February 1, 2026
Your toaster wants an app store
MicroPythonOS graphical operating system delivers Android-like user experience
Tiny gadgets get app stores—fans cheer, haters yell Android clone
TLDR: MicroPythonOS brings an Android-style app store and touch UI to tiny boards like ESP32, with a FOSDEM talk on the way. Commenters split: fans celebrate a friendly, hackable platform, while critics call it an uninspired Android clone; others debate CircuitPython compatibility and share real-world projects.
MicroPythonOS wants to give tiny gadgets a full smartphone vibe—touch screens, an app store, and wireless updates—built entirely in MicroPython. Think “Android-lite” for the cheap chips inside DIY devices like smart home panels and badges. The crowd came ready: one camp is hyped, another is rolling their eyes. Links flew in from fans pointing to the project site, GitHub, and the upcoming FOSDEM talk by Thomas Farstrike: micropythonos.com, GitHub, and the event page. The strongest reaction? A spicy shrug from a jaded commenter calling it “Android-like” and therefore boring. Meanwhile, uPy diehards celebrated, with one person flexing real-world use: small farm security tools built on MicroPython and MQTT. Practical folks asked the compatibility question of the week: will it work with CircuitPython (Adafruit’s flavor of Python for gadgets)? That kicked off the classic MicroPython vs. CircuitPython nerd skirmish—polite, but tense. Non-technical readers, here’s the gist: it’s like putting an app store and touch UI—built on an open-source screen toolkit—on tiny boards such as the ESP32, and yes, you can test it on Windows or Mac first. Meme energy? “Your toaster now has a launcher.” “Swipe to unlock the barn.” And “Hello World” is literally in the App Store. FOSDEM drama incoming.
Key Points
- •MicroPythonOS is an open-source OS for microcontrollers focused on GUI, inspired by Android/iOS, with an app store and OTA updates.
- •The OS is written in MicroPython; a Thin OS layer manages hardware init, multitasking, and UI, while other features are implemented as apps.
- •It runs on ESP32 and any platform supporting MicroPython, including the Raspberry Pi RP2350, and is cross-platform on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
- •Five apps are pre-installed (Launcher, WiFi, AppStore, OSUpdate, Settings), and the AppStore offers sample apps with source code.
- •MicroPythonOS has been tested on ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-2 and Fri3d Camp 2024 Badge; a FOSDEM 2026 talk by Thomas Farstrike is scheduled.