Exploring Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi is a small, low-cost computing platform that can be adapted for 1000s of electronic applications. It can use the free Linux operating system, which allows it to do very complex tasks, such as connecting to the Internet, acting as a web server and streaming live video data. 

Available books on the topic skirt over the engineering principles, often requiring readers to have the exact same electronics hardware in order to follow their recipe. This approach often only imparts superficial knowledge as, when the design needs to be changed, the reader does not have the necessary skills. Exploring Raspberry Pi’s aim is that readers will be able to build systems that use any type of electronics, electronic modules or external peripherals. The book caters to advanced beginners, providing all of the engineering skills that they need to transition to being an expert user. 

The first part of the book deals with the basics of using the Raspberry Pi, ensuring the reader can use the platform and that they have all of the necessary electronics, Linux and programming skills in order to build basic embedded Linux applications. The second part deals with the intermediate topics of interfacing, controlling and communicating with almost any type of electronics component or module. The final part of the book looks at how the Raspberry Pi can be used for advanced applications including: interacting with real world objects, programming, working with video and images, audio, and more.

Chapters will fully integrate the video content on the author's YouTube channel and his web/blog site. In addition, there will be a full git repository that will structure all of the code, scripts and associated supplementary materials against the chapter structure.

Chapters include:

• CH1 Introduction to the RPi Hardware
• CH2 Software for the RPi Platform
• CH3 Exploring Embedded Linux Systems
• CH4 Interfacing Electronics
• CH5 Practical RPi Programming
• CH6 Interfacing to the RPi Inputs/Outputs
• CH7 Cross-Compilation
• CH8 Interfacing to the RPi Buses
• CH9 Interfacing with the Physical World
• CH10 Wireless Communication
• CH11 The Internet of Things
• CH12 RPi with a Rich UI
• CH13 Images, Video, and Understanding
• CH14 Audio

The ideal reader for this book would be a Maker or Engineering Student who has taken on embedded Linux out of a love of technology and a desire to acquire new knowledge. 

DR. DEREK MOLLOY is a senior lecturer at the School of Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Dublin City University, Ireland. He is also the author of the hugely popular book on the BeagleBone platform titled Exploring BeagleBone, also published by Wiley. His popular YouTube video series has introduced millions of people to embedded Linux and digital electronics topics. He has received several awards for teaching and learning, including the 2012 Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA) national award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. The same year, he was also awarded the Dublin City University President's Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.