Would you recommend the Raspberry Pi for programming?

[OhadShwartzman]

So Im thinking about buying a Raspberry Pi for programming and tinkering around(And learning Linux too). Which languages can you program in with this?

[Ronda]

Err, all of them? I mean I guess x86 assembly is out. And even then I'm pretty sure you can get as far as compiling it.

But unless you want it as a server or a controller of robotics or home automation devices, you might as well just make a virtual machine on your regular computer for tinkering and Linux learning.

[OhadShwartzman]

5 minutes ago, Ronda said:

Err, all of them? I mean I guess x86 assembly is out. And even then I'm pretty sure you can get as far as compiling it.

But unless you want it as a server or a controller of robotics or home automation devices, you might as well just make a virtual machine on your regular computer for tinkering and Linux learning.

Well the problem is, with my horrible computer using a virtual machine is not really realistic I feel.

[mpsparrow]

The Raspberry Pi is mostly Python coding. I have multiple Raspberry Pi's and love them. If you are just planning on learning Linux through it, then create a virtual machine on your current computer or load Linux up on a old machine you have around. Raspberry Pi's run a majorly modified version of Linux called Raspbian. So you won't get the full Linux experience through a Raspberry Pi.

 

On the other hand, if you like making robots and playing around with cameras, sensors, etc. Then a Raspberry Pi is a great option.

[dlink377]

I do recommend using Raspberry Pi to learn Linux and some Phyton. If you have spare time you can tinker with the GPIO ports to interact with another hardware.

 

In fact, I learn and use Phyton exclusively on Raspberry Pi. I already used the Raspberry Pi to control my home theater set using IR blaster on a simple web interface (it has been running for 4 years without any problem). Recently, I design my own Phyton script to do basic home security using motion sensors and send SMS to me if motion is detected. I really fun hardware to tinker to if you have free time.

 

I still believe the Linux inside it is a full Linux that compiled for ARM. It is based on Debian, and most packages is available for ARM. I also believe it runs full Linux kernel without modification, just for ARM. Correct me if I am wrong. 

[manikyath]

the pi is a pretty great platform for learning a lot of things:

- linux

- bash

- python

- hardware

- software <-> hardware interconnects (as in, write programs for stuff to happen trough GPIO, my favourite remains a soft reset switch for the pi )

- microsoldering/repairs (kind of a necessity if you want to push a pi2 or a pi3 to it's edge, because usb is a potato when it comes to propper voltage spec )

- experiment with exotic cooling methods (it's only 5 watts, but there's not much you can strap to those 5 watts to deal with them properly)

- probably a lot more stuff i'm forgetting

6 minutes ago, mpsparrow said:

Raspberry Pi's run a majorly modified version of Linux called Raspbian.

correction: raspberry pi's run raspbian which is an ARM fork off debian specificly tailored for the raspberry pi. aside from some packages being incompatible and some others running hilareously slow, you dont even notice you're on ARM. it is in its essence not different from any x86 oriented distro, and in general things just arent really that different at all.

[manikyath]

3 minutes ago, dlink377 said:

I still believe the Linux inside it is a full Linux that compiled for ARM. It is based on Debian, and most packages is available for ARM. I also believe it runs full Linux kernel without modification, just for ARM. Correct me if I am wrong. 

you're pretty much right on the mark there.

 

the packages you'll be able to run are packages which ship compiled for ARM, or those that ship to be compiled locally. (combination of this covers the great majority of the stuff for debian/raspbian)

 

in terms of linux itself, part of the reason why android runs on the linux kernel is because its code base is just naturally adaptable to vareous platforms, and going to x86 or to arm, it's just a matter of compiling and go.

[dlink377]

8 minutes ago, manikyath said:

you're pretty much right on the mark there.

 

the packages you'll be able to run are packages which ship compiled for ARM, or those that ship to be compiled locally. (combination of this covers the great majority of the stuff for debian/raspbian)

 

in terms of linux itself, part of the reason why android runs on the linux kernel is because its code base is just naturally adaptable to vareous platforms, and going to x86 or to arm, it's just a matter of compiling and go.

So I can literally compile something that has "make config" stuffs and it will just runs on the Raspberry Pi ARM without problem (If I have all the dependencies installed)?

 

Well, I never knew those code are so portable, just need to recompile it and your are good to go.

[manikyath]

4 minutes ago, dlink377 said:

So I can literally compile something that has "make config" stuffs and it will just runs on the Raspberry Pi ARM without problem (If I have all the dependencies installed)?

 

Well, I never knew those code are so portable, just need to recompile it and your are good to go.

a lot of stuff on apt-get is compile on install as well.

 

EDIT: and some packages straight up dont even need to be compiled anyways.

[trag1c]

I would recommend the PI but theres a new player called CHIP that I quite like. Both are extremely good devices for learning linux, programming, robotics, ect. CHIP is completely open source so you can modify the hardware if you can source the parts and have the technical know how to solder and desolder components. CHIP also is $9 USD for the base chip. You can get the Pocket CHIP for 69$ USD and it comes with a screen, battery, case and a full keyboard in a hand held platform. 

[burnttoastnice]

If it wasn't for my Raspberry Pi I wouldn't have got into linux and server stuff. I'd strongly recommend it as there's a massive support community and userbase, as well as lots of documentation and third-party accessories available. You can code in pretty much any language for the Pi. Some of the languages I used on mine were PHP, Python and C# (via Mono). It's a full version of Linux running on the Pi (but as mentioned by others, the kernel was changed to work on the ARM chip) so almost all of the configs from my Pi were copied straight over to my server and it worked almost identically, albeit faster than the Pi. I now use my Pi as a network gateway and firewall.

[manikyath]

2 minutes ago, burnttoastnice said:

If it wasn't for my Raspberry Pi I wouldn't have got into linux and server stuff. I'd strongly recommend it as there's a massive support community and userbase, as well as lots of documentation and third-party accessories available. You can code in pretty much any language for the Pi. Some of the languages I used on mine were PHP, Python and C# (via Mono). It's a full version of Linux running on the Pi (but as mentioned by others, the kernel was changed to work on the ARM chip) so almost all of the configs from my Pi were copied straight over to my server and it worked almost identically, albeit faster than the Pi. I now use my Pi as a network gateway and firewall.

you know, i'd almost recommend not going for the 3rd party accessories, but instead making your own.

 

a software restart button is a fun thing to start with, a propper cooling solution is probably something up for consideration as well, wire in a nice low series resistance power supply to keep voltage drops low (the pi's *official* voltage range is 4.5-5.5 volts, and it will reduce to it's low clock speed when out of spec, so when OCing you want stabile power)

 

beyond that, pi cases are always fun to make, i'm probably going to rework my PiModore at some point because it needs some love (and better bodge wires), and i'm gonna improve the cooler to hopefully get some better OC results. a different brand SD card will probably be part of that as well, i've pretty much ditched kingston, sandisk seems to do good up to a point, but i've been eager to try some other brands as well.

 

in short, a pi isnt just a device that allows you to do these things, it makes the learning experience fun, exciting, and inviting. and if you royally screw up you just pop the SD card out, flash a fresh image on, and restart.

[burnttoastnice]

31 minutes ago, manikyath said:

in short, a pi isnt just a device that allows you to do these things, it makes the learning experience fun, exciting, and inviting. and if you royally screw up you just pop the SD card out, flash a fresh image on, and restart.

I've got the Model 2 which I think has the improved power supply, but since I've recently got myself a soldering kit and a glue gun I might get into some hardware modding. I wish some of the newer more affordable boards had better support and documentation though - I was considering getting myself a CHIP at one point but I'll hold off until that project picks up some more traction.