Cardputer Buddy App Developer
Add, deploy, and debug MicroPython apps on a provisioned Cardputer-Adv.
The skill clearly limits its stated scope to an already-provisioned Cardputer and describes pushing files, reading serial logs, and running REPL commands on the specified device. No credential theft, covert exfiltration, or destructive default is shown. Points are deducted because it lacks per-operation confirmation, explicit permission boundaries, data-flow disclosure, sensitive-data handling, rollback guidance, and source verification; REPL and file-push actions can have external device side effects. The repository's Apache-2.0 license and Anthropic attribution support authorization and provenance only, not safety controls.
The document provides a device layout, three main scripts, and port examples, making the happy path reasonably clear. Points are deducted because there are no tests, dependency checks, version constraints, or diagnostic and recovery instructions for disconnected devices, invalid ports, missing files, script failures, REPL errors, or interrupted transfers. Static review cannot establish executability, so the score remains at or below 10.
The intended device, prerequisites, common scenarios, and trigger phrases are fairly explicit, and port examples cover macOS, Linux, and Windows. Points are deducted because non-fit cases, device/firmware constraints, Python dependencies, permission requirements, and Chinese-language interaction support are unspecified. The skill depends on a local build-with-claude clone, m5-onboard, and USB serial access, while trigger boundaries remain incomplete.
The SKILL.md uses a concise structure covering prerequisites, device layout, app addition, and the development loop, with concrete commands and entry files. Repository-level evidence supplies an Apache-2.0 license, maintenance organization, and pinned revision context. Points are deducted because the skill lacks its own installation/dependency notes, parameter definitions, troubleshooting, known limitations, changelog, and explicit maintenance/update path; repository README material does not fully replace skill-specific documentation.
The skill directly addresses adding apps, incremental pushes, serial monitoring, and one-shot REPL operations. The commands are potentially directly usable, and incremental pushing has a clear benefit over reflashing. Points are deducted because no representative outputs, success criteria, validation steps, or alternative comparison are provided, so static evidence cannot confirm completion in the target environment; under static calibration the score cannot exceed 7.
Auditable evidence consists mainly of the revision-pinned skill text, the repository license, and limited CI configuration. The skill itself contains no test suite, execution logs, successful outputs, or third-party reproduction evidence. Points are deducted because the key commands and outcomes depend on omitted files and a real device, leaving only limited static reviewability; static calibration caps this at 5.
- Before running push.py, install_apps.py, or repl_run.py, confirm the target port and device to avoid writing to or executing commands on the wrong device.
- Add Python and firmware dependencies, failure-output guidance, interrupted-transfer handling, backup and rollback steps, and disclosure of what device data REPL commands may read or modify.
- The documentation does not establish reachability or usability for mainland-China networks or Chinese-language workflows; the USB-local loop may reduce network dependence, but its prerequisites are unspecified.
What it does & when to use it
Cardputer Buddy is for Cardputer-Adv devices that have already been provisioned with m5-onboard. It supports iterative work on the MicroPython bundle containing Claude Buddy, Snake, and Hello, including adding apps, pushing changed files, watching serial logs, and running one-shot REPL commands. At boot, the device scans /flash/apps/ and presents each Python file as a menu entry. It suits developers iterating on device-side code, but it does not cover first-time device provisioning.
Works in the local build-with-claude clone's buddy/ directory; uses hello_cardputer.py as a reference for new apps; runs install_apps.py to deploy the app bundle; runs push.py to send selected files over USB serial; runs tail_serial.py to watch device logs; and runs repl_run.py for one-shot REPL scripts such as listing /flash/.
- A developer has completed m5-onboard provisioning and wants to add a new MicroPython app to Cardputer-Adv.
- A developer changed apps/snake.py and wants to deploy only that file without reflashing.
- A developer is debugging a device app and needs to follow its serial output.
- A developer needs to run a one-time REPL command, such as inspecting files under /flash/.
- A developer wants to continue Cardputer Buddy work after /maker-setup.
Pros & cons
- Covers four concrete workflows: adding an app, pushing one file, tailing serial logs, and running a one-shot REPL command.
- Supports incremental iteration without reflashing the device.
- The boot launcher scans /flash/apps/, so a pushed Python file becomes a menu entry.
- Requires prior m5-onboard provisioning and does not document the initial setup flow.
- Requires a Cardputer-Adv, MicroPython, USB-serial access, and a local command-line environment.
- The supplied material includes no test suite, compatibility matrix, or troubleshooting guide.
- Only macOS, Linux, and Windows port examples are shown; other platforms are not evidenced.
How to install
This skill is part of the plugin collection in anthropics/claude-plugins-official. The README says plugins can be installed in Claude Code with /plugin install {plugin-name}@claude-plugins-official, but the supplied material does not identify the specific plugin-name for this skill or provide a standalone installation command. The device must also be provisioned with m5-onboard before use.
How to use
In a provisioned project, use trigger phrases such as “add an app,” “push to the cardputer,” “tail the device,” or “run on the device.” For a new app, use buddy/device/apps/hello_cardputer.py as a reference, then run python3 onboard/scripts/install_apps.py --port <PORT> --src buddy. To push one file, run python3 buddy/scripts/push.py --port <PORT> --files apps/snake.py; to watch logs, run python3 buddy/scripts/tail_serial.py --port <PORT>; and to run a one-shot REPL command, run python3 buddy/scripts/repl_run.py --port <PORT> --script "import os; print(os.listdir('/flash'))". Replace <PORT> with the port most recently reported by detect.py.