littlefs-python

0.17.1 · active · verified Sun Apr 12

littlefs-python is a Python wrapper for the littlefs filesystem, a high-integrity embedded filesystem designed for microcontrollers. It provides both a high-level Pythonic interface and a low-level C-style API, enabling the creation, inspection, and modification of littlefs binary images. Currently at version 0.17.1, the library is actively maintained with a regular release cadence.

Warnings

breaking Support for Python 3.7 was dropped starting with version 0.15.0. Users on Python 3.7 will need to upgrade their Python interpreter or pin to an older `littlefs-python` version.
Fix: Upgrade to Python 3.8 or newer.
breaking The command-line interface's `list` command was updated in v0.13.2 to require the `--block-size` argument. Scripts or manual commands using `littlefs-python list` without this argument will fail.
Fix: Add the `--block-size <SIZE>` argument to the `littlefs-python list` command.
gotcha The `block_size` and `block_count` parameters passed to `LittleFS` or `lfs.LFSConfig` are critical and must precisely match the flash memory characteristics of the target embedded system to ensure proper filesystem operation and integrity.
Fix: Carefully verify `block_size` and `block_count` against your embedded hardware's flash specifications.
gotcha The library frequently updates its bundled `littlefs` C core. While efforts are made for backward compatibility, new core versions might introduce subtle behavioral changes or new features that could affect existing filesystem images or operations if not carefully managed.
Fix: Refer to the release notes for `littlefs-python` and the upstream `littlefs` project (littlefs-project/littlefs on GitHub) when updating to understand any potential implications of core library changes.

Install

pip install littlefs-python Install stable version

Imports

LittleFS
```
from littlefs import LittleFS
```
For the high-level, Pythonic API.
lfs
```
from littlefs import lfs
```
For the low-level, C-style API, providing direct access to littlefs functions.
LittleFSError
```
from littlefs import LittleFSError
```
For catching littlefs-specific exceptions.

Quickstart

This example demonstrates creating a new littlefs image, writing files and directories using the high-level Pythonic API, listing contents, and finally dumping the filesystem to a binary file.

from littlefs import LittleFS

# Initialize the File System according to your specifications
# block_size and block_count must match the embedded system's flash parameters.
fs = LittleFS(block_size=512, block_count=256)

# Open a file and write some content
with fs.open('first-file.txt', 'w') as fh:
    fh.write('Hello, LittleFS from Python!\n')

# Create a directory
fs.mkdir('configs')

# Write another file in the new directory
with fs.open('configs/settings.txt', 'w') as fh:
    fh.write('setting_key=value\n')

# List contents of the root directory
print("Root directory contents:", fs.listdir('/'))

# Read content back
with fs.open('first-file.txt', 'r') as fh:
    content = fh.read()
    print("Content of first-file.txt:", content)

# Dump the filesystem content to a file (e.g., for flashing to a device)
with open('FlashMemory.bin', 'wb') as fh:
    fh.write(fs.context.buffer)

print("Filesystem image 'FlashMemory.bin' created.")

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