Skill builders

SB5: Build the Linux kernel for your Pi # 

sudo apt install git bc bison flex libssl-dev make
git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/raspberrypi/linux
cd linux
KERNEL=kernel7l # Note that this is kernel-7-ell, not kernel-7-one
make bcm2711_defconfig

Then edit CONFIG_LOCALVERSION in .config so that it says CONFIG_LOCALVERSION="-v7l-MPP" or whatever you want to call your kernel.

make -j4 zImage modules dtbs # This step is the long one (70-90 minutes, depending on temperature)
sudo make modules_install
sudo cp arch/arm/boot/dts/*.dtb /boot/
sudo cp arch/arm/boot/dts/overlays/*.dtb* /boot/overlays/
sudo cp arch/arm/boot/dts/overlays/README /boot/overlays/
sudo cp arch/arm/boot/zImage /boot/$KERNEL.img
sudo reboot

You can check that you’re running the new kernel with uname -a. You should see something like:

Linux raspberrypi 5.10.23-v7l-MPP+ #1 SMP Sat Mar 20 16:00:23 GMT 2021 armv7l GNU/Linux

For a kernel with real-time patches applied, you can check out the rpi-4.19.y-rt branch and rebuild the kernel.

git clone --depth=1 --branch rpi-4.19.y-rt https://github.com/raspberrypi/linux

Default options you’ll see in .config:

#
# Timers subsystem
#
CONFIG_TICK_ONESHOT=y
CONFIG_NO_HZ_COMMON=y
# CONFIG_HZ_PERIODIC is not set
CONFIG_NO_HZ_IDLE=y
# CONFIG_NO_HZ_FULL is not set
CONFIG_NO_HZ=y
CONFIG_HIGH_RES_TIMERS=y
CONFIG_PREEMPT=y
CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT_BASE=y
CONFIG_HAVE_PREEMPT_LAZY=y
CONFIG_PREEMPT_LAZY=y
# CONFIG_PREEMPT_NONE is not set
# CONFIG_PREEMPT_VOLUNTARY is not set
# CONFIG_PREEMPT__LL is not set
# CONFIG_PREEMPT_RTB is not set
CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT_FULL=y
CONFIG_PREEMPT_COUNT=y

SB4: use Fabric to configure your Pi #

Fabric is a Python library for managing servers. If you find yourself setting up Raspberry Pi’s a lot, it’s a good tool for recreating the customizations that you like without having to remember all the details yourself.

Here’s a good minimal framework to get you started. Save this as a file called fabfile.py:

from fabric import task

# Usage
#
# fab -H pi@192.168.1.217 --prompt-for-login-password deploy

@task
def deploy(c):
    hostname = c.run('hostname', hide=True).stdout
    print('\033[32;1mLogged into {0}\033[0m'.format(hostname))

SB3: learn to use pastebins #

  • The next time you need to share code, create a gist at https://gist.github.com.
  • Try using https://pastebin.com at least once.
  • If you do not know how to copy and paste with your terminal program, figure it out using Google.
  • For PuTTY: https://www.alphr.com/copy-paste-putty/
  • Think of other areas of your life where inadvertent typing errors or illegible screenshots could be impairing your performance; eliminate them. Ascend to a higher plane of professional communication.

SB2: customize your Pi shell #

  • Install Zsh on your Pi
  • Install Oh-My-Zsh
  • Change the Zsh theme to one you like
  • Install at least one plugin

Here are some instructions that explain how to do both tasks together: https://www.seeedstudio.com/blog/2020/03/06/prettify-raspberry-pi-shell-with-oh-my-zsh/

If you are on Windows and using WSL2, you might find this useful: https://blog.nillsf.com/index.php/2020/02/17/setting-up-wsl2-windows-terminal-and-oh-my-zsh/

SB1: git #

  • Install git on your Raspberry Pi 4
  • Make a Github account
  • Watch the git video
  • Create a repository try to do most of the things that I do in the video.
  • See also the git page

Alternative SB1: Figure out how to compile and run Rust code on the Pico #

Already familiar with git? Great! Instead, do this:

  • Figure out how to cross-compile code written in Rust for the Pico
  • Figure out how to load and execute that code on the Pico
  • Prepare to explain what a borrow checker is to the rest of the class
  • Prepare to explain what Rust does to ensure memory safety, which is absent in C and C++