AI and Zynthian ... coding

Software
1

Well I discovered this website

It’s an online AI tool to help you to code.

Let’s say “what’s the hell in here”:

Response:

(source code is limited in characters numbers: -1000 or 2000 for registered users- so it won’t work on big files)

I can’t resist to share the

Conclusion

The zynthian_gui_selector_info class is a powerful component of the Zynthian project, providing users with an intuitive interface to select options while also displaying relevant information and icons. By leveraging Tkinter for the GUI and Pillow for image handling, this code effectively enhances the user experience. Whether you’re a developer looking to understand GUI programming in Python or a Zynthian user wanting to customize your interface, this code serves as a great example of how to create interactive applications. If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask!

Note that it can also generate code. I had a try with PHP (the only programming language I’m used too) and it’s really convicting.

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2

I asked Grok Ai to make me a code example of an Interrupt based script for rpi Pi5.
I want an Bourns PEC11R to work as navigational tool. Clock go left(arrow left) Anticlock go right(arrow right) Short press = left mouse click(Enter) Long press = go back(go up one folder).
Grok knows I have a mcp23017 already connected and should use GPa0,1,2 to connect the encoder. This what it came out with… it didn’t work…
Also I tried this on Pi5 Os, and not Zynthian OS.

It also gives you indications for to install all needed libraries, but it completely screws up when he has to filter out working instructions viable for Pi5 and the rp1 monitor chip…
to get to this code I had to “feed” Grok with multiple datasheets, github pages with working examples, and a lot of other errors I got from Pi5 Os feedback and new corrected codes…
it got into a loop where it couldn’t determine the cause of Pull=True errors and Digitalio not working. After a while I abandoned the project and the Ai.
It is really time-consuming try to teach the Ai for most basic errors every time, and it has zero memory. Every time mixes up Pi4 infos with Pi5 request code…

It also assumed some info I don’t know how… my 23017 address is 0x21 and not 0x20.
it failed to ask me to check wether this info was right or not.
Completely skipping all tests basic procedures.

Probably working with a simpler 2040 chipset such as that of a Pi Pico can get some working results, nut I seriously doubt it can be of any use on Zynthian, which is even harder then Pi5 Os himself…

import time
import board
import busio
from adafruit_mcp230xx.mcp23017 import MCP23017
import lgpio
from evdev import UInput, ecodes as e

Initialize virtual input device (mouse and keyboard)

ui = UInput(
{
e.EV_KEY: [e.BTN_LEFT, e.KEY_PAGEUP],
e.EV_REL: [e.REL_WHEEL],
},
name=“rotary-input”,
vendor=0x1234,
product=0x5678
)

Initialize I2C bus

i2c = busio.I2C(board.SCL, board.SDA)

Initialize MCP23017 at address 0x20

mcp = MCP23017(i2c, address=0x20)

Configure pins: GPA0 (CLK), GPA1 (DT), GPA2 (SW) as inputs with pull-ups

clk_pin = mcp.get_pin(0) # GPA0
dt_pin = mcp.get_pin(1) # GPA1
sw_pin = mcp.get_pin(2) # GPA2
clk_pin.switch_to_input(pull=True)
dt_pin.switch_to_input(pull=True)
sw_pin.switch_to_input(pull=True)

Configure MCP23017 interrupts for GPA0, GPA1, GPA2

mcp.interrupt_enable = 0x07 # Enable interrupts on GPA0–GPA2 (0b00000111)
mcp.interrupt_configuration = 0x00 # Interrupt on change
mcp.default_value = 0x00 # Compare against previous value
mcp.clear_ints() # Clear pending interrupts

Set up lgpio for interrupt detection

INTA_PIN = 17 # GPIO 17 (pin 11) connected to MCP23017 INTA
chip = lgpio.gpiochip_open(0) # Open GPIO chip
lgpio.gpio_claim_input(chip, INTA_PIN, lgpio.SET_PULL_UP) # Input with pull-up

Encoder state variables

last_clk = clk_pin.value

Switch state variables

last_sw_state = sw_pin.value
press_start_time = 0
is_pressed = False
def handle_interrupt(chip, gpio, level, timestamp):
global last_clk, last_sw_state, press_start_time, is_pressed

Read interrupt flags

int_flag = mcp.int_flag
mcp.clear_ints() # Clear interrupts

Read current pin states

current_clk = clk_pin.value
dt_state = dt_pin.value
sw_state = sw_pin.value

Handle encoder (CLK or DT interrupt)

if int_flag & 0x03: # GPA0 or GPA1 changed
if current_clk != last_clk:
if dt_state != current_clk:

Clockwise: scroll up

ui.write(e.EV_REL, e.REL_WHEEL, 1)
else:

Counterclockwise: scroll down

ui.write(e.EV_REL, e.REL_WHEEL,
ui.syn() # Sync events
last_clk = current_clk
-1)

Handle switch (SW interrupt)

if int_flag & 0x04: # GPA2 changed
if not sw_state and last_sw_state: # High to low (press)
press_start_time = time.time()
is_pressed = True
elif sw_state and not last_sw_state: # Low to high (release)
if is_pressed:
press_duration = time.time() - press_start_time
if press_duration < 0.5:

Short press: left click

ui.write(e.EV_KEY, e.BTN_LEFT, 1) # Press
ui.write(e.EV_KEY, e.BTN_LEFT, 0) # Release
else:

Long press: Page Up

ui.write(e.EV_KEY, e.KEY_PAGEUP, 1) # Press
ui.write(e.EV_KEY, e.KEY_PAGEUP, 0) # Release
ui.syn() # Sync events
is_pressed = False
last_sw_state = sw_state

Register interrupt callback (falling edge)

lgpio.callback(chip, INTA_PIN, lgpio.FALLING_EDGE, handle_interrupt)
try:
while True:
time.sleep(1) # Idle loop
except KeyboardInterrupt:
pass
finally:
ui.close()

Close virtual input device

lgpio.gpiochip_close(chip) # Close GPIO chip
mcp.deinit()

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