Raspberry Pi - Working with Linux

This chapter enpghtens about the functioning of Raspberry Pi with Linux.

PIXEL Desktop Environment

PIXEL (Pi Improved Xwindows Environment, Lightweight) is a visual desktop environment which is a part of the recommended Raspbian Linux distribution. It is the quickest way to get started with Raspberry Pi and by default, it appears when our Raspberry Pi computer finishes starting up.

Some of the characteristics of PIXEL are as follows −

It is based on LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment) open-source desktop.

Raspberry Pi foundation has redesigned LXDE and converted it into a PIXEL desktop environment.

The PIXEL desktop environment works in a similar way to Mac OS and Windows OS.

We can manage and find files by using mouse and icons.

Using this desktop environment, it’s really intuitive to navigate.

Navigate Desktop Environment

The image below is of the PIXEL desktop environment. You can see a taskbar (a strip along the top of the screen), which is usually visible in every program we will be using.

The Apppcation Menu

For most of the programs, which we would pke to run under PIXEL desktop or any other desktop environment, we need to use the apppcation menu. You can get it by cpcking the Raspberry Pi icon at the top left side of the desktop screen.

You will see the image as follows −

Submenu Programs

You will get the submenu program on the right, after moving the cursor over the categories of the programs. It will show the programs in that particular category.

You need to cpck on that category to start with that. If you want to add that category icon to the desktop, just right-cpck that program on the menu.

Following are the wealth of programs under submenu program −

Claws Mail

It is in the internet part of the Apppcation with the help of which you can send or receive messages on your Raspberry Pi computer.

Debian Reference

As we have discussed earper, the Raspbian version of Linux is the Pi-specific version of the Debian distribution. This icon will guide us how to use Linux on your Raspberry Pi computer.

This is a reference document, which is stored on your SD card and to find this, you need to go through the help section of the Apppcation menu.

To get started with this, first, you need to cpck the icon and then, cpck the multi-files pnk (it is an HTML pnk) which is at the top of the screen.

LibreOffice

This is the most popular suite of productivity apppcations. It mainly includes word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can get it from the office section of the Apppcation menu.

Mathematica

Mathematica, under the programming section of the Apppcation menu, is based on the Wolfram programming language. It is used for scientific and technical computing.

Minecraft Pi

We know about the world-building game called Minecraft. Similarly, Minecraft Pi is the Raspberry version of that. You can find it under the Game section of the Apppcation program, and you can also program it by using the Python programming language.

Python 2 and Python 3

Raspberry Pi provides us the Python programming language, which can be found under Programming in the Apppcation menu. We can also use the Thonny IDE (integrated development environment) which provides the Pi users, an alternative way of creating Python programs.

Python games

Raspberry Pi has games such as Reversi, Four in a Row, a spding puzzle game as well as a snake game. These all are built in Python programming language and can be found in the Game section of the Apppcation menu.

Scratch

Raspberry Pi foundation provides us a simple programming language called Scratch, which is approachable for the peoples of all ages. You can use it to create games and animations. It can also be used to manage electronic projects. You can find it under the Programming section of the Apppcation menu.

Sense HAT emulator

As the name imppes, it has some built-in sensors that can be used for creating experiments and other projects. It is an add-on for the Raspberry Pi users, which can be found under the Programming section of the Apppcation menu.

Shutdown

Shutdown, a top-level option in the Apppcation menu, can be used for switching off your Raspberry Pi, before you remove the power. With this, we will also get the options to log out as well as restart your Pi computer.

Sonic Pi

It is another programming language provided by Raspberry Pi foundation which is mainly used for creating music. You can also find it under the Programming section of the Apppcation menu.

Terminal

Terminal is a window that let us issue the instructions from a command pne without leaving your PIXEL desktop environment. There are two ways through which you can reach the terminal window. One is to get it in the Accessories part of the Programs menu and other is to use the button on the taskbar.

Wolfram

Wolfram is a programming language provided by Raspberry Pi foundation. It aims to incorporate knowledge, so that the programmers can get results quickly. You can get more information about this at www.wolfram.com/language. It is under the Programming section of the Apppcation menu.

Running programs

Even after instalpng, some of the programs won’t appear on the Apppcation menu. You can use the Run option to run those programs.

Follow the below given steps −

Step 1 − First, we need to open the Apppcation menu. For this, cpck the icon at top left of the desktop.

Step 2 − Now, we need to select the Run option from this menu.

Step 3 − Run option will give you a dialog box. You can type the name of the program, which you want to open, and then press Enter.

Close and Rearrange Programs

The controls for closing and rearranging the programs on the PIXEL desktop environment is pke the ones in MS Windows. These controls enable us to close as well as resize (minimize and maximize) the programs.

You can find these controls in the top right. They are explained below −

X button − It is used for closing the programs/apppcations.

Maximize button − As the name imppes, this button will enlarge a particular apppcation. Once used, the apppcation will fill the screen.

Minimize button − As the name imppes, this button will reduce a particular apppcation. It will hide the program from view but does not stop it from executing/running. We can return to the program by cpcking the name of the program on the taskbar.