NERP

Overview

Not Exclusively Raspberry Pi (NERP) is an interest group focused on demonstrations and open discussion of embedded systems. There is currently an emphasis on the Raspberry Pi, but all embedded platforms are within the scope (BeagleBone/Board, ARM Cortex M series, MSP430, Arduino, etc).

Participants

• Ed Bennett
• Jay Hopkins
• Drew Fustini
• Add yourself

Meetings

• Bi-weekly: 2nd & 4th Monday of every month
• 7pm-9pm

Past

1. July 30, 2012
2. August 13, 2012

Upcoming

1. August 27, 2012: Drew advises please suggest topics or ask to present

Reference

Hardware

• The clear case Drew showed was the Pi Box by Adafruit: http://www.adafruit.com/products/859 Their open source design is on Thingiverse so it may be possible to make one on our laser cutter.
• Newark element14 order page: http://www.newark.com/raspberry-pi/raspbrry-pcba/raspberry-pi-model-b-board-only/dp/83T1943
  • (2012-Aug-17: reports from those attending NERP who've ordered recently is the lead time is now less than a week)

Software

Linux

• If you have just gotten a Pi, then visit the Raspberry Pi Foundation downloads page for instructions on flashing the SD card: http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads
• Recommend using Raspbian "Wheezy" for general purpose
• Raspbmc (http://www.raspbmc.com/) for media center.

Applications

• Arduino IDE runs and uploads ok USB-connected Arduino with Raspbian "Wheezy"; just install via "apt-get install arduino".
• For doing electronics directly on the Pi, WiringPi is a Python library which aims to make it as high-level as Arduino: https://projects.drogon.net/raspberry-pi/wiringpi/ If Python isn't appealing, then this eLinux article gives GPIO examples in many languages: http://elinux.org/RPi_Low-level_peripherals
• Quake for the current Raspbian "Wheezy" image can be downloaded here: http://www.memetic.org/quake-3-with-sound-for-the-raspberry-pi/
• "hello world" programs in /opt/vc/src especially the 1080p HD playback demo: /opt/vc/src/hello_pi/hello_video/
  • More details in the webinar Eben Upton did: http://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-44459/l/video-programming-the-raspberry-pi-with-raspberry-pi-co-founder-eben-upton

Community

• if you run into issues, then the RaspberryPi.org Forum is a good resource: http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/ If you can't get past a problem, then I'd be happy to help at next NERP meeting (like after the presentations).
• The Raspberry Pi group on element14 Community is quite active too and another place to ask questions: http://www.element14.com/community/groups/raspberry-pi I am a developer on this site and also haven written Pi tutorials which can be found under my profile (http://www.element14.com/community/people/fustini) and our Pi blog (http://www.element14.com/community/groups/raspberry-pi?view=blog).
• The eLinux wiki has a great troubleshooting guide: http://elinux.org/R-Pi_Troubleshooting Check out the listing of equipment verified to work (and add your own once tested): http://elinux.org/RPi_VerifiedPeripherals

Articles

• an informative post on the media playback architecture:
  • Libraries, codecs, OSS http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/592
• This is post would be interesting for those wondering how well it would do as a low-power server:
  • A Raspberry Pi, hosting... Raspberry Pi http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/1655