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

Making a QR code reader


You have probably seen QR codes in various places, and perhaps even used a few to pick up links from posters or adverts. However, they can be far more useful if you make your own. The following example discusses how we can use the Raspberry Pi to read QR codes and the hidden content (or even link to an audio file or video).

This could be used to create your own personalized Raspberry Pi QR code jukebox, perhaps as an aid for children to provide solutions to math problems, or even to play an audio file of you reading your kid's favorite book as they follow along page by page. The following screenshot is an example of a QR code:

You can use QR codes to make magical self-reading books

Getting ready

This example requires a setup similar to the previous examples (except we won't need mencoder this time). We will need to install ZBar, which is a cross-platform QR code and barcode reader, and flite (a text-to-speech utility that we used in Chapter 6, Using Python to Drive Hardware...