Skip to content

Commit

Permalink
Update readme and version number in preparation of a minor release.
Browse files Browse the repository at this point in the history
  • Loading branch information
tinue committed Jan 14, 2023
1 parent f35a2e1 commit b1f9cea
Show file tree
Hide file tree
Showing 2 changed files with 14 additions and 23 deletions.
35 changes: 13 additions & 22 deletions README.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
Apa102-pi is a pure Python library to drive APA102 and SK9822 type LED strands. It is supposed to work on a Raspberry
Pi, and is not tested on any other platform.

Be advised that I consider this library to be "done", and don't plan to develop more functionality.
I still monitor the Github page for issues or pull requests, and will release minor updates
from time to time.

APA102 LEDs are typically 5050 type LEDs with an additional driver chip per LED.
The driver chip takes care of receiving the desired colour via its input lines, and then holding
this colour until a new command arrives.
Expand All @@ -27,7 +31,7 @@ via the Python interpreter. However, if you need something really fast, e.g. to
small "display" based on APA102 LEDs with 15 frames per second, then you have to look elsewhere.

## Prerequisites
* A Raspberry Pi, running an up-to-date version of Raspbian / Raspberry Pi OS. To date, Raspberry Pi OS October 30th 2021 (Debian bullseye)
* A Raspberry Pi, running an up-to-date version of Raspbian / Raspberry Pi OS. To date, Raspberry Pi OS September 22nd 2022 (Debian bullseye)
is out, and the library works fine with this release. It should run on all Raspberry Pi models, from Zero
to 4.
* If hardware SPI is used: SPI enabled and active (`raspi-config`, Interface Options, SPI, \<Yes\>);
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -112,27 +116,13 @@ This is a Raspberry Pi 4 with a 3D RGB Xmas Tree from Pi Hut:
Because the Raspberry Pi Zero runs headless, I recommend using the Raspberry Pi OS *Lite* image.
This image only contains the bare minimum of packages, and some packages have be added manually.

The current Raspberry Pi OS Lite images can easily be set-up to run headless from the start.
After burning the card on a Mac or PC, it will be mounted as "boot". Go to this directory,
and create an empty file named `ssh` to enable SSH.
On a Mac you would do this: `touch /Volumes/boot/ssh`. To enable and configure WLAN, create
a file named `wpa_supplicant.conf`. Its content should be:

country=CH
ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1

network={
ssid="Your_SSID"
psk="Your_Password"
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
}

Of course, use the correct country and ssid/psk. After booting (be patient: The Pi will initially boot twice)
you can SSH into the Raspberry Pi: `ssh pi@raspberrypi.local`. The initial password
is `raspberry`: Make sure to change it right away!
I suggest to use the [Raspberry Pi Imager](https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/) for installation.
This software allows to setup hostname, WiFi and enable SSH without further work. The
Raspberry Pi will run headless from the start, and there is no need to ever connect a display or
a keyboard.

Next, install additional packages and enable SPI:
After installation, ssh into the freshly setup Raspberry Pi and install additional packages.
Also, enable SPI:

- Update your installation (`sudo apt update && sudo apt -y upgrade`).
- Install packages: `sudo apt install -y python3-pip python3-venv python3-rpi.gpio`
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -216,4 +206,5 @@ the value from your application. Check `sample.py` to see how this is done.
- 2.3.0 (2019-11-24): Untested fix for SK9822 type LEDs; Fix name space; Update readme. Note: The namespace fix breaks compatibility with the previous version, hence the minor upgrade in the version number.
- 2.4.0 (2020-05-28): SPI: Switch from the deprecated Adafruit_GPIO to the Adafruit CircuitPython libraries; Re-test with Raspberry Pi OS 2020-05-27.
- 2.4.1 (2020-12-04): Remove global brightness parameter from the constructor; Re-test with Raspberry Pi OS 2020-12-02 (kernel 5.4) and latest Adafruit libraries. Fix default global brightness: The "conservative" value of 31 was actually 100%, because this is a 5 bit value. Also changing the branch names in Github to reflect current standards.
- 2.5.0 (2021-12-27): Add methods get_pixel and get_pixel_rgb, support to use all hardware SPI buses on RPI 4 (by explicit choice between hardware spi and bitbanging), thanks @KAN-PC046! Test with Raspberry Pi OS bullseye and Python 3.9. Add instructions on using a virtual env. Note: The interface changes, so the minor version is getting increased.
- 2.5.0 (2021-12-27): Add methods get_pixel and get_pixel_rgb, support to use all hardware SPI buses on RPI 4 (by explicit choice between hardware spi and bitbanging), thanks @KAN-PC046! Test with Raspberry Pi OS bullseye and Python 3.9. Add instructions on using a virtual env. Note: The interface changes, so the minor version is getting increased.
- 2.5.1 (2023-01-14): Really tiny release: One bugfix (thanks @leewillis77); Use logging instead of writing to console to reduce output.
2 changes: 1 addition & 1 deletion setup.py
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -5,7 +5,7 @@

setuptools.setup(
name="apa102-pi",
version="2.5.0",
version="2.5.1",
author="Martin Erzberger",
author_email="martin@erzberger.ch",
description="Driver for APA102 LEDs on a Raspberry Pi",
Expand Down

0 comments on commit b1f9cea

Please sign in to comment.