Raspberry Pi Insider Guide
Posted on January 4, 2015
FREE to downland. eBook edition now totally free! “Best Raspberry Pi Beginners Book so far.”
This book was last updated in January 2015. Since then there have been significant changes to the look and feel of the Desktop and also new Raspberry Pi models released. Much of the content of this book is still relevant but may, in some cases, be accessed slightly differently. As such, I am now offering the eBook version totally free of charge.
You can download free copies of this book at Smashwords and Gumroad. The print edition of the book is still available at Amazon at a low price. This book covers the the Raspberry Pi A, B, A+, B+. It’s contents are largely applicable to the Model 2 and 3. The user interface (Desktop) and default menu layout has changed in some cases.
Raspberry Pi Insider Guide is the most complete up-to-date beginners guide available bar none. This comprehensive volume covers the Raspberry Pi and its software as it is today and includes the latest Rasbpian Desktop release. This 400-page tomb covers all models including B/B+/Pi 2. This book will take you from beginner to expert and has has joined the ranks of five-star Amazon reviews! Available in print from Amazon, and in Book for Amazon,. Gumroad and Smashwords. Also available to read on Scribd.
Best Raspberry Pi Beginners Book so far – Magne Ertresvag
Buy Now or Continue Reading:
Taking You From Beginner To Expert
The world of computing moves fast and since the Raspberry Pi was launched in 2012, a lot has changed. RASPBERRY PI INSIDER GUIDE is the most complete up-
RASPBERRY PI INSIDER GUIDE is organised in seven sections, each containing chapters aimed at taking you to the next step. From connecting your Raspberry Pi to choosing and selecting add-
Moving on, you will learn to master programming and become proficient in some of the industry standard languages available to you, including Bash, Python, Scratch and assembly language. Learn about other Operating Systems available for the Raspberry Pi, including RISC OS , Pidora and Arch Linux. Finally, discover the Raspberry Pi board itself, and find out how you can use the GPIO port to connect and control the outside world using simple examples.
This book covers the all models including models A, B, A+, B+,2.
You will learn so much from the RASPBERRY PI INSIDER GUIDE including how to:
- select the bare essentials you will need to get your Raspberry Pi up and running.
- copy and install the Raspbian Operating System.
- identify and connect everything together, switch it on and get it all working.
- use the command line to issue instructions and access important information.
- use the Desktop environment to run programs and games.
- use essential software to maintain your Raspberry Pi in tip-
top condition. - add additional devices such as disk drives, printers and cameras.
- have fun with the Camera Module or a webcam and take and edit photos including using time lapse photography.
- play high definition videos and top quality sound including music.
- start to program in several industry-
standard languages including Python. - create a simple website for use as a home information centre or anything you want!
- update and upgrade your Raspberry Pi and find and install new software.
- install and use LibreOffice for all your administrative and business needs.
- create a media centre and access great free-
to- air TV and video channels. - make your Raspberry Pi talk!
- install and use RISC OS as a second Operating System and become familiar with Pidora and Arch Linux.
- understand the components on the Raspberry Pi and what they do.
- connect devices to the GPIO port and use them from a language of your choice.
- make your Raspberry Pi go faster by selecting Turbo mode.
- ideal for beginners, the RASPBERRY PI INSIDER GUIDE assumes no prior knowledge and will turn you into an expert.
Raspberry Pi Insider Guide: Reviews
Raspberry Pi Insider Guide: Contents List
This book is organised into seven convenient sections. (To see a description of these sections click here.)
SECTION ONE: IN THE BEGINNING
1: Welcome Home
Introduction, Need to Learn, How to Use This Book, Jargon and Assumptions, Companion Website, About the Author
2: Bare Essentials (H3)
Introduction, Mobile Phones, Bare Essentials, It’s Different, Static Electricity, Making Jam
3: Board Anatomy (H4)
Introduction, Around the Boards, SD Card, USB Power Supply, HDMI connector, Composite Video & Audio, Ethernet, USB, Others, Model A
4: Distro Bution (H5)
Introduction, OS Options, Downloading a Distro, Flash Windows, Flash Mac, Flash Linux, Reusing Cards, OS Updates
5: Ready, Set…
Introduction, Sum of the Parts, Inserting SD Card, Sound and Vision, Keyboard and Mouse, Internet, Powering Up! Installing NOOBS, Troubleshooting
6: Configuration
Raspi- config, Menu explained, Log On, Respecting Pi
SECTION TWO: MAKING THINGS SING!
7: Raspbian Welcome
From the Shell, Directory Ins and Outs, Hierarchical Filing Systems, Command Line Memory, Is It Linux?, Switching Off
8: The Desktop
Introduction, First Screening, Window Anatomy, Using LX Terminal, Playing Python, Task Bar, Task Bar Take 2, Installing Screensaver, Program Manager, Program Preferences, File Manager, Creating with Folders and Files, Using Files and Folders, Go and Bookmarks, The Way Things Look, Keyboard Shortcuts, File Names
9: Having a Bash
Introduction, Directories, Files, Listing Options, Long Format, Bytes and More, Understanding Permissions, Changing Permissions, Copying Files, Moving & Renaming Files, Confgi Revisited, Manual Pages, Less is More, Useful Commands, Shutting Down
10: Essential Tools
Introduction, Surfing the Web, Pi Store, Text Editors, Leafpad, Nano, Text Editors as Configuration Editors
11: Root Causes
Super Users, Sudo Command, Installing Software, Upgrading Software, What’s Installed, Raspbian Structure
12: More Bash
Introduction, Alias Commands, Wildcards, Redirection, Debian Reference, Maynard
SECTION THREE: NEW ADDITIONS
13: Hardware Re Visited
USB Hubs, Cases, WiFi Config
14: External Storage
Introduction, USB Devices, Sticks In the Shell, Mounting File Systems,Copying Externally, Unmounting Drives, Hard Drives in the Shell, Web Based Cloud Storage, Backing Up Files and SD Cards
15: Printers
Introduction, Printing With Cups, Printer Troubleshooting, Printing From Command Line, Printer Options, CUPS Files
16: Camera
Introduction, Up and Snapping, Taking Stills, Image Control, Time Lapse, More Functions, Using Webcams
SECTION FOUR: PROGRAMMING
17: About Programming
Introduction, Which Language, Interpreted & Compiled, Structured Programming, Variables, Loops, Decisions, Nested Loops, Functions, Debugging, Learning To Program, GitHub
18: Bash Scripts
Introduction, Essentials, Bash Variables, For Loops, More loops, Test Conditions, String Variables, Double Brackets, Functions, Passing Parameters, Exiting Scripts, Paths, Camera Auto Number and Date, Executing at Login
19: Python
Introduction, IDLE Person, Py Scripts, Errors, Customising A Game, Variables, Lists and Dictionaries, Loops, If Tests, Functions, Modules, PiCamera, Shell Python
20: Scratch
Introduction, The Scratch Screen, First though a quick example., Starting From…, Bouncing Off the Wall, New Sprites, The Block Palette, More Scratch
21: Making a Website
Introduction, File Structure, A Quick Example, Adding Links and Pages, Images, Lists, Colouring By Numbers, CSS, Layout, Editors and Web
22: Assembly Language
Introduction, Numbers With Meaning, ARM Instructions, Language Levels, Creating and Executing, Assembler Errors, The Components, Summary
SECTION FIVE: HOME & OFFICE
23: LibreOffice
Introduction, Templates & Extensions, Writer, Calc, Base, Impress, More Information, PDF & Document Viewer, Creating PDFs
24: Audio & Video
Introduction, Getting Sound, Omxplayer, VLC Media Playe. Making Pi Speak
25: Sonic Pi
Introduction, Midi Matters, Loops and Tests, Pattern Play, Active Command Completion, Synths, Tempo, Chords & FX, Two Tunes, Samples, Functions, Recording Work. Saving Work, Trying It All Out
26: Creating A Media Centre
Introduction, OSMC, Installing Raspbmc, Local Media, Playing Videos, Playing Music,Viewing Pictures, Network Media, Add- Ons, Changing Settings, System Menu, Raspbian Settings, Adding A Remote, OpenElec
27: Pictures
Introduction, Image Viewer, GIMP, Resizing An Image, Rotating An Image, Cropping An Image, More GIMP
28: Game for Fun
Introduction, Minecraft, Space Invaders, Penguins Puzzle, Shot Em Up, Su- Do- Ku
SECTION SIX: OPERATING SYSTEMS
29: RISC OS
Introduction, Up and Running, Configuring, The Filer, The Filing System, Folders & Files, !Applications, The Big Raspberry, Bundled Software, Other Software, Documentation, Desktop to CLI
30: RISC OS From the CLI
Introduction, Task Window, Essential * Commands, Aliases, BBC BASIC, Modules, FileTypes, Where Next?
31: Pidora
Introduction, XFCE, Pidora Command Line
32: Arch Linux
Introduction, Connecting to WiFi, Setting Zone and Time, Package Manager, Other Things, Desktop Arch
SECTION SEVEN: PHYSICAL PI
33: Pi Inside and Out
SOC, No Risc at all, Other Bits, Overclocking
34: GPIO
Introduction, Pins Explained, Wiring Pi, Python
35: Simple Projects
Introduction, LED Circuit, Making it Work!, Using A Switch, Reading an Input, Interpretive Not Direct
36: Add On Boards
Introduction, Pibrella, Hats