Raspberry Pi Confusion (Connecting a LCD screen

[RandomNerd99]

So, I’m following a tutorial to make an alarm clock with a rasberrry pi zero w. https://howchoo.com/pi/how-to-make-a-raspberry-pi-smart-alarm-clock#create-the-alarm-script 
 

Right now, I’m trying to connect my screen to the pi and it isn’t working. I just wanted to know if anyone could diagnose an obvious problem.

 

The specific LCD screen’s wiki: https://wiki.52pi.com/index.php?title=1602_Serial_LCD_Module_Display_SKU:Z-0234#How_to_program_it_on_Raspberry_Pi 

 

I was thinking it was the connection, or my soldering, but I don’t believe that’s it? I also did make sure I installed the right libraries and stuff, unfortunately no luck.

 

I believe a number is supposed to show up for the second command, but none does.

[RandomNerd99]

Back of Pi

[the gamer that is bad]

The solder might be touching and going to ground?

[WereCatf]

30 minutes ago, RandomNerd99 said:

Back of Pi

You haven't even soldered those I2C-pins to the PCB, of course it's not going to work since it can't make a connection! Also, what the hell is that enormous blob on the right?

[WereCatf]

Those solder-joints of OP's look terrible, so I am going to mention a couple of things: use a reasonably small soldering iron tip, and do not use unleaded solder.

 

Unleaded solder is a lot more difficult to handle and especially a beginner shouldn't even try; buy proper leaded solder with a rosin - core. The type of solder you use makes a huge difference in how easy it is to get good joints.

 

As for the tip: if your soldering iron is one of those really cheap, generic jobbies from some random hardware-store, it probably didn't even have any extra, swappable tips in the package and thus you'll need to go and buy some. Or a better iron altogether.