PyPy, the Python interpreter that’s gaining a lot of support due to it’s blessing from the Foundation, has just announced two releases:
PyPy is definitely the future of Python on the Pi, due to all the optimisation that is promised, so I urge you to take a look.
Matt over at Raspberry Pi Spy is also ‘at it’ with an MCP23017 port expander and has done a lower-level tutorial dealing with the smbus library rather than WiringPi2. Read it here
Alex is continuing his series on using the MCP23017 port expander to give you lots of lovely extra GPIO ports. Read the third part here or read the first two parts here.
Martin Harizanov has been looking at something called ‘watchdog’ which is a service that restarts itself regularly. If it fails (because the Pi has hung) then it restarts the Pi. Read how to install it here.
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation to Ciseco apart from having met representatives from the company at a Jam.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Miles Hodkinson and Rebecca Smith from Ciseco at the Cambridge Raspberry Jam on 20th July. Amongst other things, they had brought along some samples of the RasWIK – the Raspberry Pi Wireless Inventors Kit. This is due to be released for purchase on 1st August.
The package is comprised of a “Slice of Radio” GPIO board and a XinoRF Arduino clone as well as loads of sensors, resistors, LEDs and a pre-loaded SD card. You also get access to documentation and project examples on the website to help you make the most of the kit.
It’s retailing for just under £50 and is available online in their shop and they also expect it to be stocked by Maplin in the near future. I consider £50 for what you get to be very good value and it’s a great way to get started with wireless technology and Arduinos.
James Hughes, who wrote the software for the Raspberry Pi camera module, has now completed his work on the new documentation for the camera. Hopefully, this will provide everyone with a common knowledge base to use the camera to it’s fullest potential.
