Word count of this article: 3596, reading time approximately: 6 minutesI love history and I love computers, so rather than how computers became personal accessories, I prefer to hear the story of how they became everyday household appliances. A story I often hear is how simple computers were a long time ago (which is quite a while in computer terms). In fact, they were so simple that for a curious user, figuring out how to program was not very difficult. Now look at modern computers, which feature object-oriented programming languages, complex GUI frameworks, network APIs, containers, etc., but what’s increasingly worrying is that computing tools are becoming more and more difficult to understand, essentially unusable for those without specialized training.
Since the Raspberry Pi was launched in 2012, it has been positioned as an educational platform. Some third-party vendors support the Raspberry Pi with add-ons and training kits to help learners of all ages explore programming, physical computing, and open source. However, until recently, it was largely up to users to figure out how all the components on the market fit together, until I recently bought the CrowPi.
CrowPi is not a laptop
Introduction to CrowPi2
Crows are very intelligent birds. They can recognize and remember faces, mimic sounds they hear, solve complex puzzles, and even use tools to complete tasks. It is fitting that CrowPi uses the crow as its logo and name, as this device is filled with opportunities for exploration, experimentation, education, and most importantly, fun.
Its design is clever: it looks like a laptop, but it is much more than that. When you pull out the Bluetooth keyboard from the case, it reveals a hidden electronics workshop, complete with an LCD screen, 16 buttons, a dial, an RFID sensor, a proximity sensor, a circuit board, speakers, GPIO connections, an LED array, and more. And all of this is programmable.
As the name suggests, the device itself is fully powered by the Raspberry Pi, which is securely fixed to the bottom of the case.
The Raspberry Pi board of CrowPi
By default, you should charge the device with the power adapter, the package includes a wall plug that you can plug into the case instead of powering the Raspberry Pi directly. You can also use a battery power source plugged into the external micro USB port. There is even a drawer inside the case for you to store the battery. When doing this, a USB cable pops out from the battery drawer and plugs into the case’s power port, so you won’t get the illusion that this is a “normal” laptop. However, it is ideal that such a device can have such a beautiful design!
First Booting of the System
CrowPi2 provides a microSD card pre-installed with the Raspbian system, labeled “System”, but it also provides a second microSD card loaded with RetroPie. As a responsible adult (ahem), I naturally booted into RetroPie first.
RetroPie is always fun, and the CrowPi2 comes with two Super NES-style game controllers, ensuring you get the best retro gaming experience.
What is amazing is that the process of booting into the actual Raspbian system is just as fun, if not more so. Its login manager is a custom project center with some quick links, such as programming sample projects, Python and Arduino IDE, Scratch, Python sample games, Minecraft, etc. You can also choose to exit the project center and just use the desktop.
CrowPi Center
For those familiar with Raspberry Pi or Linux, the CrowPi desktop is familiar enough to be easy to use. There is an application menu in the upper left corner, shortcut icons on the desktop, and a system tray in the upper right corner for network selection and volume control, etc.
CrowPi Desktop
There is a lot to choose from on the CrowPi, so you might find it hard to decide where to start. For me, it mainly divides into four categories: programming, physical electronics, Linux, and gaming.
There is a manual in the box, so you’ll know how to connect (for example, the keyboard is battery-powered, so it sometimes needs charging, and it always requires a USB adapter with the mouse). While the manual can be read quickly, this example also fully demonstrates how seriously the CrowPi team takes the manual.
CrowPi Documentation
Programming
If you want to learn how to code, there are many successful paths on CrowPi. You can choose the path that suits you best.
1. Scratch
Scratch is a simple visual coding application that allows you to combine code blocks like building with LEGO bricks to create games and interactive stories. This is the easiest way to start your programming journey; I have seen children as young as 8 spend hours figuring out the best algorithms for the games they design. Of course, it’s not just for kids! Adults can have a lot of fun with it too. Don’t know where to start? The package includes a 99-page booklet (printed on paper) with Scratch lessons and projects for you to try.
2. Java and Minecraft
Minecraft is not open source (although there are several open source projects that have replicated it), but it has enough resources available that it is often used to teach programming. Minecraft is written in Java, and CrowPi is preloaded with Minecraft Pi Edition and BlueJ Java IDE, making learning Java easier and more fun than ever.
3. Python and PyGame
CrowPi has several really fun games that are written in Python and PyGame game engine. You can play these games and then look at their source code to understand how the games work. CrowPi includes Geany, Thonny, and Mu editors, so you can start programming in Python right away. Just like Scratch, the package includes a booklet with lessons so you can learn the basics of Python.
Electronics
Hidden under the keyboard is a physical electronics workshop, essentially a series of Pi Hats (hardware attached on top). To help you get to know all the components, CrowPi has drawn a bilingual fold-out chart for detailed explanations. In addition, there are many sample projects to help you get started. Here is a small list:
These projects are just entry-level, as you can build more on top of them. Of course, there are more things worth exploring. The package also includes jumper wires, resistors, LEDs, and various components, so you can learn all about the GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) capabilities of the Raspberry Pi in your spare time.
However, I also found one issue: the location of the example projects is a bit hard to find. Finding the demonstration projects is easy (they are right on the CrowPi center), but the location of the source code is not very easy to find. I later discovered that most example projects are located in /usr/share/code, which you can access through the file manager or terminal.
CrowPi Peripherals
Linux
The Raspberry Pi runs a Linux system. If you have always wanted to dive deeper into Linux, then CrowPi will also be a great platform. You can explore the Linux desktop, terminal, and almost all Linux or open-source applications. If you have been reading about open source for years and are ready to dive into open source operating systems, then CrowPi is the platform you want (of course, there are many other platforms that can do this too).
Gaming
The RetroPie SD card included in the package means you can reboot and switch to a retro gaming machine, playing various old arcade games at will. It is not exactly the same as the Steam Deck, but it is also a fun and exciting mini gaming platform. Because it comes with not one but two game controllers, it is perfect for cooperative couch gaming. Most importantly, you can not only play games on CrowPi but also create your own games.
Equipped with a Screwdriver
Since I sat down to start using the CrowPi2 about two weeks ago, I have not completed all the projects. There have been many nights when I had to force myself to stop tinkering with it because even when I got tired of one project, I would inevitably find other things to explore. In summary, I found a special component in the box that made me instantly know that CrowPi and I were made for each other: it was a humble little screwdriver. There are no warranty stickers that prevent you from opening it. CrowPi wants you to patch, disassemble, explore, and learn. It is not a laptop, nor is it just a Raspberry Pi; it is a portable, low-power, versatile, open-source learner’s toolkit.
via: https://opensource.com/article/21/9/raspberry-pi-crowpi2
Author: Seth Kenlon, Topic: lujun9972, Translator: XiaotingHuang22, Proofreader: wxy
This article is originally compiled by LCTT and honorably published by Linux China
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