Python's Virtualenv working with Jenkins If you use virtualenv to isolate your python project's environment, and want your code tested automatically -- read on, else ignore. virtualenv isolates your project's python environment virtualenv makes sure you lock down your project's main directory and all subdirectories of it. This 'lockdown' means that you never touches your global python binary, or any globally installed libraries (like "sudo pip install ipython" ). Once... [Read More]

About a year ago, I had to do a project titled Smart Home Automation using a Raspberry Pi and Arduino, part of the project  incorporated a doorbell but not just any doorbell but a Smart doorbell. Why do I call it a Smart Doorbell? A classic doorbell can be defined as a signalling device typically placed near an entry door to a building. When a visitor presses a button the... [Read More]

On this blog I will introduce and demonstrate how to use NodeMCU in Arduino IDE What is NodeMCU or ESP8266 ? The ESP8266 is a low-cost Wi-Fi chip with full TCP/IP stack and MCU (Micro Controller Unit) capability produced by Espressif Systems. Whereas NodeMCU is an open source firmware and development kit that helps us to create IoT platform. It includes firmware which runs on the ESP8266 WiFi SoC from Espressif... [Read More]

For the past few months, I have been trying to move from using Geany to using Sublime Text as my primary text editor. I find myself repeating some repetitive operations dozen times a day when coding in python, such as import IPython;IPython.embed() and etc. So here are some of my Sublime Text snippets to enhance my productivity, and simplify my life. Sublime Text 3 makes it super easy to create... [Read More]

After finishing my Node-Red dashboard app, and boy, it's awesome. Everything works great, but I wanted to bind it to port 80 on my nginx server. [Read More]

Raspberry Pi - Stuck in boot after installing upstart I  installed upstart so I could run a script at startup [native /etc/init/*.conf]  with [sudo apt-get install upstart] and I then rebooted my RPi. [Read More]

I've been looking for efficient ways to start at boot my NodeJS dependent applications, with inspiration from https://gist.github.com/alobato/1968852, I modified it to my own needs. Link might interest you as well: http://big-elephants.com/2013-01/writing-your-own-init-scripts/ https://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-write-sys-v-init-script-to-start-stop-service.html Copy template to /etc/init.d and rename it to something meaningful. Then edit the script and enter that name after Provides:(between ### BEGIN INIT INFO and ### END INIT INFO). [sourcecode language="bash"] #!/bin/bash # Inspired by https://gist.github.com/alobato/1968852 # Needs... [Read More]

So, I've been battling with updating my node.js via apt-get, for some apparent reason seems like they've discontinued updates or maybe I've been doing it wrong all along - who knows. But I found a way to bypass apt-get and go back to the basics. Note: This assumes that the latest release is node-v7.4.0, else you can go to https://nodejs.org/dist/latest and get the required build. This assumes the Raspberry Pi... [Read More]

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_VWrf_GRsBxr38XZuRrFHBBI3EpLQJ29 So after completing my diploma, and it becoming redundant in the working industry. I had to set my eyes on a Bachelor's degree. Trust me it was not easy, in the sense of being a part-time student, full-time employee, a father, a fiance and being stuck on some island for 15 months then when you come back you're residing in Cape Town and the university in Pretoria. I think... [Read More]