BDM’s Raspberry Pi: Tricks, Hacks & Fixes Guides (2018)

196 Pages·2018·76.74 MB·English

by  James Gale

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BDM’s
Raspberry Pi
Tricks, Hacks & Fixes
Everything you need to
master the Raspberry Pi…
The Raspberry Pi is without doubt This book covers the initial set up, guides
the most utilised computer of recent you through the minefield of getting
years . It’s been a part of thousands of the Raspberry Pi to boot into a workable
projects and sent to places that most of desktop system, teaches you how to
us only dream about visiting . It’s used use the operating system and avoid the
for science, engineering, mathematics, common pitfalls . We also look at coding
space travel, communications, weather tricks with Python and FUZE BASIC . There
monitoring and prediction, gaming, are project ideas and hacks that will help
programming, education and as a you get on your way to mastering the
standard desktop . Raspberry Pi and advice on what to do
should you come across Pi problems .
Inside this Raspberry Pi – Tricks, Hacks
& Fixes book we show you how to get Whatever your goals are with the
the most from your Raspberry Pi . With Raspberry Pi, this book, and a little
the best tips, tricks and guides available, imagination, are all you need to join
you can be up and running and planning the other 19 million Pi users around the
your unique project within days . world and realise your digital  dreams.
BDM’s Raspberry Pi - Tricks, Hacks & Fixes Editorial and design are the copyright © Papercut Limited. No part BDM’s Raspberry Pi – Tricks, Hacks & Fixes is an independent
ISBN 978-1-907306-62-4 of this publication may be reproduced in any form, stored in a publication and as such does not necessarily reflect the views
Published by: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Papercut Limited retrieval system or integrated into any other publication, database or opinions of the producers contained within. This publication
Editor: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .James Gale or commercial programs without the express written permission is not endorsed or associated in any way with The Linux
Art Director & Production: . . . . .Mark Ayshford of the publisher. Under no circumstances should this publication Foundation, The Raspberry Pi Foundation, ARM Holding,
Production Manager: . . . . . . . . .Karl Linstead and its contents be resold, loaned out or used in any form by way Canonical Ltd, Debian Project, Lenovo, Dell, Hewlett-Packard,
SEDudebisti ogErdniai:t lo: . . .r . .: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PRRaouubssli n BW eDaarrreedw, ,D Mavairdt iHn aSymwitahr,d L ena Whitaker ooLifum rtsritaeedlvdee rswe ositenhr ovthueets ttqhhueea plriitugybh lotis fn htoehtre ’ts oi nw bfroeirt mhteeanltd ipo rener smwpeios nspisroiobnvl.ei dW feoh, riPl eaa npwyee r cpurtid e AApll pcloep aynrdig hSatsm, tsruandge mora arknsy a ansds orceigaitset eorre adf fitrlaiadteem coarmkps afonry .t he
mistakes or inaccuracies found within the text of this publication. respective companies are acknowledged. Relevant graphic
Digital distribution: For all advertising and promotional Due to the nature of the software industry, the publisher cannot imagery reproduced with courtesy of Lenovo, Hewlett- Packard,
Pocketmags .com, opportunities contact: guarantee that all tutorials will work on every version of Raspbian Dell, Samsung, FUZE Technologies Ltd, and Apple.
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Contents
Raspberry Pi - Tricks, Hacks & Fixes
32 Using the Raspbian OS 64 Getting to Know Unix
34 Take a Tour of PIXEL 66 What is Unix?
36 Exploring the Command Line 68 Understanding Unix
38 Getting Raspberry Pi Online 70 Using the Unix Filesystem
40 Setting Up a Static IP Address 72 Listing and Moving Files
42 Connect Remotely with VNC 74 Creating and Deleting Files
44 Using the Built-in Applications 76 Create and Remove Directories
46 Using APT to Install and Remove 78 Copying, Moving and Renaming Files
Programs
80 Using the Man Pages
48 Using the File Manager
82 Editing Text Files
50 Transfer Files Using FTP
84 Getting to Know Users
52 Using the Archiver App
86 Ownership and Permissions
54 Using the Task Manager
88 Useful System and Disk Commands
56 Get More from the Terminal App
90 Managing Programs and Processes
58 Using the Leafpad Text Editor
92 Input, Output and Pipes
60 UsingLibre Office to Create
94 How to Customise Unix
Documents
62 Edit Images with GIMP
6 Raspberry Pi Hardware
& Setup
8 Say Hello to Raspberry Pi
10 Get to Know the Raspberry Pi
12 Up Close with the Raspberry Pi 3 B+
14 Kit You’ll Need and How to Set it Up
16 Set Up Raspberry Pi Using a Mac
18 Set Up Raspberry Pi Using a
Windows PC
20 Set Up Raspberry Pi Using Linux
22 Copying NOOBS Files from Linux
24 Using NOOBS to Set Up Raspberry Pi
26 Installing Image Files with Etcher
28 Editing the Config.txt File
4 BDM’s Raspberry Pi - Tricks, Hacks & Fixes
Contents
146 Raspberry Pi Projects
148 Create a Music Streaming Box
150 Create a Media Server
152 Build a Retro Games Console
154 Raspberry Pi Portable Games
Console
156 Set Up a Time-lapse Webcam
158 Build a Web Server
160 Create a Supercomputer
162 Build a CamJam EduKit Robot
164 Controlling Your Robot
166 Add Sensors to Your Robot
168 Turn an RC Toy into a Robot
170 Using GitHub
172 Raspberry Pi Add-ons
and Extras
174 The Best HATs for Your Raspberry Pi
180 Raspberry Pi Kits
182 Raspberry Pi Cases
184 Raspberry Pi Robots
186 Raspberry Pi Screens and Displays
188 Android Apps for Pi Users
190 Essential Software
192 Common Raspberry Pi Problems
96 FUZE & Introduction 120 Getting Started with Python
to Coding
122 Starting Python for the First Time
98 Introducing the FUZE Project 124 Your First Code
100 Setting up the FUZE 126 Saving and Executing Your Code
102 Getting Started with FUZE BASIC 128 Executing Code from the Command Line
104 Coding with FUZE BASIC – Part 1 130 Numbers and Expressions
106 Coding with FUZE BASIC – Part 2 132 Using Comments
108 Coding with FUZE BASIC – Part 3 134 Working with Variables
110 Using a Breadboard 136 User Input
112 Using the FUZE IO Board 138 Creating Functions
114 Using a Robot Arm with FUZE BASIC 140 Conditions and Loops
116 FUZE BASIC Examples – Part 1 142 Python Modules
118 FUZE BASIC Examples – Part 2 144 Python Errors
www.bdmpublications.com BDM’s Raspberry Pi - Tricks, Hacks & Fixes 5
Raspberry Pi Hardware and Setup
6 BDM’s Raspberry Pi - Tricks, Hacks & Fixes
Raspberry Pi Hardware and Setup INDEX
Raspberry Pi
Hardware
and Setup
Using the Raspberry Pi should always start with understanding the
hardware. There are several versions of the Raspberry Pi available: Pi 1
Model A+, Pi 1 Model B+, Pi 2 Model B, Pi 3 and Pi Zero. Confused? You
needn’t be, as we’ll explain what each one can offer you.
The Raspberry Pi may be diminutive in size but it’s a surprisingly
powerful computer. This little powerhouse is capable of so much but
first we need to make sure we have everything needed to get up and
running. Throughout this section we help you figure out what’s needed
in terms of connectivity, the extra hardware and of course the operating
system itself.
From there we look at getting the Raspberry Pi set up and ready
to use, regardless of whether you’re working with a Windows PC or
Apple Mac. By the end of this section you’ll have a Raspberry Pi running
the latest version of Raspbian (the official RPi operating system) and
brimming with potential.
8 Say Hello to Raspberry Pi 20 Set Up Raspberry Pi Using Linux
10 Get to Know the Raspberry Pi 22 Copying NOOBS Files from Linux
12 Up Close with the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ 24 Using NOOBS to Set Up Raspberry Pi
14 Kit You’ll Need and How to Set it Up 26 Installing Image Files with Etcher
16 Set Up Raspberry Pi Using a Mac 28 Editing the Config.txt File
18 Set Up Raspberry Pi Using a Windows PC
www.bdmpublications.com BDM’s Raspberry Pi - Tricks, Hacks & Fixes 7
Raspberry Pi Hardware and Setup
Say Hello to
Raspberry Pi
Let’s take a look at the best-selling British computer ever: the Raspberry Pi! This bare-bones
machine just looks like any other piece of circuitry, until you realise it’s a full-blown credit-
card sized computer ideal for learning programming and home hacking.
The Raspberry Pi is a British built low cost computer that enables There’s no hard drive on the Raspberry Pi, instead the operating
everybody to learn computing, start programming and explore basic system is installed on an SD Card (the cards typically used in
electronics. It’s the size of a credit card but capable of running a full cameras). The operating system is installed onto the SD Card by
operating system and doing everything a desktop does. copying the files to the SD Card using a computer. We’ll show you
how to set up Raspbian JESSIE with PIXEL (and other OS’s) using a
More importantly, with the Raspberry Pi you install your own
Mac, Windows or Linux computer.
operating system, connect all your devices and create your own
programs using languages like Scratch and Python. There’s no case Once you have an OS installed on the SD Card you can set up your
so you can hook up electronic circuits to the pins and control them Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi is connected to a monitor via a HDMI
to get input and output, so you can hack together electronic projects socket whilst a keyboard and mouse is attached to the USB socket.
at home. A smaller Micro USB connection is used to provide power to the
device. Most Raspberry Pi models feature an Ethernet connection,
Setting up a Raspberry Pi is pretty simple, and throughout this book
and an Ethernet cable is connected from your Raspberry Pi to a
we’ll take you step-by-step from unboxing your Raspberry Pi to
socket on your modem router.
setting it up and getting started.
The Raspberry Pi 3 has built in wireless networking and Bluetooth,
There are many different models of Raspberry Pi available and each
making it easy to get online. You can attach a USB Wi-Fi dongle or
has slightly different features (see opposite).
Ethernet adaptor to older models.
The fundamentals of each Raspberry Pi are similar though. Each
First it will help to know which Raspberry Pi you are using. This
model is a lightweight computer on a single board that’s roughly
can be tricky as there have been several distinct models so far.
the size of a credit card. Each Raspberry Pi board features a
The layouts opposite will help you determine which Raspberry Pi
processor made by ARM, which is similar to the models you find in
you have.
a mobile phone. The ARM processor is fast and lightweight but it
runs a different set of software than you might be used to. There are This book covers all the different models, and they offer largely
many different operating systems (OS) available, but for most of this similar features, although newer models offer additional extras.
book we’ll focus on one called Raspbian JESSIE with PIXEL, which is Once you know which Raspberry Pi you own, you can get it up
the OS recommended by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. and running.
8 BDM’s Raspberry Pi - Tricks, Hacks & Fixes
Say Hello to Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ Raspberry Pi 2 Model B
Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+
The new Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ was launched on International
Pi day 2018, 14 March. This is an improved version with a faster
1.4GHz 64-bit quad-core ARM Coretx-A53 processor, a dual-band
802.11ac wireless LAN and Bluetooth 4.2 controller, faster Gigabit
Ethernet, improved mass storage USB booting, improved thermal
management and Power-Over-Ethernet support. All other aspects of
the new Raspberry Pi are the same as the previous Pi 3 and as
such, all the previous content you come across is compatible. This
is the board we recommend you buy if you’re new to the wonderful
world of the Raspberry Pi.
The older Raspberry Pi 2 model still found on sale. It has the same
form factor as the Raspberry Pi 3 with 4 USB Ports, Ethernet
connection and Micro USB.
Raspberry Pi 1 Model A+
It may look the same but it has a slower 900 MHZ quad-core ARM
Cortex-A7 CPU and 1GB RAM. This brings it close in line to many
low-end desktop computers.
Complicating matters slightly is the existence of a Raspberry Pi
Model 1 B+, which is identical in layout to the Raspberry Pi Model
2 but with an even slower ARMv6 700MHz processor. If you are
confused which type you own then type cat /proc/cpuinfo at the
command line. If it lists four ARMv7 processors you are using a
Raspberry Pi 2, if you see just one with ARMv6 then you have the
older Raspberry Pi Model 1 B+.
Raspberry Pi Zero
It’s worth knowing that unlike desktop computing, it isn’t always
the case that you need or want the most powerful Raspberry Pi
available. Projects that require very low power consumption, and
that aren’t dependent on Ethernet or USB work best with the
Model A+, as it uses between 0.5W and 1W to operate.
The new Raspberry Pi Zero is a super small, super cheap computer
However, the newer Model A+ has many features also found on that costs just £4. It’s half the size of the model A+ but has a
the more recent models. In particular it has 40 GPIO pins; the surprising amount of power, including a 1Ghz single-core CPU and
first 26 pins are in the same layout as the Model A and B. It 512MB RAM. It has the full 40-pin GPIO header but you’ll need to
also replaces the older SD Card socket with the neater Micro SD buy the pins separately and solder them in. It uses the same
variant. Unlike the Raspberry Pi 3, it has just a single USB port Micro-SD card as the other Raspberry Pi devices, so you can swap
and no built-in Ethernet connection. It uses a smaller form factor SD cards between them. Last but not least, it draws an incredibly
with the GPIO pins on one side. You don’t need to solder them in low amount of power (Micro USB) making it ideal for small power
though. It’s a good compromise between the Raspberry Pi 3 and devices. The ports are smaller than you’d find on the larger
Pi Zero. You can usually pick one up for around £20. If you’re a Raspberry Pi though, so you’ll need a mini-HDMI adaptor as well as
newcomer it’s a better idea to buy the Raspberry Pi 3 instead a micro-USB adaptor to connect devices. A four-port USB Hub and
and get the extra ports and wireless networking. Ethernet adaptor will come in handy too.
www.bdmpublications.com BDM’s Raspberry Pi - Tricks, Hacks & Fixes 9
Raspberry Pi Hardware and Setup
Get to Know the
Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi is a marvellous microcomputer used to learn coding
and for hacking home projects. It’s small, cheap and easy to get
started with; here’s what you need to know about the Raspberry Pi.
40 GPIO Pins
The GPIO (General Purpose Input Output) pins can be
accessed directly on the Raspberry Pi. These are used
in projects to connect the Raspberry Pi to electronic
circuits and control electric devices. Some can be
turned on and off while the Raspberry Pi is running.
ARM-Powered
At the heart of the Raspberry Pi 3 is a
Broadcom BCM2837 System on Chip
(SoC). It contains a powerful 1.2GHz
64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU.
This is 50-60 percent faster than the
Raspberry Pi 2 and ten times as fast as
the original Raspberry Pi.
DSI
The Display Interface (DSI) can be used to connect a
display directly to the Raspberry Pi board.
SD Card Slot USB Power
Instead of a hard drive you use A standard Micro USB power supply is used
an SD Card with the Raspberry to provide power to the Raspberry Pi. You
Pi. The Raspberry Pi 3 (pictured don’t get a power supply but can use any
here) uses a Micro SD Card. Some 5V 2000mA Micro USB power supply and
older Raspberry Pi models use a compatible cable, or buy an official power
regular SD Card. supply separately.
10 BDM’s Raspberry Pi - Tricks, Hacks & Fixes