IoT Workshop and Hackathon with balena
Are you curious about how IoT development works? Have you been thinking about building an IoT project? Or maybe you're already an experienced hardware hacker looking to take your skills to the next level?
Join balena for a workshop + hackathon and learn how to build IoT projects using powerful development tools from the web and cloud. We'll use Docker and balena to write, build & deploy software for Raspberry Pis to control LEDs, take input, read from sensors, and more. We'll share some sample projects to get you started, but what you build is completely up to you!
For this workshop, you will be using the recently released Raspberry Pi 4 with a Sense HAT. As an attendee you need to bring a laptop you can develop on, but you'll receive all the IoT hardware required, both to use in the workshop and to keep for yourself afterward, so you can continue with your projects later.
FAQs
Will there be food provided?
Yes, we will provide lunch, and plenty of snacks, drinks, and coffee.
Do I need to bring a laptop to the hackathon?
Yes, please bring your own laptop to the hackathon! And don't forget the charger.
Can I bring my own hardware to use at the hackathon?
Definitely! It helps, though, if you check what sort of devices are currently supported on balena. And remember that we'll have hardware kits available for all attendees to use and keep.
How can I prepare myself for the hackathon?
If you're completely new to balena and/or the Internet of Things, don't worry! We'll go step-by-step through everything you need to get started. However, if you want to make the most of your time and the expertise we'll have on hand, there are a few things you can do beforehand to hit the ground running:
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Know the basics of working in a Linux terminal (on Windows 10? Go here first)
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Install Git and learn a few basics. We'll use Git to deploy code to your devices
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Install balenaEtcher. BalenaEtcher will be used to flash your SD card with balenaOS
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Install balena-cli, you will need it to push code to your device
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Create a balenaCloud account
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From your balenaCloud account, create an application for the Raspberry Pi 4 device type, and download the latest balenaOS image. We recommend you download both a .dev and a .prod image to use at the hackathon.
With this list completed, you'll have all the tools you need to dive into the workshops. And you if want to be super prepared, take some time to learn about the technologies you'll be working with:
Are there examples of projects I'll be able to work on?
We've got a handful of projects that have everything you need to deploy to your device without modification. These are great for getting familiar with balena, and they can serve as a base for your project:
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A base application for Sense HAT projects
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A simple web server for controlling the Sense HAT with Amazon's Alexa
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Snake on the Sense HAT—uses the joystick and built with Node.js
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Tunnel game on the Sense HAT—uses the orientation sensors and built with Python
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A Sense HAT binary clock
There's also a couple of libraries to make developing with the Sense HAT easier:
What's the schedule for the day?
It'll be flexible, but you can expect something like:
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10:30 am: doors open
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11-11:30 am: welcome and intro to balena
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11:30am-12:30pm: getting started with balena
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12:30 - 1pm: developing on balena
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1-1:30pm: lunch
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1:30-2pm: quick intro to hardware, sense HATS, and sample projects
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2-7pm: hardware hacking!
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7 pm: project show and tell
Code of Conduct
We want to create a friendly and welcoming environment for all hackathon participants. We expect participants to be respectful and thoughtful in their behavior towards one another.
We will not tolerate any harassment based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, appearance, religion, level of knowledge and experience, or any other attribute. We reserve the right to dismiss any attendees who exhibit unwelcome, disruptive, or hostile behavior.