Book Image

Raspberry Pi for Python Programmers Cookbook - Second Edition

Book Image

Raspberry Pi for Python Programmers Cookbook - Second Edition

Overview of this book

Raspberry Pi cookbook for Python Programmers is a practical guide for getting the most out of this little computer. This book begins by guiding you through setting up the Raspberry Pi, performing tasks using Python 3 and introduces the first steps to interface with electronics. As you work through each chapter you will build up your skills and knowledge and apply them as you progress throughout the book, delving further and further into the unique abilities and features of the Raspberry Pi. Later, you will learn how to automate tasks by accessing files, build applications using the popular Tkinter library and create games by controlling graphics on screen. You will harness the power of the built-in graphics processor by using Pi3D to generate your own high quality 3D graphics and environments. Connect directly to the Raspberry Pi’s hardware pins to control electronics from switching on LEDs and responding to push buttons right through to driving motors and servos. Learn how to monitor sensors to gather real life data and to use it to control other devices, and view the results over the Internet. Apply what you have learnt by creating your own Pi-Rover or Pi-Hexipod robots. Finally, we will explore using many of the purpose built add-ons available for the Raspberry Pi, as well as interfacing with common household devices in new ways.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
Raspberry Pi for Python Programmers Cookbook - Second Edition
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewer
www.PacktPub.com
Preface
Hardware and Software List
Index

Introduction


Until now, we have focused purely on command-line applications; however, there is much more to the Raspberry Pi than just the command line. By using graphical user interfaces (GUIs), it is often easier to obtain input from a user and provide feedback in a more natural way. After all, we continuously process multiple inputs and outputs all the time, so why limit ourselves to the procedural format of the command line when we don't have to?

Fortunately, Python can support this. Much like other programming languages, such as Visual Basic and C/C++/C#, this can be achieved using prebuilt objects that provide standard controls. We will use a module called Tkinter which provides a good range of controls (also referred to as widgets) and tools for creating graphical applications.

First, we will take our previous example, the encryptdecrypt.py module discussed in the How to do it… section in the Working with text and strings recipe in Chapter 2, Starting with Python Strings, Files, and...