What you need for this book

This book focuses on using the Raspberry Pi with Python 3; therefore, a basic Raspberry Pi setup is required. Chapters 1 to 5 of this book make use of the Raspberry Pi only; no additional hardware is required beyond a standard setup.

The standard setup will consist of a Raspberry Pi (Model A or Model B, Version 1, 2 or 3); an SD card installed with Raspbian; a suitable micro USB power supply; and an HDMI-compatible screen, keyboard, and mouse. You will also be required to download and install various software packages; therefore, the Raspberry Pi should have a working internet connection.

Chapter 1, Getting Started with a Raspberry Pi Computer, also describes how to use the screen/keyboard/mouse of a laptop or another computer to access the Raspberry Pi (you just need a network cable and power).

Chapter 6, Using Python to Drive Hardware, and Chapter 7, Sense and Display Real-World Data, show how electronic components can be connected to the Raspberry Pi's interfaces. These components will be needed in order to complete these chapters.

Chapter 8, Creating Projects with the Raspberry Pi Camera Module, requires the Raspberry Pi camera module for each of the projects (although a compatible USB webcam could be substituted by adjusting the code).

Chapter 9, Building Robots, uses a range of hardware and electronics to build your own robots. You can either use your own parts or a suitable kit for this.

Chapter 10, Interfacing with Technology, shows how additional hardware can be connected to the interfaces of the Raspberry Pi using various modules and kits.

A full list of the hardware used (and the possible places to purchase it from) has been provided in the Appendix, Hardware and Software List.