The $8 Linux computer #Linux #RISC-V @BramStolk @thepine64
Yes, you read that right… for $8 you can run Linux on a RISC-V computer. And not just a stripped down kernel without an MMU. No, the Pine64 Ox64 comes with capable RISC-V cores. Heck, and not just one core, but three cores (all different.)
Caveat Emptor: At the time of writing, ethernet, wifi and SD-Card are not working. It’s good to realize this before jumping into this.
It looks like a microcontroller, but behaves like a UNIX machine. Getting it up and running, though, is far from trivial. There are so many hurdles to take!
Some people have found out that you can program it with an RP2040 device, like the Raspberry Pi Pico. I had a KB2040 from Adafruit lying around, so used that.
So, once it is wired this all up, flashed to binaries, what does one get?
We get root!
And that’s after booting in a blistering 0.22 seconds!
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
