Common MicroPython Errors

About This Infographic

A quick-reference guide to eight common MicroPython errors you will meet on the Raspberry Pi Pico — MemoryError, OSError (ENOENT), OSError (ENODEV), ImportError, AttributeError, SyntaxError, TypeError, and ValueError. Click each error to see an example message, the cause, and the fix, then use Quiz Me to test whether you can name the error from its symptom.

Image Prompt

Prompt

Please generate a wide-landscape infographic.

Render all text exactly verbatim. Do not substitute any error messages, numbers, or descriptions. Every error class name and error message string must appear exactly as written.

A clean, modern, flat-design educational quick-reference infographic poster, landscape 16:9, titled at the top in large bold sans-serif: "Common MicroPython Errors", subtitle beneath: "What the traceback is telling you — and how to fix it."

Layout: a 2-row × 4-column grid of error cards on a light off-white background (#F7F9FC). Each card has a colored top-edge accent, the error class name in bold monospace at top, a one-line example error message in a dark code block, a "Cause" line, and a "Fix" line. Generous white space, thin card outlines.

Card 1 — row 1 col 1 (raspberry red #C7164E): Error class "MemoryError"; Example message: MemoryError: memory allocation failed, allocating 4096 bytes; Cause: The heap is full — too many large objects loaded into RAM at once; Fix: Delete unused objects with del x; collect garbage with import gc; gc.collect(); avoid large lists and bytearrays.

Card 2 — row 1 col 2 (warm orange #E07B39): Error class "OSError (ENOENT)"; Example message: OSError: [Errno 2] ENOENT; Cause: File or directory not found at the path you specified; Fix: Check the filename spelling; run import os; os.listdir('/') to see what is on the board.

Card 3 — row 1 col 3 (forest green #2D8A4E): Error class "OSError (ENODEV)"; Example message: OSError: [Errno 19] ENODEV; Cause: I2C or SPI device is not responding — not connected, wrong address, or wrong voltage; Fix: Check wiring; confirm 3.3 V on VCC; scan the I2C bus with i2c.scan() to find connected devices.

Card 4 — row 1 col 4 (teal blue #1389A6): Error class "ImportError"; Example message: ImportError: no module named 'ssd1306'; Cause: The .py library file has not been copied to the Pico's flash storage; Fix: Copy the driver file (e.g., ssd1306.py) to the Pico root folder using Thonny File → Save As or rshell.

Card 5 — row 2 col 1 (deep purple #6A3FB5): Error class "AttributeError"; Example message: AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'Pin'; Cause: Trying to use a class or function that doesn't exist in MicroPython's version of the module; Fix: Check MicroPython documentation; run import machine; dir(machine) to see available names.

Card 6 — row 2 col 2 (magenta pink #E5398A): Error class "SyntaxError"; Example message: SyntaxError: invalid syntax; Cause: A typo, missing colon, unmatched bracket, or wrong indentation in your code; Fix: Look at the line number in the traceback; check for missing : after if/for/def, unclosed ( or ', or mixed tabs and spaces.

Card 7 — row 2 col 3 (warm orange #E07B39, darker variant or use forest green #2D8A4E): Error class "TypeError"; Example message: TypeError: can't convert 'int' object to str implicitly; Cause: You passed the wrong data type to a function (e.g., passed a number where a string was expected); Fix: Convert explicitly: str(n) to make a string, int(s) to make an integer, float(n) for a decimal.

Card 8 — row 2 col 4 (raspberry red accent, darker border): Error class "ValueError"; Example message: ValueError: invalid argument; Cause: The right type was passed but the value is out of the allowed range or format; Fix: Read the function's documentation for valid input ranges; check that pin numbers and frequency values are within bounds.

Below all cards, a full-width tip banner (dark slate #2A2E3A background, white text): "Debugging tip: the last line of a Traceback (most recent call last) is WHERE the error happened. Read upward to see WHY."

Typography: one clean geometric sans-serif (Inter/Roboto style) for labels; monospace (Courier or similar) for error class names and example messages; error messages rendered in a slightly shaded code block. Footer bar: "Error classes: MicroPython documentation — docs.micropython.org/en/latest/library/builtins.html." Overall: tidy vector flat-design reference card grid, high-contrast code blocks, balanced 2×4 layout, suitable for printing as a desk reference or classroom poster.