Stewart Watkiss (PenguinTutor)
@penguintutor.bsky.social
Stewart Watkiss - Electronics, computing and software maker projects.
Author of Learn Electronics with Raspberry Pi and Beginning Game Programming with Pygame Zero.
Author of Learn Electronics with Raspberry Pi and Beginning Game Programming with Pygame Zero.
Valhalla with chips! Our local fish and chip shop is a TV set for a future TV show.
November 3, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Valhalla with chips! Our local fish and chip shop is a TV set for a future TV show.
It's finally here. The 3rd volume of The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman @philippullmanreal.bsky.social
I'm looking forward to reading more about the adventures of Lyra and Pan (Pantalaimon).
#TheBookOfDust
I'm looking forward to reading more about the adventures of Lyra and Pan (Pantalaimon).
#TheBookOfDust
October 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
It's finally here. The 3rd volume of The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman @philippullmanreal.bsky.social
I'm looking forward to reading more about the adventures of Lyra and Pan (Pantalaimon).
#TheBookOfDust
I'm looking forward to reading more about the adventures of Lyra and Pan (Pantalaimon).
#TheBookOfDust
I really enjoyed @standupmaths.bsky.social Matt Parker "Getting Triggy With It" #Birmingham yesterday.
Very funny show, currently touring the UK.
Very funny show, currently touring the UK.
October 20, 2025 at 7:04 AM
I really enjoyed @standupmaths.bsky.social Matt Parker "Getting Triggy With It" #Birmingham yesterday.
Very funny show, currently touring the UK.
Very funny show, currently touring the UK.
@standupmaths.bsky.social
Looking forward to Getting Triggy With It
Looking forward to Getting Triggy With It
October 19, 2025 at 6:24 PM
@standupmaths.bsky.social
Looking forward to Getting Triggy With It
Looking forward to Getting Triggy With It
I've taken a break from the fun projects to tidy up my workshop.
So that meant using FreeCAD to design and 3D print brackets to tidy up my wires.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/wir...
#FreeCAD
So that meant using FreeCAD to design and 3D print brackets to tidy up my wires.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/wir...
#FreeCAD
September 29, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I've taken a break from the fun projects to tidy up my workshop.
So that meant using FreeCAD to design and 3D print brackets to tidy up my wires.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/wir...
#FreeCAD
So that meant using FreeCAD to design and 3D print brackets to tidy up my wires.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/wir...
#FreeCAD
Using AI to help create code.
Including my first attempt at Vibe Coding for a Raspberry Pi Pico.
youtu.be/5B9K3hYb7mc?...
#CodingVsProgramming
Including my first attempt at Vibe Coding for a Raspberry Pi Pico.
youtu.be/5B9K3hYb7mc?...
#CodingVsProgramming
Using AI to help with programming - Google Gemini - Vibe Coding
YouTube video by Penguin Tutor
youtu.be
September 1, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Using AI to help create code.
Including my first attempt at Vibe Coding for a Raspberry Pi Pico.
youtu.be/5B9K3hYb7mc?...
#CodingVsProgramming
Including my first attempt at Vibe Coding for a Raspberry Pi Pico.
youtu.be/5B9K3hYb7mc?...
#CodingVsProgramming
For the last week I've been refactoring my code for my Raspberry Pi Model Railway GUI application.
Lots of code changes, but no new features. Making it easier to add new features in future.
youtu.be/JKjyQKCgh_M?...
Lots of code changes, but no new features. Making it easier to add new features in future.
youtu.be/JKjyQKCgh_M?...
Code refactoring - 1 week, 1000 lines of code and no new features #raspberrypi #python
YouTube video by Penguin Tutor
youtu.be
July 14, 2025 at 10:36 AM
For the last week I've been refactoring my code for my Raspberry Pi Model Railway GUI application.
Lots of code changes, but no new features. Making it easier to add new features in future.
youtu.be/JKjyQKCgh_M?...
Lots of code changes, but no new features. Making it easier to add new features in future.
youtu.be/JKjyQKCgh_M?...
Placed another order with @pimoroni.com for a future project.
Along with the usual great service also received bonus stickers. Here's a small selection.
Thanks!
#stickers
Along with the usual great service also received bonus stickers. Here's a small selection.
Thanks!
#stickers
July 4, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Placed another order with @pimoroni.com for a future project.
Along with the usual great service also received bonus stickers. Here's a small selection.
Thanks!
#stickers
Along with the usual great service also received bonus stickers. Here's a small selection.
Thanks!
#stickers
Reverse engineering, packet sniffing using Wireshark and reading opcodes from online documentation.
Learning the CBUS protocol to control a model railway, and then creating a GUI app in Python.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oij3...
#RaspberryPi #Python
Learning the CBUS protocol to control a model railway, and then creating a GUI app in Python.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oij3...
#RaspberryPi #Python
Learning the CBUS protocol - Raspberry Pi model railway control with Python Pyside
YouTube video by Penguin Tutor
www.youtube.com
June 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Reverse engineering, packet sniffing using Wireshark and reading opcodes from online documentation.
Learning the CBUS protocol to control a model railway, and then creating a GUI app in Python.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oij3...
#RaspberryPi #Python
Learning the CBUS protocol to control a model railway, and then creating a GUI app in Python.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oij3...
#RaspberryPi #Python
Working on a Raspberry Pi model railway GUI application. Issues with performance, partly due to threading and GIL, but also due to overly complex application when tried multi-processing.
Instead looking at simplified Flask API.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3j2...
Instead looking at simplified Flask API.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3j2...
Raspberry Pi Serial to Web API - Multiprocessing vs Threads & Programming in C vs Python
YouTube video by Penguin Tutor
www.youtube.com
June 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Working on a Raspberry Pi model railway GUI application. Issues with performance, partly due to threading and GIL, but also due to overly complex application when tried multi-processing.
Instead looking at simplified Flask API.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3j2...
Instead looking at simplified Flask API.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3j2...
On Tuesday I'll be giving a talk at Raspberry Pint - in London or Online.
Model Railway Layout Control Bus
About how I was able to decipher the CBUS protocol with the help of Wireshark and the challenges implementing in Python and/or C.
www.eventbrite.com/e/hybrid-ras...
Model Railway Layout Control Bus
About how I was able to decipher the CBUS protocol with the help of Wireshark and the challenges implementing in Python and/or C.
www.eventbrite.com/e/hybrid-ras...
HYBRID Raspberry Pint - Fun Making with Raspberry Pis & Micro-Controllers
Discuss making electronics, controller, Raspberry Pi projects.
www.eventbrite.com
May 25, 2025 at 8:53 PM
On Tuesday I'll be giving a talk at Raspberry Pint - in London or Online.
Model Railway Layout Control Bus
About how I was able to decipher the CBUS protocol with the help of Wireshark and the challenges implementing in Python and/or C.
www.eventbrite.com/e/hybrid-ras...
Model Railway Layout Control Bus
About how I was able to decipher the CBUS protocol with the help of Wireshark and the challenges implementing in Python and/or C.
www.eventbrite.com/e/hybrid-ras...
Photo from 9 years ago today - I was given a behind the scenes tour of the Sony Raspberry Pi factory in Wales, thanks to RS @wearers.bsky.social
May 25, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Photo from 9 years ago today - I was given a behind the scenes tour of the Sony Raspberry Pi factory in Wales, thanks to RS @wearers.bsky.social
Further development on creating a GUI application in Pythin Pyside.
How to implement threads. This keeps the application responsive when the program needs to do some rendering in the background.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh0y...
How to implement threads. This keeps the application responsive when the program needs to do some rendering in the background.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh0y...
Creating GUI threads with Python PySide 6 and QThreadPool
YouTube video by Penguin Tutor
www.youtube.com
March 31, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Further development on creating a GUI application in Pythin Pyside.
How to implement threads. This keeps the application responsive when the program needs to do some rendering in the background.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh0y...
How to implement threads. This keeps the application responsive when the program needs to do some rendering in the background.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh0y...
I've now installed JMRI on a Raspberry Pi
Java Model Railroad Interface
Looking at implementing model railway automation for DCC model trains
youtu.be/_nGIli5_-ZM?...
#modelrailway #raspberrypi
Java Model Railroad Interface
Looking at implementing model railway automation for DCC model trains
youtu.be/_nGIli5_-ZM?...
#modelrailway #raspberrypi
Installing JMRI on a Raspberry Pi (Java Model Railroad / Railway Interface)
YouTube video by Penguin Tutor
youtu.be
March 24, 2025 at 12:45 PM
I've now installed JMRI on a Raspberry Pi
Java Model Railroad Interface
Looking at implementing model railway automation for DCC model trains
youtu.be/_nGIli5_-ZM?...
#modelrailway #raspberrypi
Java Model Railroad Interface
Looking at implementing model railway automation for DCC model trains
youtu.be/_nGIli5_-ZM?...
#modelrailway #raspberrypi
Working on a DCC model railway.
This weekend I created a created a 3D printed holder for the traditional controller.
In future I'm looking to connect a Raspberry Pi.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/mer...
#MakerMonday
This weekend I created a created a 3D printed holder for the traditional controller.
In future I'm looking to connect a Raspberry Pi.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/mer...
#MakerMonday
March 3, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Working on a DCC model railway.
This weekend I created a created a 3D printed holder for the traditional controller.
In future I'm looking to connect a Raspberry Pi.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/mer...
#MakerMonday
This weekend I created a created a 3D printed holder for the traditional controller.
In future I'm looking to connect a Raspberry Pi.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/mer...
#MakerMonday
The MagPi Magazine is now Raspberry Pi Magazine
Great to see my website included in the list of maker resources
You can see my list of projects at:
www.penguintutor.com/projects.php
Great to see my website included in the list of maker resources
You can see my list of projects at:
www.penguintutor.com/projects.php
March 3, 2025 at 10:37 AM
The MagPi Magazine is now Raspberry Pi Magazine
Great to see my website included in the list of maker resources
You can see my list of projects at:
www.penguintutor.com/projects.php
Great to see my website included in the list of maker resources
You can see my list of projects at:
www.penguintutor.com/projects.php
You learn more from when something goes wrong than if everything works. It can be frustrating at the time, but it is satisfying when it work.
youtube.com/watch?v=v55M...
#RaspberryPiPico
youtube.com/watch?v=v55M...
#RaspberryPiPico
youtube.com
January 27, 2025 at 12:19 PM
You learn more from when something goes wrong than if everything works. It can be frustrating at the time, but it is satisfying when it work.
youtube.com/watch?v=v55M...
#RaspberryPiPico
youtube.com/watch?v=v55M...
#RaspberryPiPico
A YouTube shorts showing my #Christmas Reindeer decoration with Raspberry Pi Pico 2W
youtube.com/shorts/r0oOx...
#raspberrypi #pico
youtube.com/shorts/r0oOx...
#raspberrypi #pico
Christmas Reindeer Head with #raspberrypi #pico
YouTube video by Penguin Tutor
youtube.com
December 22, 2024 at 10:00 AM
A YouTube shorts showing my #Christmas Reindeer decoration with Raspberry Pi Pico 2W
youtube.com/shorts/r0oOx...
#raspberrypi #pico
youtube.com/shorts/r0oOx...
#raspberrypi #pico
I've added the Raspberry Pi Pico 2W powered MP3 player into my Christmas Reindeer decoration. Also using the Pico to control blinking lights.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDQL...
#Christmas #RaspberryPiPico
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDQL...
#Christmas #RaspberryPiPico
Raspberry Pi Pico 2W Christmas Reindeer MP3 Player with blinking LEDs
YouTube video by Penguin Tutor
www.youtube.com
December 16, 2024 at 11:16 AM
I've added the Raspberry Pi Pico 2W powered MP3 player into my Christmas Reindeer decoration. Also using the Pico to control blinking lights.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDQL...
#Christmas #RaspberryPiPico
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDQL...
#Christmas #RaspberryPiPico
I've created a web based MP3 player with a Raspberry Pi Pico 2W and a DFPlayerMini
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuc3...
#pico2W
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuc3...
#pico2W
Raspberry Pi Pico 2W with DFPlayerMini MP3 Player and web server
YouTube video by Penguin Tutor
www.youtube.com
December 9, 2024 at 12:49 PM
I've created a web based MP3 player with a Raspberry Pi Pico 2W and a DFPlayerMini
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuc3...
#pico2W
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuc3...
#pico2W
I found a problem is that some commands return 2 sets of responses, which I didn't realise.
I've updated the library to improve that and added some extra functions.
I've updated the library to improve that and added some extra functions.
November 28, 2024 at 8:06 AM
I found a problem is that some commands return 2 sets of responses, which I didn't realise.
I've updated the library to improve that and added some extra functions.
I've updated the library to improve that and added some extra functions.
a challenge reverse engineering if misunderstand it. With MP3Player it sometimes returns 2 responses instead of 1.
Found with testing now improved my library which works much better.
Tested with a new Raspberry Pi Pico 2W.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/pic...
#raspberrypi #pico2w #micropython
Found with testing now improved my library which works much better.
Tested with a new Raspberry Pi Pico 2W.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/pic...
#raspberrypi #pico2w #micropython
November 28, 2024 at 8:04 AM
a challenge reverse engineering if misunderstand it. With MP3Player it sometimes returns 2 responses instead of 1.
Found with testing now improved my library which works much better.
Tested with a new Raspberry Pi Pico 2W.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/pic...
#raspberrypi #pico2w #micropython
Found with testing now improved my library which works much better.
Tested with a new Raspberry Pi Pico 2W.
www.penguintutor.com/projects/pic...
#raspberrypi #pico2w #micropython
I've created an MP3 Player using a Raspberry Pi Pico and a DFPlayerMini MP3 module.
I've written a MicroPython module so it can be controlled using Python.
Only 2 wires needed from Pico to Player (+power), the buttons were just for testing.
youtu.be/9wMI9Eh1eng?...
#raspberrypipico
I've written a MicroPython module so it can be controlled using Python.
Only 2 wires needed from Pico to Player (+power), the buttons were just for testing.
youtu.be/9wMI9Eh1eng?...
#raspberrypipico
Raspberry Pi Pico MP3 Player
YouTube video by Penguin Tutor
youtu.be
November 25, 2024 at 11:06 AM
I've created an MP3 Player using a Raspberry Pi Pico and a DFPlayerMini MP3 module.
I've written a MicroPython module so it can be controlled using Python.
Only 2 wires needed from Pico to Player (+power), the buttons were just for testing.
youtu.be/9wMI9Eh1eng?...
#raspberrypipico
I've written a MicroPython module so it can be controlled using Python.
Only 2 wires needed from Pico to Player (+power), the buttons were just for testing.
youtu.be/9wMI9Eh1eng?...
#raspberrypipico
My next video will be on YouTube tomorrow. In the meanwhile here is a quick preview.
Anyone like to guess what it is?
Anyone like to guess what it is?
November 24, 2024 at 5:03 PM
My next video will be on YouTube tomorrow. In the meanwhile here is a quick preview.
Anyone like to guess what it is?
Anyone like to guess what it is?