Cardputer uLisp Machine (2024)

Summary

Cardputer uLisp Machine 16th November 2024 This article describes how to create a handheld Lisp computer from an M5Stack Cardputer Kit: The Cardputer uLisp Machine, a handheld Lisp computer with a self-contained keyboard and display. The M5Stack Cardputer is a card-sized portable computer based on the ESP32-S3, available for about £30/$30. It has a 240x135 colour TFT display that gives a scrolling display of up to 16 lines of 40 characters, an integrated 56-key keyboard, and an SD card socket. It's available direct from M5Stack [1], or from The Pi-Hut in the UK [2]. Limitations As discussed on the page ESP32-S2 and ESP-C3 boards, there is an outstanding issue with the ESP32-S3 built-in USB support that makes it hang up if you try to enter a program of more than a few lines from the Serial Monitor on a Mac computer. 20th May 2025: Added the section Problem uploading following my own experiences. Introduction The M5Stack Cardputer is based on an ESP32-S3 dual-core LX7 microprocessor, with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5 (LE), and 8M bytes of flash. The display is a 1.14 inch ST7789V2 SPI Interface IPS LCD with a resolution of 240 x 135. The display uses the Arduino GFX library, and the firmware provides software scrolling. The keyboard has 56 keys, providing a full ASCII character set. However, it's very tiny; small fingers are recommended. The Cardputer is contained in a fairly rugged case, and includes a 120 mAh rechargeable battery on the main board and a 1400 mAh LiPo cell in the backpack. These can be charged from the USB port. Note: Although the StampS3 module is a separate module in the Cardputer I recommend you don't attempt to remove it, as it is attached to the display internally, and you can easily damage the connector. Factory firmware The M5Stack Cardputer is supplied with several built-in applications. Installing uLisp will delete these applications, but you can reinstall them from the M5 Cardputer User Demo repository on GitHub: M5Cardputer-UserDemo. Install...