installation

Installation

This is a how to guide to install piComputer. Work in progress.

Install a minimal Raspberry Pi OS

Install a minimal raspian Raspberry Pi OS on your pi following official guide.

Setup wifi and ssh. You'll need an internet access.

Get configuration files and scripts

Connect to your pi thru ssh (or plug your pi to a standard hdmi screen, the wide screen does not work out of the box).

Clone (or download) and run the install bash script.

e.g.

sudo apt install git
git clone https://github.com/qtaped/picomputer.git
cd picomputer
chmod +X install.sh
./install.sh

The install script will basically run apt to install some packages (zsh, vim, xorg-server, i3, polybar, rofi, dunst...) and links configuration files.

Where are the files?

All configuration files and scripts will be move in $HOME/.picomputer once installed (it is a hidden folder). The install script will make symbolic links to standard path. e.g. $HOME/.picomputer/config/i3 → $HOME/.config/i3/config

Tweak files

At this stage, the install script DOES NOT copy those files, you have to do it manually

Files concerned are in system folder.

Some tweaks are needed in order to rotate the screen and get the right resolution with graphic acceleration. In both console and graphical mode.

1. Setup HDMI copy system/config.txt to /boot/

sudo mv /boot/config.txt /boot/config.txt.backup
sudo cp $HOME/.picomputer/system/config.txt /boot/

Note: In this file, a GPIO Default State is changed, it allows you to turn on/off the screen by controlling output2 on retroPSU, and always keep it on if piComputer restart.

2. Rotate screen in console mode add fbcon=rotate:3 to file /boot/cmdline.txt (see example)

3. Graphical acceleration Run raspi-config to install glamor drivers.
   copy system/00-picomputer.conf
sudo cp $HOME/.picomputer/system/00-picomputer.conf /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/

4. Increase and change font in console mode (optional)

Edit /etc/default/console-setup to include the following:

FONTFACE="TerminusBold"
FONTSIZE="12x24"

Reboot

reboot your piComputer.