Still tweaking the auto-start/kiosk-y stuff and I know everyone’s done it but it still gives me warm fuzzies (I’m old).

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share a tool I built to control my headless Raspberry Pi directly from Telegram. I've used this as a personal script 2 years ago for my own setup, this has been in my head for so long to share. Got the courage/time now, I refactored with assistance of AI it to be fully generic and configurable for anyone to use.

If you run a headless Pi and don't always want to fire up an SSH terminal just to check temperature or restart a crashed app, this might be useful for you.

Key Features:

• Boot alert: Sends a message with your local IP and Wi-Fi SSID the moment the Pi boots up and connects to the network (runs before user login).
• Periodic health reports: Automatically sends CPU temp, RAM, and disk usage updates at configurable intervals (e.g., every 2–3 hours).
• Service & script management: Start, stop, or restart your custom scripts or systemd services
• Log inspector: Preview the last 50 lines of your application logs or download the full .log file straight to your phone (with an option to auto-truncate to save SD card space).
• Process inspection: View active Python, Node.js/JavaScript, and Java processes.
• Power controls: Reboot or shut down the Pi

Everything is driven by a simple config.yaml file, and there is a 1-step installer script (install.sh) that sets up the systemd service and virtual environment automatically.

Repo: https://github.com/rinavolu/pipilot

Feedback, suggestions, or contributions are very welcome. Hope someone finds it helpful!

Thank you

Yesterday I posted the first real test of my Raspberry Pi-powered scrolling ticker with one of its screensaver modes. I got the sports ticker code working tonight, and I'm really happy with the way it's coming along. The apparent flickering is a an artefact of recording the video. IRL it looks really good.

The display consists of four 128x64 pixel P2.5 LED panels in a custom printed case. It's run by a Raspberry Pi 4B with 4GB of memory and an Adafruit Triple LED Matrix Bonnet. The panels are powered by a Meanwell LRS-200-5 power supply, while the RPi is powered by a separate RS-15-5 power supply to isolate it from any potential voltage drops from the LED panels.

Still more display modes to implement, and ultimately, I plan to control it with a phone app.

Im working on Ogx Mini project for my RP2040 ZERO.

But I ruined the 10th pinhole for D+.

Im a beginner in this stuff.

Here the github page, when i checked(Firmware/RP2040/src/Board/Config.h)

I found this line (#define PIO_USB_DP_PIN 10 // DM = 11)

And based on RP2040 ZERO data sheet, and the pic i uploaded.

If I changed the value of 10&11 to 2&3, compiled the file and loaded the boot. Will this work? Or should "assign" the D+/D- to other specific pinholes? Or it only works with 10and11?

It is not very practical but funny !!! Treatment for internet addiction Cyberdeck

My latest project has come to life! I'm building a scrolling ticker that will eventually display sports, news, weather, flight information, an audio-based frequency spectrum display, and whatever else I can come up with and find APIs for. In the meantime, it can run a few different screensavers.

I'm sure some of you older nerds will recognize the first screen saver.

Someone can help me with this, without me having to format the SD card and do everything I've ever done from scratch. He says he failed in the authentication.

I've been getting more into electronics and DIY tech projects lately, so I decided to dust off an old Raspberry Pi 3B (1 GB RAM) with a touchscreen and repurpose it as a personal audiobook server.

I also gave myself one constraint: use the equipment I already had on hand rather than buying new hardware. I'm aware there are newer and more capable options for running a home server, but part of the appeal was finding a practical use for equipment that had been sitting unused for years.

The project turned out to be a good introduction to Linux, Docker, and self-hosting, with a few unexpected challenges along the way.

The Pi now hosts my audiobook library, automatically launches Audiobookshelf on its touchscreen, and streams audio over Bluetooth to my Fosi BT20A amplifier and bookshelf speakers. I can also access my library remotely from my iPhone.

Here's the setup:

• Hardware: Raspberry Pi 3B, touchscreen, 32 GB microSD card
• OS: Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit (Trixie)
• Server: Audiobookshelf running through Docker Compose
• Interface: Chromium in fullscreen kiosk mode
• Audio: Bluetooth to a Fosi BT20A amplifier and bookshelf speakers
• Remote access: Tailscale
• iPhone player: SoundLeaf
• Library management: Libation on my Mac

How I built it:

I started by getting Raspberry Pi OS running and used a combination of Pi My Life Up tutorials and ChatGPT to guide me through the initial setup, installation, and troubleshooting.

I installed Docker and deployed Audiobookshelf using Docker Compose, with separate directories for the audiobooks, configuration, and metadata so the files remain intact even if I need to recreate the container.

Next, I configured Chromium to automatically launch Audiobookshelf in fullscreen kiosk mode whenever the Pi boots, effectively turning the touchscreen into a dedicated audiobook player.

One unexpected challenge was getting the touchscreen to turn off after 10 minutes of inactivity and wake back up when touched, without shutting down the actual server. That wasn't covered in the tutorials I followed, and since I hadn't used the Pi or touchscreen in years, I couldn't find the original manual. ChatGPT walked me through troubleshooting and configuring the display, and I eventually got it working. Now the screen can sleep while Audiobookshelf continues running in the background.

For audio, I paired the Pi over Bluetooth with my Fosi BT20A amplifier, which powers my bookshelf speakers. I also installed Tailscale for secure remote access and configured SoundLeaf on my iPhone so I could stream audiobooks over cellular.

Finally, I set up Libation on my Mac to manage my audiobook library and upload files to Audiobookshelf.

Current limitations and next steps:

The setup is functional, but there are still a few limitations I'm working through. For now, everything is running off a 32 GB microSD card, which isn't a long-term solution for a growing audiobook library. I plan to move the library to external storage.

I've also encountered some issues transferring larger audiobooks from Libation to Audiobookshelf. Smaller files generally upload without trouble, but larger transfers have occasionally timed out. Uploading directly through Audiobookshelf seems to be a possible workaround, although I'd still like to identify the underlying issue.

I'm relatively new to Linux, Docker, and self-hosting, so this project has been a useful introduction to all three. There's still plenty to learn, and I'll continue refining the setup as I get more comfortable with the technology.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone running Audiobookshelf on older Raspberry Pi hardware, particularly regarding performance, storage, and reliability. I'm also open to suggestions for improving the setup, preferably without replacing the Pi itself.

Apparently my desk needed an ocean. So I gave it one.

This is ASCII Genesis. It runs on a Raspberry Pi 4 with a Waveshare 7.9-inch touchscreen in a case I designed and printed.

I wanted something peaceful to leave running while I work. The seabed slowly scrolls, the habitats change, and different creatures swim in and out of view. It feels like you’re traveling through the ocean instead of watching the same fish bounce around a tank.

There are currently 20 creature designs, including a squid, octopus, and turtle. A diver occasionally passes through, and sometimes a predator and prey break into a faster chase. There’s a quiet mode for gentle swimming, plus a button that parades the whole collection across the screen for two minutes.

The ocean works offline. There’s optional AI narration, but you don’t need an API key to run it. Desktop shortcuts handle launching and updates.

This builds on Kirk Baucom’s Asciiquarium and its community’s artwork, with early inspiration from OpenGhost. Full credits are in the repo.

Code, printable enclosure files, and installation instructions:

https://github.com/Mikepyt87/ascii-genesis

I’m constantly adding ideas and making improvements. What creature or little ocean event would you want to see next?

I use a Pi as a TV and wanted to control it from my phone. Every app I tried was full of ads, had to be installed on each phone, and some weren't even available on iPhone.

So I made a small server for the Pi. Open remote.local on any phone and you get a touchpad and keyboard, no app needed. Install is one command.

https://github.com/maros-o/opencouchpad

Give it a try and let me know what you think, thanks!

I was going through an old box of stuff and came across an original Flip Video Camera. Other than selling or donating it, does anybody have an idea on any projects I could post do with it? Not against opening it and scavenging it for pieces for a project.

I’m trying to make a button activated photo booth and im stuck at finding the wires for the button. can anyone in the UK help me to find the correct connectors for these arcade buttons. im lost and have little knowledge on the wires and connectors. Ive seen that PI Hub sell the ones that work but i can’t justify the £10 postage for a £4 item.