The “unofficial official” guide to the Raspberry Pi, complete with creator insight
Raspberry Pi User Guide, 3rdEdition contains everything you need to know to get up and running with Raspberry Pi. This book is the go-to guide for Noobs who want to dive right in. This updated third edition covers the model B+ Raspberry Pi and its software, additional USB ports, and changes to the GPIO, including new information on Arduino and Minecraft on the Pi. You’ll find clear, step-by-step instruction for everything from software installation and configuration to customizing your Raspberry Pi with capability-expanding add-ons. Learn the basic Linux SysAdmin and flexible programming languages that allow you to make your Pi into whatever you want it to be.
The Raspberry Pi was created by the UK Non-profit Raspberry Pi Foundation to help get kids interested in programming. Affordable, portable, and utterly adorable, the Pi exceeded all expectations, introducing millions of people to programming since its creation. The Raspberry Pi User Guide, 3rd Edition helps you and your Pi get acquainted, with clear instruction in easy to understand language.
- Install software, configure, and connect your Raspberry Pi to other devices
- Master basic Linux System Admin to better understand nomenclature and conventions
- Write basic productivity and multimedia programs in Scratch and Python
- Extend capabilities with add-ons like Gertboard, Arduino, and more
The Raspberry Pi has become a full-fledged phenomenon, popular with tinkerers, hackers, experimenters, and inventors. If you want to get started but aren’t sure where to begin, Raspberry Pi User Guide, 3rd Edition contains everything you need.
Table of Contents:
Introduction 1
Part I
CHAPTER 1 Meet the Raspberry Pi 13
A Trip Around the Board 13
Model A 15
Model B 16
Model B+ 16
A History of Model B PCB Revisions 18
Revision 1 18
Revision 2 18
Model B+ 18
A Bit of Background 19
ARM versus x86 19
Windows versus Linux 20
CHAPTER 2 Getting Started with the Raspberry Pi 23
Connecting a Display 24
Composite Video 24
HDMI Video 25
DSI Video 26
Connecting Audio 26
Connecting a Keyboard and Mouse 27
Installing NOOBS on an SD Card 29
Connecting External Storage 30
Connecting the Network 31
Wired Networking 32
Wireless Networking 33
Connecting Power 35
Installing the Operating System 36
Installing Using NOOBS 36
Installing Manually 38
Flashing from Linux 39
Flashing from OS X 40
Flashing from Windows 40
CHAPTER 3 Linux System Administration 43
Linux: An Overview 43
Linux Basics 45
Introducing Raspbian 46
About Raspbian’s Parent, Debian 51
Alternatives to Raspbian. 51
Using External Storage Devices 52
Creating a New User Account 54
File System Layout 55
Logical Layout 55
Physical Layout 57
Installing and Uninstalling Software 57
Obtaining Software from the Pi Store 57
Obtaining Software from Elsewhere 59
Finding the Software You Want 61
Installing Software 62
Uninstalling Software 63
Upgrading Software 63
Shutting the Pi Down Safely 64
CHAPTER 4 Troubleshooting 65
Keyboard and Mouse Diagnostics 65
Power Diagnostics 66
Display Diagnostics 68
Boot Diagnostics 68
Network Diagnostics 69
The Emergency Kernel 72
CHAPTER 5 Network Configuration 75
Wired Networking 75
Wireless Networking 78
Installing Firmware 79
Connecting to a Wireless Network via wpa_gui 82
Connecting to a Wireless Network via the Terminal 85
No Encryption 90
WEP Encryption 90
WPA/WPA2 Encryption 90
Connecting to the Wireless Network 91
CHAPTER 6 The Raspberry Pi Software Configuration Tool 93
Running the Tool 94
The Setup Options Screen 94
1 Expand Filesystem 95
2 Change User Password. 95
3 Enable Boot to Desktop/Scratch 96
4 Internationalisation Options 96
I1 Change Locale. 97
I2 Change Timezone 97
I3 Change Keyboard Layout 98
5 Enable Camera 98
6 Add to Rastrack 98
7 Overclock 99
8 Advanced Options .100
A1 Overscan .101
A2 Hostname .101
A3 Memory Split .102
A4 SSH .103
A5 SPI .103
A6 Audio .103
A7 Update .103
9 About raspi-config .104
CHAPTER 7 Advanced Raspberry Pi Configuration 105
Editing Configuration Files via NOOBS .105
Hardware Settings—config.txt .107
Modifying the Display .108
Boot Options .111
Overclocking the Raspberry Pi .112
Overclocking Settings .113
Overvoltage Settings .114
Disabling L2 Cache .115
Enabling Test Mode .116
Memory Partitioning .117
Software Settings—cmdline.txt .117
Part II
CHAPTER 8 The Pi as a Home Theatre PC 123
Playing Music at the Console .123
Dedicated HTPC with Raspbmc .126
Streaming Internet Media .127
Streaming Local Network Media .129
Configuring Raspbmc .131
CHAPTER 9 The Pi as a Productivity Machine 133
Using Cloud-Based Apps .134
Using LibreOffice .136
Image Editing with the Gimp .138
CHAPTER 10 The Pi as a Web Server 141
Installing a LAMP Stack .142
Installing WordPress .145
Part III
CHAPTER 11 An Introduction to Scratch 153
Introducing Scratch .153
Example 1: Hello World .154
Example 2: Animation and Sound .158
Example 3: A Simple Game .161
Robotics and Sensors .167
Sensing with the PicoBoard .167
Robotics with LEGO .167
Further Reading .168
CHAPTER 12 An Introduction to Python 169
Introducing Python .169
Example 1: Hello World .170
Example 2: Comments, Inputs, Variables and Loops .175
Example 3: Gaming with pygame .179
Example 4: Python and Networking .188
Further Reading .194
CHAPTER 13 Minecraft Pi Edition 195
Introducing Minecraft Pi Edition .195
Installing Minecraft .196
Running Minecraft .197
Exploration .199
Hacking Minecraft .200
Part IV
CHAPTER 14 Learning to Hack Hardware 207
Electronic Equipment .208
Reading Resistor Colour Codes .210
Sourcing Components .210
Online Sources .211
Offline Sources .212
Hobby Specialists .213
Moving Up from the Breadboard .214
A Brief Guide to Soldering .217
CHAPTER 15 The GPIO Port 223
Identifying Your Board Revision .223
GPIO Pinout Diagrams .224
GPIO Features .226
UART Serial Bus .227
I²C Bus .227
SPI Bus .228
Using the GPIO Port in Python .228
GPIO Output: Flashing an LED .228
GPIO Input: Reading a Button .233
CHAPTER 16 The Raspberry Pi Camera Module 237
Why Use the Camera Module? .238
Installing the Camera Module .239
Enabling Camera Mode .242
Capturing Stills .244
Recording Video .246
Command-Line Time-Lapse Photography .247
CHAPTER 17 Add-On Boards 255
Ciseco Slice of Pi .255
Adafruit Prototyping Pi Plate .259
Fen Logic Gertboard .262
Part V
APPENDIX A
Python Recipes 269
Raspberry Snake (Chapter 12, Example 3) .269
IRC User List (Chapter 12, Example 4) .272
GPIO Input and Output (Chapter 15) .273
APPENDIX B
Raspberry Pi Camera Module Quick Reference 275
Shared Options .275
Raspistill Options .278
Raspivid Options .279
Raspiyuv Options .280
APPENDIX C
HDMI Display Modes 281
Index. 287
About the Author :
Eben Upton is a founder of the Raspberry Pi Foundation and serves as the CEO of Raspberry Pi (Trading), its commercial arm. In an earlier life he founded two mobile games companies and was Director of Studies for Computer Science at St John’s College, Cambridge. He holds a BA, a PhD and an MBA from the University of Cambridge.
Gareth Halfacree is a freelance technology journalist and the co-author of the Raspberry Pi User Guide alongside project co-founder Eben Upton. Gareth can often be seen reviewing, documenting or even contributing to projects, including GNU/Linux, LibreOffice, Fritzing and Arduino.
Review :
"This book represents excellent value... if you're about to take the plunge into the world of Raspberry Pi, then this book could be a really useful investment" (Everyday Practical Electronics, February 2015)
