:mod:`micropython` -- access and control MicroPython internals
==============================================================

.. include:: ../templates/unsupported_in_circuitpython.inc

.. module:: micropython
   :synopsis: access and control MicroPython internals

Functions
---------

.. function:: const(expr)

   Used to declare that the expression is a constant so that the compile can
   optimise it.  The use of this function should be as follows::

    from micropython import const

    CONST_X = const(123)
    CONST_Y = const(2 * CONST_X + 1)

   Constants declared this way are still accessible as global variables from
   outside the module they are declared in.  On the other hand, if a constant
   begins with an underscore then it is hidden, it is not available as a global
   variable, and does not take up any memory during execution.

   This `const` function is recognised directly by the MicroPython parser and is
   provided as part of the :mod:`micropython` module mainly so that scripts can be
   written which run under both CPython and MicroPython, by following the above
   pattern.

.. function:: opt_level([level])

   If *level* is given then this function sets the optimisation level for subsequent
   compilation of scripts, and returns ``None``.  Otherwise it returns the current
   optimisation level.

   The optimisation level controls the following compilation features:

   - Assertions: at level 0 assertion statements are enabled and compiled into the
     bytecode; at levels 1 and higher assertions are not compiled.
   - Built-in ``__debug__`` variable: at level 0 this variable expands to ``True``;
     at levels 1 and higher it expands to ``False``.
   - Source-code line numbers: at levels 0, 1 and 2 source-code line number are
     stored along with the bytecode so that exceptions can report the line number
     they occurred at; at levels 3 and higher line numbers are not stored.

   The default optimisation level is usually level 0.

.. function:: mem_info([verbose])

   Print information about currently used memory.  If the *verbose* argument
   is given then extra information is printed.

   The information that is printed is implementation dependent, but currently
   includes the amount of stack and heap used.  In verbose mode it prints out
   the entire heap indicating which blocks are used and which are free.

.. function:: qstr_info([verbose])

   Print information about currently interned strings.  If the *verbose*
   argument is given then extra information is printed.

   The information that is printed is implementation dependent, but currently
   includes the number of interned strings and the amount of RAM they use.  In
   verbose mode it prints out the names of all RAM-interned strings.

.. function:: stack_use()

   Return an integer representing the current amount of stack that is being
   used.  The absolute value of this is not particularly useful, rather it
   should be used to compute differences in stack usage at different points.

.. function:: heap_lock()
.. function:: heap_unlock()

   Lock or unlock the heap.  When locked no memory allocation can occur and a
   `MemoryError` will be raised if any heap allocation is attempted.

   These functions can be nested, ie `heap_lock()` can be called multiple times
   in a row and the lock-depth will increase, and then `heap_unlock()` must be
   called the same number of times to make the heap available again.

   If the REPL becomes active with the heap locked then it will be forcefully
   unlocked.

.. function:: kbd_intr(chr)

   Set the character that will raise a `KeyboardInterrupt` exception.  By
   default this is set to 3 during script execution, corresponding to Ctrl-C.
   Passing -1 to this function will disable capture of Ctrl-C, and passing 3
   will restore it.

   This function can be used to prevent the capturing of Ctrl-C on the
   incoming stream of characters that is usually used for the REPL, in case
   that stream is used for other purposes.