Product: 1449344216

I’m quite impressed by this short, easy-to-read book by O’Reilly Press. In one book you have everything you need to learn how to make the most of the Raspberry Pi for programming hobby projects. Chapter one describes the Raspberry Pi hardware; chapter two provides a basic introduction to Linux, the operating system of choice for the Raspberry Pi; chapter three introduces Python, a popular, powerful, easy-to-use programming language that works well with Linux; and the remainder of the book covers Scratch (a graphical programming environment), integrating Arduino microcontrollers, using the general-purpose input/output pins; and presents sample projects: building a security camera-type project using a USB Webcam, and building a box that can display weather information on a TV. The book is up-to-date on the hardware; for example, a recent revision that upped memory to 512 MB on the Model B board and provided mounting holes is fully incorporated.

The book is written in an informal, easy-to-read style that suits adults and early readers alike, with plenty of illustrations to help everyone along. Creatively conceived, it has gems like the motivation to build a project to turn your lights on and off while you’re gone: Your flight leaves in the morning and the hardware stores already closed so you can’t go buy a timer switch, but since you’re already a Raspberry Pi hobbyist you can just build a switch yourself with parts on hand. It then goes on to describe how to do it, and you know what, it sounds do-able in just a couple hours if not less.

The book has buying advice for the Raspberry Pi, but it’s geared toward the UK (where the Raspberry Pi originated). If you’re in the US, there are two places that I’m aware of that sell the Raspberry Pi direct at the $35 price the Raspberry Pi Foundation envisioned. I’m going to write them here and hopefully Amazon doesn’t take them away: Allied Electronics, and MCM Electronics. I’ve ordered from both and I like the second place better because they have much, much better cases available. I’m mentioning it because I didn’t even know the second place was out there until I found their Web site quite by accident, and I want other people to know all available options.

As an aside, I didn’t know this book was by O’Reilly Press until I received it; the product page doesn’t highlight this. O’Reilly writes great books and has never let me down, this book being no exception. I am not affiliated with them in any way; I’m just a satisfied reader. I suspect there are others out there that feel the same way so I thought I’d point it out.
Rating: 5
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