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Ask HN: Do you use a Raspberry Pi? What do you use it for?

by boredatworkme on 10/26/20, 3:22 PM with 4 comments

Basically the title.

I'm trying to scratch an itch with the Raspberry Pi. Beyond trying to think of using it for some leisure browsing, I just cannot think of what I can use it for.

Can you folks let me know if you own a Raspberry Pi and what do you use it for?

  • by sidpatil on 10/26/20, 4:28 PM

    I have an IBM 3151 video terminal connected to mine, through a USB-to-serial adapter. I use it for Web browsing, reading text files, light code editing/trying ideas in REPL, ssh to my desktop, etc.

    At first, I wanted to connect the terminal (on the upper floor) to my desktop (in the basement) by patching the server's RS-232 to the terminal through the in-wall Cat5e. Then I figured it'd be better to just throw FreeBSD on the Pi and connect the terminal to it, since I could ssh to the desktop with Ethernet instead, which is a more effective use of the two Cat5e runs, since I'd also be able to connect a VoIP phone next to the terminal.

  • by simonblack on 10/27/20, 4:35 AM

    I got one just a few days ago. It's destined to be a standalone web-server - more or less "set and forget" - and a UPS controller.

    That will relieve my main computer of having to do those things from then on.

  • by jeffreygoesto on 10/26/20, 3:41 PM

    - UPnP and DLNA web radio feeding a tube radio from the 60s.

    - Jukebox for a special kid.

    mpd, mpc and upmpdcli were a real breeze to use and configure.

  • by ilyas121 on 10/26/20, 3:33 PM

    IP cam for remote robotics work