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description: A developer revived wasp-os, the MicroPython-based OS for the PineTime smartwatch, by porting it to mainline, up-to-date MicroPython instead of its old 2019...
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> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Python on My Wrist

**[Hacker News](https://daily.dev/sources/hn)** · 6 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments

## Summary

A developer revived wasp-os, the MicroPython-based OS for the PineTime smartwatch, by porting it to mainline, up-to-date MicroPython instead of its old 2019 fork. The work required three pull requests merged upstream into MicroPython, targeted for version 1.30. Build tooling now uses uv, Bluetooth flashing uses bleak and dropped from over eight minutes to about three and a half, and free RAM at boot rose from 7.1 KB to 12.4 KB. New additions include a Dutch watch face, an 8-bit style clock, and a 'Guido' app showing a blocky portrait of Guido van Rossum with Python and MicroPython logos. The code is available on a GitHub fork branch.

## Full article

daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: <https://tildeweb.nl/~michiel/python-on-my-wrist.html>

## Questions this post answers

### How much RAM is actually available for apps on the PineTime smartwatch running MicroPython?

About 12 KB of RAM is left for apps after the Bluetooth stack and MicroPython itself take their share, out of 64 KB total RAM. A filesystem change that uses the external flash chip's real 4 KB blocks raised free RAM at boot from 7.1 KB to 12.4 KB on the wasp-os MicroPython watch OS.

_Anyone squeezing software onto constrained hardware can track embedded Python progress like this on daily.dev._

### Is wasp-os still running an old fork of MicroPython or has it moved to a current version?

Wasp-os now runs on mainline, up-to-date MicroPython instead of its old 2019 fork, after three pull requests (frozen native code, a PWM allocation fix, and an ADC sample time option) were merged upstream into MicroPython. These changes are targeted for MicroPython version 1.30, planned for December.

_Developers evaluating MicroPython forks for hardware projects can follow upstream changes like these on daily.dev._

### How can I speed up Bluetooth firmware flashing for a PineTime smartwatch running wasp-os?

Switching the flashing tool from the deprecated gatttool to the bleak Bluetooth library cut PineTime firmware flashing time from over eight minutes to about three and a half minutes. The updated process also reports the actual error when a flash fails instead of hiding it.

_Developers tuning slow Bluetooth or firmware workflows can track fixes like this on daily.dev._

## Community take

How the wider developer community reacted, aggregated from 1 discussion and 15 comments across hackernews (as of 2026-10-30).

**TL;DR:** Commenters mostly appreciate the mainlining effort but spend much of the thread comparing the PineTime to alternative hackable watches (Pebble, Bangle.js, Watchy) and debating hardware limitations like RAM and lack of wifi/SIM.

**Sentiment:** 35% positive · 45% mixed · 20% skeptical

**The case for**

- Several people praised the work of mainlining MicroPython as a nice technical achievement.
- Some see the PineTime as a fun hackable toy worth tinkering with.

**The pushback**

- Multiple commenters feel the PineTime's limited RAM makes it harder to work with than they'd like.
- Some would prefer wifi or cellular/eSIM connectivity, which current hackable watches lack.
- One commenter called out what they saw as a blatant factual error about Apple Watch pricing and said it made them stop reading.

**By community**

- hackernews (mixed): Praise for the mainlining work is mixed with comparisons to rival hackable watches and some hardware/factual nitpicks.

**Hottest debate:** Whether the PineTime is still the best choice compared to alternatives like Pebble, Bangle.js, and Watchy.

**Open questions**

- Is there a hackable smartwatch with built-in SIM/cellular internet access rather than just BLE?
- Could the project be ported to other hackable watches like the Watchy?

**Highlights**

> Nice job mainlining the micropython:) I do like the pinetime, but it really is just a little too limited IMHO. Just a little more RAM would make it so much easier to work with. High hopes for the pro model.
> — [yjftsjthsd-h on hackernews](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50299917)

> I moved from PineTime to https://banglejs.com/ Price about the same but the tools IMHO was easier.
> — [bmsleight\_ on hackernews](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50301553)

> Are there any "hackable" smart watches with (e)SIM available? I would love to have such a toy as standalone device with internet access. All I've seen so far have only BLE.
> — [ktpsns on hackernews](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50301045)

> « An Apple Watch costs around $700 » : such a blatant lie in the first paragraph. Stopped reading.
> — [Ecco on hackernews · 1 comments](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50303201)

> You should port it to the Watchy, too - the only actual e-paper smartwatch I ever wanted to have https://watchy.sqfmi.com/ Have one at home, maybe now it's time to dig it up again :)
> — [meta-level on hackernews](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50303511)

**Source threads**

- [hackernews](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50255573) · 69 points · 15 comments

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---

Tags: [#python](https://daily.dev/tags/python), [#embedded](https://daily.dev/tags/embedded), [#micropython](https://daily.dev/tags/micropython)

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