Stewart Watkiss (PenguinTutor)

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Christmas Lights 2025

This year's Christmas Lights.

Controlled using 3 Raspberry Pi computers and 1 Raspberry Pi Pico.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRtD...

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Christmas Twinkle Lights - Christmas Tree Star controlled with a Raspberry Pi Pico

I've upgraded a Disney Christmas Tree topper with a Raspberry Pi Pico.

I used a circuit and PCB I'd originally created for the Raspberry Pi magazine.

youtu.be/7if3OGkeGTU?...

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Design a 3D Christmas Tree using FreeCAD for laser cutting or cardboard

I've created a 3D Christmas Tree in FreeCAD.

Print on card or laser cut.

Video shows how to create the design, including 2D sketch, mirroring and duplicating the sketch.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae7p...

#FreeCAD

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

It was great to meet Matt after the show, and he signed a copy of his book writing my name in binary!

No hesitation he just writes in zeros and ones.

Matt Parker on the stage. A screen behind him shows a photo of him wearing a mustache and some python code. There is also a big on and off button and a Christmas tree.

I really enjoyed @standupmaths.bsky.social Matt Parker "Getting Triggy With It" #Birmingham yesterday.
Very funny show, currently touring the UK.

@standupmaths.bsky.social
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

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Using AI to help with programming - Google Gemini - Vibe Coding

Using AI to help create code.
Including my first attempt at Vibe Coding for a Raspberry Pi Pico.

youtu.be/5B9K3hYb7mc?...

#CodingVsProgramming

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Code refactoring - 1 week, 1000 lines of code and no new features #raspberrypi #python

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?...

Selection of stickers including a Raspberry Pi logo, Bearables, Frickin Lasers and various maker, science and STEM stickers.

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

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Learning the CBUS protocol - Raspberry Pi model railway control with Python Pyside

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

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Raspberry Pi Serial to Web API - Multiprocessing vs Threads & Programming in C vs 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...

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...

Most definitely!

Photo of Stewart Watkiss wearing a Sony Visitor overalls when touring the Raspberry Pi factory in Wales.

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

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Creating GUI threads with Python PySide 6 and QThreadPool

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...

Decoders for the locos are difficult to make to fit in the limited space, so all the decoders are off-the-shelf. But lots of scope for creating other accessories.

Indeed. At the moment I'm using kits which are designed by others but involve soldering and allow some elements of customisation.

In future I hope to design my own modules as well.

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Installing JMRI on a Raspberry Pi (Java Model Railroad / Railway Interface)

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

DCC model railway controller mounted in a 3D printed bracket.

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

Photo of the Maker resources page in the Raspberry Pi Magazine. Shows 4 websites including penguintutor.com Penguin Tutor websites.

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

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 video by Penguin Tutor Christmas Reindeer Head with #raspberrypi #pico

A YouTube shorts showing my #Christmas Reindeer decoration with Raspberry Pi Pico 2W

youtube.com/shorts/r0oOx...

#raspberrypi #pico

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Raspberry Pi Pico 2W Christmas Reindeer MP3 Player with blinking LEDs

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

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Raspberry Pi Pico 2W with DFPlayerMini MP3 Player and web server

I've created a web based MP3 player with a Raspberry Pi Pico 2W and a DFPlayerMini

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.

A breadboard with a Raspberry Pi Pico 2, connected to a DFRobot DFPlayerMini with a small speaker designed for a model railway.

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

YouTube video by Penguin Tutor Raspberry Pi Pico MP3 Player

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