Setup: Scratch GPIO
Pi-Stop Resource Files
These Pi-Stop resource are available as fully customisable Markdown documents on the Pi-Stop github page.
Each of the guides are also available in PDF format, and in several other automatically generated variants (for example, this includes versions which have instructions for the Model Plus only, or the original model).
Setup: Scratch GPIO
What is Scratch?
Scratch is a beginner friendly way to program the Raspberry Pi, designed for those who have not programmed before and are put off by the random keyboard mashing type code normal programming typically produces.
Programs are simply created by dragging and dropping various types of blocks together to produce a sequence of instructions to follow. The default character who is tasked with following all these instructions is “Scratch” the cat!
A typical program is shown below:
On the surface Scratch is deceptively simple, however do not let that fool you, there is a lot that can be done by putting a few blocks together and because you are not distracted by syntax and confusing commands, you can really focus bring your ideas to life and what you want to achieve.
Introducing Scratch GPIO
Scratch GPIO was created by Simon Walters (@cymplecy) to allow Scratch to interact with physical hardware. Full details of Scratch GPIO is available on his website:
http://cymplecy.wordpress.com/scratchgpio/
(Alternatively try: https://cymplecy.wordpress.com/scratchgpio/scratch-raspberrypi-gpio/)
How to install Scratch GPIO
Obtain Scratch GPIO
Scratch GPIO is installed from a single setup file.
If an internet connection is available, obtain the Scratch GPIO setup file by running the following command.
sudo wget http://goo.gl/Pthh62 –O install_scratchgpio5.sh
Or download the file directly on another computer and copy it to your Raspberry Pi SD-Card or a USB drive (see the TIPs below for details on how to access it on the Raspberry Pi):
TIP: In the workshop, preconfigured SD-Cards are available which can also be connected to the USB of the Raspberry Pi. They will contain the required setup file.
Run the install script
Run the script to install Scratch GPIO using the following command:
sudo bash install_scratchgpio5.sh
It is as simple as that, Scratch GPIO is installed on your system!
If you have any problems, see the TIPs below for additional help.
Safely shutdown your Raspberry Pi
Before we continue, you will need to shutdown and power off the Raspberry Pi so we can fit our hardware onto the GPIO pins.
WARNING: It is advisable to only connect and disconnect hardware to the GPIO pins when the Raspberry Pi is switched off to avoid damage.
If your Raspberry Pi automatically starts in the desktop, click on the red power button in the bottom right corner and select Shutdown from the menu which comes up. Or open a terminal window (by clicking on the Terminal icon or selecting from the menu).
From the terminal type the command sudo shutdown -h now.
When the green activity (ACT) LED on the Raspberry Pi has stopped flashing (for over 5 seconds) you can safely disconnect the power.
WORKSHEET: Put a big tick in the checkbox marked “I have installed Scratch GPIO!”
TIP 1: If you have a different user name to the default pi user, use the following command:
sudo bash install_scratchgpio5.sh yourid
TIP 2: If you have copied the file to your Raspberry Pi SD-Card you can access it as shown below (depending if you have a NOOBS setup or not).
When using NOOBS, only the RECOVERY partition of the SD-Card will be visible on many computers, so you can copy the file there. To access this partition on the Raspberry Pi it will need to be mounted before you can run the script:
mkdir ~/recovery
sudo mount –t vfat /dev/mmcblk0p1 ~/recovery
sudo bash ~/recovery/install_scratchgpio5.shIf using a basic imaged system (non-NOOBS), the file can be run directly from the BOOT partition:
sudo bash /dev/boot/install_scratchgpio5.sh
TIP 3: If you have the files on a USB device, you can access the
install_scratchgpio5.shas follows:Insert the USB device or USB SD-Card reader with the Workshop SD-Card inside, into one of the Raspberry Pi’s SD-Card.
From the terminal, use the following command:
sudo fdisk -lThis will list all the drives and partitions detected on the system (if it is not detected as sda1 you can adjust the commands as needed).
mkdir ~/sdcard
sudo mount –t vfat /dev/sda1 ~/sdcard
sudo bash ~/sdcard/install_scratchgpio5.sh
How does it work?
The broadcast block
In addition to the normal Scratch blocks as shown above, Scratch is able to shout (called broadcast) messages to anything which is listening.
The Scratch GPIO Helper
Scratch GPIO is a slightly modified version of standard Scratch which has an additional helper (scratchgpiohandler.py) running in the background. The GPIO helper listens for any broadcast massages which it understands and controls the connected hardware accordingly.
Install our hardware
First before we plug in our hardware, shut-down the Raspberry Pi if you haven’t done so already (see above).
The Pi-Stop should be connected to your Raspberry Pi GPIO header P1 using Location A (LEDs facing outwards), as follows:
Location A for Model A+ or B+ (purchased after July 2014)
Location A for Model A or B (purchased before July 2014)
SEE ALSO:
For more information about Pi-Stop and how to use it: Discover: The Pi-Stop
WORKSHEET: Put another tick in the checkbox marked “I have powered down the Raspberry Pi and fitted the Pi-Stop in location A”
Run Scratch GPIO
Plug the power cable back into the Raspberry Pi and let it start up.
If you are still in the Raspberry Pi terminal, start the desktop environment using:
startx
When the desktop has reloaded, you will discover two new icons:
Scratch GPIO 5 is the standard version, while Scratch GPIO 5 plus provides additional support for several add-on boards.
NOTE: If you are using a remote connection and X-Forwarding, you can run Scratch GPIO with the following commands:
sudo cp ~/.Xauthority ~root/
sudo ~/scratchgpio5/./scratchgpio5.sh
Performing our first test with Pi-Stop
When you switch on your Raspberry Pi you will probably see the Pi-Stop’s Red and Yellow LEDs are ON. Once you have started Scratch GPIO and it has enabled the remote sensor connections, you may find that these LEDs have switched OFF or dimmed.
Take control
The program starts with two default Broadcast blocks, with the messages pin26on and pin26off setup.
We can immediately control our Pi-Stop lights by clicking directly on each of the broadcast blocks to switch on or off the Red light of our Pi-Stop.
WORKSHEET: Put a final tick for this section in the checkbox marked “I have tested Scratch GPIO with the Pi-Stop and it works!”
Where to get your Pi-Stop
The Pi-Stop was designed in partnership between 4Tronix.co.uk and PiHardware.com.
The Pi-Stop and accessories are available from the 4Tronix.co.uk shop.
The Pi-Stop workshop materials are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
The Pi-Stop name and logo are Trademark of PiHardware.com and the design is Copyright 2014 of 4Tronix.com and PiHardware.com.
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