was written by a LLM (ChatGPT) Prompt: “Write a clever mystery short story about two miners in the 1890’s. Earl and Edward search for a legendary crate of gold in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest Mountains. A “Who dunnit” style story with a surprise ending.” with images provided by Firefly.
Illustrated by a diffusion model (Firefly) Prompt mostly: “[BLANK] in pacific northwest mountains in fall watercolor scene”
An early canvas of Fissile mountain reflected in Russet Lake. This time early summer when there was still a bit of ice on the lake and the mountain tops are covered with snow.
The painting is framed in western red cedar.
Russet Lake Early Summer by Andrew Smith Acrylic on canvas 10 x 8 in Framed by artist $1900
