Raspberry Pi programming course

Lesson 1 • Raspberry Pi Models and Specifications

Covers differences among Pi models, processor specs, RAM, and connectivity. Builds hardware literacy needed for all subsequent chapters.

Lesson 2 • Network and Remote Access Setup

Configures Wi-Fi, SSH, and VNC for remote development. Enables headless operation used throughout advanced chapters.

Lesson 3 • Required Peripherals and Accessories

Identifies essential peripherals: power supply, SD card, display, and input devices. Ensures students assemble a complete, functional workstation.

Lesson 4 • Installing the Operating System

Guides students through flashing Raspberry Pi OS onto an SD card and booting the system. Establishes the software foundation for all coding work.

Lesson 1 • Process and System Management

Covers monitoring running processes, managing services, and checking system resources. Prepares students to troubleshoot and optimise Pi performance.

Lesson 2 • Navigating the Terminal

Introduces the Bash shell, prompt structure, and essential navigation commands. Forms the operational baseline for all terminal-based tasks ahead.

Lesson 3 • File and Directory Operations

Covers creating, copying, moving, and deleting files and directories. Directly supports project organisation in every subsequent chapter.

Lesson 4 • Package Management with APT

Explains installing, updating, and removing software using APT. Enables students to extend the Pi's capabilities with third-party tools and libraries.

Lesson 1 • Python Syntax and Data Types

Introduces variables, data types, operators, and basic I/O. Establishes the syntax foundation required for every Python script in this course.

Lesson 2 • Control Flow and Loops

Covers if/elif/else conditionals and for/while loops. Enables students to write programmes that respond to conditions and repeat actions.

Lesson 3 • Lists, Dictionaries, and File I/O

Covers core data structures and reading/writing files. Students store sensor data and configuration values in structured formats.

Lesson 4 • Functions and Modules

Teaches defining reusable functions and importing standard library modules. Promotes modular code design used in all hardware and network projects.

Lesson 1 • GPIO Pin Concepts and Safety

Explains GPIO pin numbering, voltage levels, and current limits. Prevents hardware damage and establishes safe wiring practices for all projects.

Lesson 2 • Pulse Width Modulation

Uses PWM to control LED brightness and servo motor position. Extends output control from binary on/off to variable analogue-like signals.

Lesson 3 • Breadboard Circuit Construction

Teaches breadboard layout, schematic reading, and component wiring. Enables students to prototype circuits safely before soldering or permanent assembly.

Lesson 4 • Controlling Output Devices

Programmes GPIO pins as outputs to control LEDs and buzzers with RPi.GPIO. Demonstrates the output half of the input/output programming model.

Lesson 1 • UART Serial Communication

Configures UART for serial communication with GPS modules and microcontrollers. Teaches parsing serial data streams into usable Python objects.

Lesson 2 • SPI Communication Protocol

Covers SPI clock, MOSI, MISO, and chip-select lines with spidev. Reads an ADC chip to convert analogue sensor voltages to digital values.

Lesson 3 • Data Logging and Storage

Stores timestamped sensor readings in CSV files and SQLite databases. Prepares data for visualisation and analysis in later chapters.

Lesson 4 • I2C Communication Protocol

Explains I2C bus architecture, addresses, and Python smbus2 usage. Connects temperature and pressure sensors as practical I2C examples.

Lesson 1 • Cloud Platform Integration

Connects the Pi to cloud IoT platforms for remote monitoring and control. Students configure device credentials and visualise live data on cloud dashboards.

Lesson 2 • Socket Programming Basics

Introduces TCP and UDP sockets using Python's socket library. Establishes peer-to-peer communication skills underlying all network protocols.

Lesson 3 • MQTT Protocol for IoT

Implements publish/subscribe messaging with Mosquitto and paho-mqtt. Connects the Pi to IoT brokers for lightweight, real-time data exchange.

Lesson 4 • Building a Flask Web Server

Creates a lightweight web server on the Pi using Flask to serve sensor data. Enables browser-based monitoring without external cloud services.

Lesson 1 • Motion Detection

Detects motion by comparing consecutive frames using background subtraction. Triggers GPIO outputs or alerts when movement is detected.

Lesson 2 • Object Classification with TensorFlow Lite

Runs a pre-trained TensorFlow Lite model on the Pi for object classification. Introduces edge AI inference within the hardware constraints of the Pi.

Lesson 3 • Pi Camera Module Setup

Connects and configures the Pi Camera module using the Picamera2 library. Establishes the capture pipeline required for all vision-based projects.

Lesson 4 • Image Processing with OpenCV

Applies OpenCV operations including resizing, colour conversion, and filtering. Prepares raw camera frames for feature detection and analysis.

Lesson 1 • Systemd Service Deployment

Packages Python applications as systemd services that start automatically on boot. Enables reliable, unattended operation of deployed Pi projects.

Lesson 2 • Multithreading and Async Programming

Uses threading and asyncio to run concurrent tasks such as sensor reading and networking. Prevents blocking that degrades real-time system responsiveness.

Lesson 3 • Capstone Project Planning and Execution

Guides students through scoping, building, and documenting a complete Pi project. Integrates hardware, software, networking, and deployment skills into one deliverable.

Lesson 4 • Performance Profiling and Optimisation

Profiles Python scripts with cProfile and optimises CPU and memory usage. Addresses the Pi's limited resources to achieve acceptable real-time performance.