diff --git a/source/_posts/2016-07-06-pocketchip-running-home-assistant.markdown b/source/_posts/2016-07-06-pocketchip-running-home-assistant.markdown new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..417a5a5fe71 --- /dev/null +++ b/source/_posts/2016-07-06-pocketchip-running-home-assistant.markdown @@ -0,0 +1,64 @@ +--- +layout: post +title: "PocketCHIP running Home Assistant" +description: "Taking Home Assistant for a spin on a PocketChip." +date: 2016-07-06 05:00:00 +0000 +date_formatted: "July 06, 2016" +author: Fabian Affolter +author_twitter: fabaff +comments: true +categories: How-To +og_image: /images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/social.png +--- + + +Over a year ago I participated in the [kickstarter campain](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1598272670/chip-the-worlds-first-9-computer/description) for "CHIP - The World's First Nine Dollar Computer" by [Next Thing Co.](https://www.nextthing.co/). I went for the PocketCHIP because of the idea. Display, built-in storage (thus no need for SD cards), battery-powered, and a keyboard are pretty nice features. Last week a package arrives... + + + +Thanks to [Next Thing Co.](https://www.nextthing.co/) and their CHIP which is actually 9 USD the space requirement for a single board computer has decreased. No ethernet and HDMI output helped with that. But I guess that the next development cycle will allow us to put those boards in a matchbox including wired networking and a SATA interface. + +

+ + Size comparison of a Cubieboard, OrangePi One, and CHIP. +

+ +If you start using a PocketCHIP you will definitly look like a Blackberry or a GameBoy user. Typing is done with your thumbs :-) + +First a couple of tweaks like setting up `sudo`, upgradeing the existing installation, change passwords, enabling ssh, and removal of the annoying stuff then installation of Home Assistant. There is not much to tell...it's straight-forward. For the sake of completeness below the notes about what I did. + +A Debian installation is available by default. This means that some dependencies for Home Assistant are missing. I haven't checked if a new build for the PocketCHIP would include them. So, after a `$ sudo apt-get update` installing those dependencies take a minute or two. + +```bash +$ sudo apt-get install python3-dev python3-pip python3-venv +``` + +As usual I run Python applications in a [venv](https://docs.python.org/3/library/venv.html). + +```bash +$ pvenv ha +``` + +Let's activate the created environment. + +```bash +$ cd ha +$ source bin/activate +``` + +If you haven't seen the next two commands already then you should definitiy visit our [frontsite](https://home-assistant.io/). + +```bash +$ pip3 install homeassistant +$ hass --open-ui +``` + +With `surf` the browsing experience on the low-resolution display is not that great. Most shartphones, even very cheap ones, have touchscreens with higher resolutions. Nevermind, [`midori`](https://twitter.com/fabaff/status/748852317047418880) is not better. + +

+ + PocketCHIP with Home Assistant frontend +

+ +Well, with PocketCHIP and Home Assistant you could run your home automation on a 49 USD device with a touchscreen, an integrated USP, and a keyboard. With the GPIO available on top of the display you could even connect your PocketCHIP directly to sensors and actuators. + diff --git a/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/pocketchip-logo.png b/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/pocketchip-logo.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..7b30de7e986 Binary files /dev/null and b/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/pocketchip-logo.png differ diff --git a/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/pocketchip.png b/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/pocketchip.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..71ad285ba3d Binary files /dev/null and b/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/pocketchip.png differ diff --git a/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/size.png b/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/size.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..062d1b8a9b6 Binary files /dev/null and b/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/size.png differ diff --git a/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/social.png b/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/social.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..17708364e24 Binary files /dev/null and b/source/images/blog/2016-07-pocketchip/social.png differ