ENG | NRF52840 Dongle & MicroPython

In the last article, we learned how to upload blinky. But somehow there is MicroPython version for this gadget, which can be downloaded here:

https://micropython.org/download/PCA10059/

And surprise, it’s possible to create ZIP file and upload it to dongle:

Download and flash MicroPython firmware

wget https://micropython.org/resources/firmware/PCA10059-20250415-v1.25.0.hex
nrfutil pkg generate --hw-version 52 --sd-req=0x00 --application-version 1 --application PCA10059-20250415-v1.25.0.hex PCA10059-20250415-v1.25.0.zip
# Don't forget (as always 😜) to put device into boot loader mode
nrfutil dfu usb-serial -pkg PCA10059-20250415-v1.25.0.zip -p /dev/ttyACM1

Try Python shell (REPL)

minicom -D /dev/ttyACM1

Welcome to minicom 2.9

OPTIONS: I18n
Compiled on Jan 17 2025, 00:00:00.
Port /dev/ttyACM1, 13:58:33

Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys

MicroPython v1.25.0 on 2025-04-15; PCA10059 with NRF52840
Type "help()" for more information.

>>> help()
Welcome to MicroPython!

For online docs please visit http://docs.micropython.org/

Quick overview of commands for the board:
  board.LED(n)    -- create an LED object for LED n (n=1,2,3,4)

Control commands:
  CTRL-A        -- on a blank line, enter raw REPL mode
  CTRL-B        -- on a blank line, enter normal REPL mode
  CTRL-D        -- on a blank line, do a soft reset of the board
  CTRL-E        -- on a blank line, enter paste mode

For further help on a specific object, type help(obj)

>>> import board
>>> l1 = board.LED(1)
>>> l1.on()
>>> l2 = board.LED(2)
>>> l2.on()
>>> l3 = board.LED(3)
>>> l3.on()
>>> l2.off()
>>> l4 = board.LED(4)
>>> l4.on()

Exit minicom using Ctrl+A X.

Uploading program

Raspberry Pi Pico has Visual Studio Code extension called MicroPico. I’m not sure if it works, so

pip install mpremote

mpremote connect /dev/ttyACM1 # Connect to shell (just like minicom)
mpremote a1                   # Alias for above
mpremote a0 ls                # List files on a device connected to /dev/ttyACM0
mpremote a1 fs cp test.py :   # Copy file to device root directory (filesystem copy)
mpremote a1 run test.py       # Run that file
mpremote a1 fs rm :test.py    # Remove that file

Reality check

[pavel@marten -=- /home/pavel/Downloads]$ mpremote a1 ls
ls :
pavel@marten -=- /home/pavel/Downloads]$ mpremote a1 fs cp ble_peripheral2.py : && mpremote a1 run ble_peripheral2.py
cp ble_peripheral2.py :
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 2, in <module>
ImportError: no module named 'bluetooth'
[pavel@marten -=- /home/pavel/Downloads]$ mpremote a1
Connected to MicroPython at /dev/ttyACM1
Use Ctrl-] or Ctrl-x to exit this shell
import bluetooth
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
ImportError: no module named 'bluetooth'
>>> %
[pavel@marten -=- /home/pavel/Downloads]$ mpremote a1 ls
ls :
        3145 ble_peripheral2.py
[pavel@marten -=- /home/pavel/Downloads]$ mpremote a1 fs rm :ble_peripheral2.py
rm :ble_peripheral2.py
[pavel@marten -=- /home/pavel/Downloads]$ mpremote a1 ls
ls :

Conclusion

This was surprisingly easy. Except there is sadly no support for Bluetooth (as of 2025-06-08 and MicroPython 1.25), which is critical for this piece of hardware.