MicroPython vs. C in embedded systems : a practical evaluation on case study

This thesis evaluated the suitability of the MicroPython programming language for microcontroller programming in higher education, in comparison with the commonly used C language. The work involved porting a C-language software development kit for a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller HAT used in teaching at the University of Oulu to MicroPython. The suitability of MicroPython for educational use was assessed by comparing the experiences of the developers involved in the SDK porting work when working with both C and MicroPython. In addition, the number of lines of code and the size in microcontroller flash memory of functionally equivalent C and MicroPython implementations were compared using the original and the ported SDKs. Based on the results of this work, MicroPython is in many situations a viable alternative to C for educational purposes, and its advantages include readability, ease of experimenting with functionality, and simplicity of setting up and using the development environment. Potential limitations arise from weaker low-level control and performance compared to C, as well as larger program sizes in flash memory.