The Unmotivated Raspberry Pi Adventure

Despite knowing nothing about either Raspberry Pi, Linux or Python; I've decided to dive in and learn whatever is necessary to get an IR-camera working to check what my cat actually does during the nights

[raspberry-n00b]

Terminal Fun

I’ve decided to try the “Learning Python The Hard Way”-book and started out by going over Appendix A which dealt with working with the linux-terminal. Most of it felt familiar but I might as well go at it from scratch.

http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/appendixa.html

I had to install the text editor gedit (even though there is an existing one) just to not have to struggle with finding the correct command when comparing with the book.

sudo apt-get install gedit

Followed by a prompt Y instead of Yes since I’ve also followed The Simpsons, productivity tripled just like that.

A few things that were actually harder to find than I thought would be necessary. v was needed to get into writing mode in a document and ctrl+x to close the writing module (learned the hard way by trying things)... 

[raspberry-n00b]

From Windows to Pi

Now it’s a new day and I want to play with my Pi without having to bring my mac home all the time. In comes putty, a ssh-client for windows that was almost creepily easy to use.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Use-ssh-to-talk-with-your-Raspberry-Pi/

Took me awhile to realise that to log-in I had to use the user name that my Pi has but other than that everything seems fine.

Next up, how to start doing Python stuff...

[raspberry-n00b]

Actually doing stuff

So, the first that meets you after the wall of text are a bunch of customization options. I followed this guide since I’m based in Sweden so this will probably not help anyone else.

http://raspberry.arctics.se/2013/01/27/forsta-uppstarten-av-raspberry-pi/

Sitting in front of my TV and doing this in the future was not really appealing so the first thing I wanted to fix was to control the Pi from my Mac or/and my PC. For this one needs to use SSH for which I followed this guide

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/remote-access/ssh/unix.md

Worked on my first freaking try using the Mac! The awesomeness is real!

Now, how the frack do I turn it off. The safety-Pi site I looked at regarding the monitor mentioned how necessary it was to turn it off safely. Thank the heavens that I’m not the only one totally into Linux/console command stuff.

http://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/381/how-do-i-turn-off-my-raspberry-pi

Now time to sleep...

sudo shutdown -h now

[raspberry-n00b]

First struggling steps (Success)

As my hope was running out the door I found a possible cause for the lack of image that did not involve me burning all the circuits within 2 hours of getting the Pi. Apparently some newer monitors require a larger hdmi-force from the computer to start than what the Pi actually offers. It is possible to increase this mysterious force but it is tricky if you don’t see anything.

https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=91&t=34061

Instead, I carried everything out to the TV which possibly required less force to recognize the Pi. Success!!! It’s alive and kicking! There is a certain hacker feeling when a wall of code runs on a 42’’ screen.

[raspberry-n00b]

First struggling steps (Assembly and connect)

With my raspberry in one hand and the SD-card in the other I just stared at the circuit board. My initial thoughts during the Raspbian installation quickly turned to confusion and embarrassment when I was completely unable to find where to put in the card.

After having to admit my first small failure I went to a computer and checked where all the components are on the pi... Apparently you can turn it up-side-down and there it was, the small compartment for the SD-card staring up at me. Oh well, in it went until it clicked in place.

https://www.raspberrypi.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/quick-start-guide-v1.1.pdf

Made sure that nothing else was supposed to go on this side, I snapped it into place in the case. Which also turned out to be slightly tricky but in it went, a proud moment that produced a gentle smile.

I went to my computer, disconnected the screen, keyboard and mouse. I plugged the PI into the wall and some lights on it were blinking, connected it to the screen and the other utilities. Nothing. A “No Signal” was moving seductively on the screen. Tried disconnecting the screen several times but to no avail. 

Time to connect it back to my computer and see what the heck was going on. One of the first sites I found was about how to work safely with your pi.

http://quick2wire.com/articles/working-safely-with-your-pi/

Apparently, it is possible to kill it by connecting external stuff without turning off the power. A chill went through my spine when I thought about all my connect/disconnect of the screen with the power on. It seemed like my Pi-career would end early.

[raspberry-n00b]

So the adventure begins

[raspberry-n00b]

First struggling steps (Installing OS)

Everything received, now it’s time to unpack all the things! I see myself as not completely incompetent around electronics, having assembled 5-6 stationary computers from scratch I know enough about static electricity to actually have and use a wrist-band connected to a radiator.

Having read up on what to initially do, I actually brought my Macbook home from work since that has a built-in card reader. Unless one gets a SD-card with a preinstalled operative system this is 100% necessary. After reading a bit on the different possibilities I decided on going for Raspbian directly.

I started out following the official instructions but found these tricky to follow, don’t really know why but that’s my verdict.

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/installation/installing-images/mac.md

What I eventually found and followed step by step (for Mac) was this instruction by Andrew Munsell.

https://www.andrewmunsell.com/blog/getting-started-raspberry-pi-install-raspbian

Didn’t really have any problems here, the installation seemed to work fine.

[raspberry-n00b]

Starting stuff

So for anyone interested, these are the things that I ordered as a start believing it is all I need.

Raspberry Pi 2 Model B SBC 1GB Ram  Case - Black Raspberry Pi Modell B+ and RPI2- Multicomp  RPI Power Supply 2A - 5V Kingston 8GB microSD-kort Class10 WiFi USB dongel - for Raspberry Pi - WiPi RPI Noir Camera Lab package ModMyPi YouTubeX Camera house in black plastic

I’m in Sweden so these might not be available everywhere, or more likely there are more options everywhere else.

The only thing in the package that is not directly related to the camera project is the lab package which I bought in the belief that it will help me build some basic knowledge about the system.

[raspberry-n00b]

Introducing myself

This is probably the most redundant blog out there but hey... try to stop me...

I’ve been hearing about the Raspberry Pi (R-Pi) for some time now but not really understood what all the fuzz was about. Then a few days ago I began reading more in detail what it actually could do and one thing really stuck with me. You can build an IR-Camera! Our cat seems to live out all of his fantasies when we’re sleeping, carpets moved, flowers on the floor etc... Might also be a poltergeist I guess now that I come to think about it. In any case this would be quite fun to capture on film, or at least that’s my motivation for this whole project.

I do have some super-limited experience using bash-terminal in Mac from work, I’m a PC-guy for good or worse, but I don’t really know any Linux which seems to be the “go-to-software” for the R-Pi. If my initial research is correct it also appears that Python is the programming language to know which I don’t, I do know Matlab but that will probably hinder me more if anything.

My idea with this blog is mainly for me to record what the heck I’m doing in case I do something completely idiotic and need to restart the procedure at some point. I also thought that maybe there are other complete beginners (”n00bs”) like myself that might find comfort in not being alone with R-Pi.

I’m mentally prepared for a struggle but hey that’s life.