---
name: Cardputer Buddy
slug: cardputer-buddy
category: DevOps
description: Cardputer Buddy helps iterate on the Cardputer-Adv MicroPython app bundle (Claude Buddy, Snake, Hello) after initial provisioning via m5-onboard. Use it to add apps, push changed .py files without re-flashing, watch device serial logs, or run one-shot REPL commands.
github: "https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-official/tree/main/plugins/cwc-makers/skills/cardputer-buddy"
language: Python
stars: 33473
forks: 3780
install: "npx degit https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-official/tree/main/plugins/cwc-makers/skills/cardputer-buddy ~/.claude/skills/cardputer-buddy"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/cardputer-buddy
source_path: plugins/cwc-makers/skills/cardputer-buddy/SKILL.md
collection_size: 25
category_size: 798
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/anthropics/claude-plugins-official"
added: 2026-08-13T07:37:28.431Z
last_synced: 2026-08-13T07:37:28.431Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/cardputer-buddy"
---

# Cardputer Buddy

Cardputer Buddy helps iterate on the Cardputer-Adv MicroPython app bundle (Claude Buddy, Snake, Hello) after initial provisioning via m5-onboard. Use it to add apps, push changed .py files without re-flashing, watch device serial logs, or run one-shot REPL commands.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/anthropics/claude-plugins-official/tree/main/plugins/cwc-makers/skills/cardputer-buddy ~/.claude/skills/cardputer-buddy
```

## README

# Cardputer Buddy app bundle

The `buddy/` directory in the local `build-with-claude` clone is the MicroPython payload that `m5-onboard` installs onto `/flash/`. Work inside that clone.

## Device layout

```
/flash/
├── main.py              launcher menu (replaces UIFlow's boot flow)
├── buddy_*.py           shared libs (BLE, UI, state, protocol, chars)
├── burst_frames.py      sprite frames
└── apps/
    ├── claude_buddy.py  BLE client → Claude Desktop's Hardware Buddy
    ├── hello_cardputer.py
    └── snake.py
```

`main.py` scans `/flash/apps/` at boot and lists every `.py` as a menu entry. Drop a file into `buddy/device/apps/`, push it, and it appears on next boot.

## Adding an app

Crib from `buddy/device/apps/hello_cardputer.py` — smallest example of keyboard polling, font, and exit conventions. Then push without re-flashing:

```bash
python3 onboard/scripts/install_apps.py --port <PORT> --src buddy
```

`<PORT>` is whatever `detect.py` reported last run (e.g. `/dev/cu.usbmodem1101`, `/dev/ttyACM0`, `COM3`).

## Dev loop tooling (`buddy/scripts/`)

```bash
# Push a subset of files over USB-serial
python3 buddy/scripts/push.py --port <PORT> --files apps/snake.py

# Watch device logs
python3 buddy/scripts/tail_serial.py --port <PORT>

# One-shot REPL exec
python3 buddy/scripts/repl_run.py --port <PORT> --script "import os; print(os.listdir('/flash'))"
```