Tag: Raspberry Pi

Forking Open Source Hardware Right: The ANAVI Macro Pad 10 and the Rise of MATOSIC MACROPAD

ANAVI Macro Pad 10 is our programmable keypad with 9 mechanical switches and a rotary encoder built around XIAO module with Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller. ANAVI Macro Pad 10 was crowdfunded through Crowd Supply on November 7, 2022 and it is now available at Crowd Supply, Mouser and Lectronz. It illustrates how open hardware can act as a reusable foundation rather than a fixed product. Released under the permissive license Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0), ANAVI Macro Pad 10 allows others to study, modify, and fork the design while keeping attribution and share-alike requirements intact. That structure makes it easy for developers to adapt the device for different workflows without starting from scratch.

A recent fork is the MATOSIC MACROPAD, created by Hrvoje Matosic in Mexico City. It reworks the original design of ANAVI Macro Pad 10 into a compact macropad aimed at developers using AI-assisted coding tools. What makes this case interesting is not just the fork itself, but how naturally it extends the original design’s intent. The ANAVI Macro Pad 10 was never locked to a single use case, which makes it flexible enough to evolve into tools for new computing trends like AI-driven development workflows. This kind of reuse is exactly what open hardware licensing is meant to enable.

Screenshot

The project has also been certified by the Open Source Hardware Association with UID MX000040 on June 05, 2026, marking it as an officially recognized open hardware derivative from Mexico.

ANAVI Macro Pad 10 was also certified by the Open Source Hardware Association with UID BG000093 on January 11, 2023. Hrvoje shared his fork on GitHub. In this context, each derivative project strengthens the original ecosystem. The MATOSIC version does not replace the ANAVI design, it builds on it, showing how small, well-documented devices can become platforms for experimentation and productization.

Overall, the ANAVI Macro Pad 10 demonstrates how open source hardware grows through iteration. Its value is not only in what it is, but in what others can turn it into, from hobby builds to even certified commercial products!

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Open Source ANAVI TPM 2.0 for Raspberry Pi Debuts on Crowd Supply

We are excited to announce that the ANAVI TPM 2.0 for Raspberry Pi crowdfunding campaign officially launched yesterday on Crowd Supply. The launch date was carefully selected. March 3 is celebrated as Liberation Day in Bulgaria, a meaningful occasion for us because our hardware is designed and manufactured in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, EU. The same date also marks an important milestone for us, as on March 3, 2017, we introduced ANAVI Infrared pHAT, our first add on board for Raspberry Pi under the ANAVI brand.

ANAVI TPM 2.0 is an open source hardware add on that enhances the security of your Raspberry Pi projects. It supports trusted computing capabilities such as secure cryptographic key management, disk encryption and a hardware random number generator.

Designed for developers, hobbyists, and professionals who require stronger security for Raspberry Pi based solutions, ANAVI TPM 2.0 provides advanced protection in a compact open source form factor. With a symbolic crowdfunding goal of just $1, the campaign aims to bring another ANAVI open source hardware product to life, designed and manufactured in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, European Union, through our established and trusted supply chain.

Thanks to the strong support from our backers, the funding goal was reached within minutes of launch. Place your order now to be among the first to receive ANAVI TPM 2.0!

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Building Smarter Gardens with ANAVI Gardening uHAT and the Yocto Project

If you have ever wanted to turn your Raspberry Pi into a smart gardening assistant, our ANAVI Gardening uHAT is a simple, low-cost way to get started. This open source add-on board makes it easy to monitor and care for your plants with sensors for soil moisture, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, and light. Best of all, there is no soldering, special tools, or complicated setup. Just plug the board into your Raspberry Pi with your bare hands, follow the user manual, and you are ready to go. First introduced in 2021 through a successful Crowd Supply campaign, the ANAVI Gardening uHAT is now widely available through distributors such as Mouser Electronics. While the official documentation is based on Raspberry Pi Operating System, the board works with any Raspberry Pi single-board computer and any Linux distribution designed for it. This makes the ANAVI Gardening uHAT not just a hobbyist gadget, but also a versatile tool for anyone experimenting with Internet of Things (IoT), agricultural technology, or embedded Linux.

The Yocto Project Meets Raspberry Pi Gardening

In early 2025, Leon Anavi, the creator of the ANAVI Gardening uHAT, launched a new series of video tutorials on the Yocto Project and OpenEmbedded. These tools, maintained under the Linux Foundation, have become the industry standard for building custom Linux distributions for embedded devices.

In episode 10 from September 2025, Leon demonstrates how to enable the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) on a Raspberry Pi and use it with the Microchip MCP3002 10-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) integrated into the ANAVI Gardening uHAT. This allows you to connect analog sensors, such as a capacitive soil moisture sensor, and read their data in real time.

Step-by-Step: Enabling Serial Peripheral Interface with Yocto

If you want to try the tutorial yourself, here is a simplified version of the steps Leon used in the video. These examples are based on the Yocto Long Term Support (LTS) release Scarthgap and use the meta-raspberrypi board support package (BSP) layer.

  1. Enable Serial Peripheral Interface support
    Add the following line to your conf/local.conf: ENABLE_SPI_BUS = "1"
  2. Include required Python packages
    Extend your Linux image with the spidev library (used in the examples), plus some helpful tools: IMAGE_INSTALL:append = " python3-spidev"
  3. Build and flash your image
    Build the core-image-base, flash it to a microSD card, and boot your Raspberry Pi.
  4. Run Python code to read sensor values
    Open a Python 3 interactive shell and use this example code snippet to start reading data from a capacitive soil moisture sensor through the MCP3002 analog-to-digital converter.

Why This Matters

This combination of ANAVI Gardening uHAT and the Yocto Project is more than just a fun do-it-yourself experiment. It is a hands-on way to learn about:

  • Embedded Linux development
  • Custom Raspberry Pi distributions
  • Practical Internet of Things (IoT) applications in agriculture

For hobbyists, it means you can monitor your houseplants or small garden with open source hardware and software. For professionals, it is a chance to explore how Yocto-powered Linux images can streamline development in real-world embedded projects.

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ANAVI Info uHAT Used in Yocto Project I²C Tutorial on Raspberry Pi 5

ANAVI Info uHAT is an affordable, open-source Raspberry Pi add-on board that brings extra functionality in a compact form. It features a mini OLED display, three buttons, red and green indicator LEDs, and slots for various sensors. Each kit includes a 0.96″ yellow-blue I²C OLED display with a resolution of 128×64 pixels.

Originally crowdfunded on Crowd Supply in 2022, the board is now available from various distributors, including Mouser. While our documentation is based on Raspberry Pi OS, ANAVI Info uHAT works with any Raspberry Pi computer model and Linux distribution running on Raspberry Pi.

At the start of 2025, Leon Anavi launched a series of video tutorials on the Yocto Project and OpenEmbedded. The Yocto Project, a collaborative initiative under the Linux Foundation, has become the de facto industry standard for creating custom Linux distributions tailored for embedded devices.

In Episode 9 from September 2025, Leon demonstrates how to enable I²C on a Raspberry Pi and use it with an SSD1306 mini OLED display. To simplify wiring, he used the ANAVI Info uHAT, attaching it directly to the Raspberry Pi 5’s 40-pin header, while the OLED display connected to its dedicated I²C port.

Thanks to meta-raspberrypi, a community-maintained Yocto/OpenEmbedded BSP (Board Support Package) layer, enabling I²C and autoloading its Linux kernel modules is as simple as adding two lines to conf/local.conf:

ENABLE_I2C = "1"
KERNEL_MODULE_AUTOLOAD:rpi += "i2c-dev i2c-bcm2708"

The demonstration from the video tutorial also included useful packages in the Yocto image to scan for I²C devices and interact with the SSD1306 OLED display:

IMAGE_INSTALL:append = " i2c-tools ssd1306"

After building core-image-base and booting it on the Raspberry Pi, you can test the OLED using the open-source ssd1306_bin tool. Here are some sample commands from the tutorial:

ssd1306_bin -n 1 -I 128x64
ssd1306_bin -n 1 -c
ssd1306_bin -n 1 -r 0
ssd1306_bin -n 1 -x 1 -y 1
ssd1306_bin -n 1 -l "Hello World"
ssd1306_bin -n 1 -x 1 -y 2
ssd1306_bin -n 1 -l "The Yocto Project"
ssd1306_bin -n 1 -x 1 -y 3
ssd1306_bin -n 1 -l "on Raspberry Pi 5"

This tutorial builds on concepts from previous episodes in the series, so if you are new to the Yocto Project on Raspberry Pi 5, it is highly recommended to start from the beginning. Watching the full video will give you a detailed walkthrough and context for each step.

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Introducing ANAVI TPM 2.0: Trusted Security for Your Raspberry Pi

We are excited to unveil our latest product: ANAVI TPM 2.0, a powerful, open source hardware add-on board that brings industry-standard TPM 2.0 security to Raspberry Pi single board computers.

Built around the Infineon Optiga SLB 9672 chip, ANAVI TPM 2.0 connects to your Raspberry Pi via the SPI on the 40-pin header, making it easy to add hardware-based cryptographic security to your projects. From secure key storage and digital signatures to disk encryption and measured boot, TPM 2.0 enables a wide range of security-critical applications. It even functions as a True Hardware Random Number Generator (TRNG), a crucial feature for any system requiring high-entropy randomness.

Whether you are a developer, engineer or hobbyist, ANAVI TPM 2.0 offers a reliable solution to enhance trust and integrity in your Raspberry Pi setup. To support different use cases, the board will be available in two hardware configurations:

  • Horizontal version with a standard 2×5 (2.54 mm) female header
  • Vertical version with a 2×5 (2.54 mm) female header mounted at a 90-degree angle

ANAVI TPM 2.0 will launch soon via a crowdfunding campaign on Crowd Supply, our trusted long-term partner. As usual, we will manufacture the boards in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, EU. Please, subscribe on the Crowd Supply page to be notified when the campaign goes live and be among the first to secure your board!

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Crowdfunding Sucess Story: ANAVI Dev Mic is Shipping Soon

ANAVI Dev Mic is an open source hardware computer microphone powered by Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller. It was successfully crowdfunded through Crowd Supply on Sep 26 2024.

ANAVI Dev Mic connected to a laptop as an external USB-C microphone

The initially estimated shipping date was Nov 17, 2024. However, we have great news to share! A few days ago we dispatched all ANAVI Dev Mic kits to Crowd Supply’s warehouse. This means that shipping to backers will start ahead of schedule. Over the next few weeks, orders will be processed through their fulfillment system.

ANAVI Dev Mic eco-friendly packaging

If you have backed the crowdfunding campaign and you need to update your shipping address, please do so via your Crowd Supply account as soon as possible. Shipping to backers will begin soon, and you’ll receive a tracking number once your order is on its way. You can also check your order status and other details through your account.

DIY kits with ANAVI Dev Mic

Each kit is packaged in an eco-friendly cardboard box made from recycled materials, reflecting our commitment to sustainability and responsible packaging.

We sincerely thank you for supporting our open-source computer microphone! If you missed the crowdfunding period you can still order your new microphone from Crowd Supply. In the coming months we stock ANAVI Dev Mic through other trusted distributors and online stores. As usual, stay tuned for further technical updates and new exciting open source projects!

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ANAVI Dev Mic Crowdfunding Success: Thank You for Your Support!

Our crowdfunding campaign at Crowd Supply for ANAVI Dev Mic successfully wrapped up on September 26th, and we couldn’t be more grateful! Thank you! Over 30 backers from eight countries supported this open-source hardware project for a computer microphone powered by the Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller.

ANAVI Dev Mic is a compact, affordable, exceptionally adaptable open-source microphone. The printed circuit board has been designed with KiCad and feetures Seeed Studio XIAO module with the Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller and an omnidirectional digital microphone that work together to ensure high-quality sound capture and processing.

The production of the printed circuit boards and component assembly is now complete, and we’ve also finished the laser-cut acrylic enclosures. Packaging materials, including cardboard boxes and stickers, are ready to go. In the coming weeks, we’ll complete packaging and transfer everything to the warehouse. From there, Crowd Supply’s fulfillment service will ship the ANAVI Dev Mic kits to all our backers.

Thank you again for your tremendous support, feedback, and contributions to our GitHub repositories. More updates are coming soon—stay tuned!

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Step-by-Step Video Guide: Assembling Your ANAVI Dev Mic

The ANAVI Dev Mic is a small, open-source microphone kit designed for hobbyists and developers. It’s easy to assemble on your own, even with minimal tools. While you can complete the assembly using just your hands, a screwdriver will make the process quicker.

Components

When you open the ANAVI Dev Mic kit, you’ll find the following parts:

  • Black PCB with gold plating and white markings
  • Acrylic top cover
  • Acrylic bottom cover
  • Four 10 mm screws (M2.5)
  • Eight M2.5 nuts

NOTE: The kit does not include a USB-C cable. You can use one you already have or buy one separately.

Step 1: Remove Protective Layer

The acrylic covers are laser-cut and come with a protective film on both sides. Carefully peel off this film to reveal the clear acrylic.

Step 2: Attach the Top Cover

Take the PCB and the top acrylic cover, which has a circular cutout for the microphone. Align the cover with the corresponding circle on the PCB. Insert a screw into each of the four mounting holes and secure them with the nuts provided.

Step 3: Install the Bottom Cover

Next, place the bottom acrylic cover over the side of the PCB where the XIAO RP2040 module is located. Secure the cover by tightening it with the remaining four nuts.

Step 4: Connect and Use

With these simple steps completed, your microphone is ready to go. Just plug ANAVI Dev Mic into your computer using a USB-C cable, and you’re good to go!

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Transform Wii Nunchuk into a USB-C Joystick for Your PC with ANAVI Handle


Let’s explore how to retrofit a classic Wii Nunchuk controller using ANAVI Handle, an open source hardware USB-C adapter that lets you connect a wired Nunchuk controller to any modern PC, be it a laptop or desktop. In this tutorial, you will learn how to configure the Nunchuk as a joystick and enjoy the open-source game “Tiny Crate”, all within your web browser.

Hardware Requirements

To get started, you’ll need:

  • A personal computer
  • A USB Type-C cable
  • An ANAVI Handle along with a Wii Nunchuk (or another compatible controller)

Software Configuration

Begin by connecting your Wii Nunchuk controller to your computer using the ANAVI Handle, an open-source hardware adapter. Next, edit the config.json file to enable joystick mode by adding:

{
    "type": "joystick"
}

The ANAVI Handle’s default open-source firmware (written in CircuitPython) uses the analog stick and buttons on the Nunchuk to control movement in joystick mode. After modifying config.json, disconnect and reconnect the ANAVI Handle to apply the changes.

The ANAVI Handle’s RGB LED provides visual feedback on the connection status:

  • A green light indicates a successfully connected Nunchuk controller.
  • A blue light shows the controller has been disconnected from the ANAVI Handle.
  • A red light signals an absent or improperly connected Nunchuk controller.

In the video, you’ll see the green light illuminated, confirming that everything is functioning correctly.

To quickly verify that your controller is working in joystick mode, load the HTML5 Gamepad Test in a modern web browser. This open-source tool is available on GitHub under the MIT license and provides a simple way to check your controller’s functionality.

Let’s Play!

Once everything is set up, you’re ready to dive into games that support joysticks!

While preparing this video, I discovered an incredible game called Tiny Crate. It’s a 2D puzzle game with charming pixel art graphics and joystick compatibility. Despite being a puzzle game, its game play evokes a sense of nostalgia for classic jump-and-run titles. Tiny Crate is an open-source game, with its source code available on GitHub. Developed using the Godot game engine, it’s playable on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, and even Android.

I featured Tiny Crate while demonstrating the ANAVI Handle during the “Show and Tell” segment of Pi Wars, a Raspberry Pi-based, non-destructive robotics competition. Pi Wars 2024 took place on April 20th-21st in Cambridge, UK, attracting 58 teams of robot engineers. During my demonstration, children of all ages were captivated by Tiny Crate, so much so that many were too absorbed in solving game levels to notice the ANAVI Handle or the Nunchuk controller. This speaks volumes about the quality of Tiny Crate and the effectiveness of the ANAVI Handle in seamlessly converting the Nunchuk controller into a USB HID device.

If you’re passionate about gaming innovation and eager for a new experience, all you need is a Nunchuk controller and an ANAVI Handle. After a successful crowdfunding campaign ANAVI Handle is available at Crowd Supply. We will soon stock it at our other distributors. Follow this guide and get ready to enjoy hours of fun with your favorite games!

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Classical Gaming on a PC with RetroPie and Nintendo Wii Nunchuk Controller

Thanks to open source it is possible to enjoy your favorite arcade, home-console, and classic PC games on a budget setup. In this video tutorial, we will transform an old netbook into a portable retro-gaming machine using Raspberry Pi OS and RetroPie.

RetroPie is a software package designed to enable the emulation of classic video game consoles that sits on top of a full OS. In this tutorial we will install it on top of a Linux distribution. RetroPie allows users to play games from a wide range of vintage systems by using emulators for platforms such as:

  • Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, Lynx
  • Commodore 64
  • Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super NES (SNES), Nintendo 64 (N64), Game Boy, Game Boy Advance
  • Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega CD, Sega 32X, Sega Master System, Game Gear
  • Sony PlayStation 1

Required Hardware

This is the required hardware for this tutorial:

  • Personal computer (PC). For example an old netbook like Acer Aspire One D257 or Asus EeePC (or similar) with an Intel Atom or AMD CPU is a great fit.
  • ANAVI Handle open source hardware USB adapter for Wiimote attachments
  • Wii Nunchuk controller (or another compatible controller)

Software

Follow the steps below to install and configure all the required software on your computer.

Step 1: Install Raspberry Pi OS for Desktop

Raspberry Pi Desktop for PC and Mac is a 32-bit GNU/Linux operating system designed for older and less powerful computers. It’s based on Debian, a popular Linux distribution, and includes the Raspberry Pi OS desktop environment along with a set of recommended software. If you have an aging computer that can’t handle modern commercial operating systems, Raspberry Pi OS can revitalize it, making it usable again. To get started, download the OS, flash the ISO file onto a USB drive, boot from the USB on your computer, and proceed with the installation.

Step 2: Install RetroPie

Follow the official documentation for installing RetroPie on a PC running Debian or Ubuntu. Use the RetroPie setup script to perform a Basic Install.

Step 3: Transfer ROM files

After RetroPie is installed, you’ll need to move ROM files for your favorite games into the correct directories. If you followed the steps above, the main directory for all ROMs is located at ~/RetroPie/roms (or /home/pi/RetroPie/roms, which is the same). There are subdirectories for each supported emulated system, such as NES, SNES, and others.

Step 4: Connect ANAVI Handle and Nunchuk

The next step is to connect a Wii Nunchuk controller to your computer using our open-source hardware adapter. Edit config.json and enable keyboard mode:


{
    "type": "keyboard"
}

ANAVI Handle comes with open source firmware written in CircuitPython. The keyboard mode includes a D-pad (directional pad, aka arrows), along with A and B keys. Save the changes to config.json. Ensure they take effect by disconnecting and then reconnecting the ANAVI Handle. After that configure the controls in RetroPie using the Nunchuk controller and ANAVI Handle.

The RGB LED on ANAVI Handle indicates the connection state

Connection States Through RGB LED

The default open-source firmware uses the RGB LED to display three different connection states:

  • A green light means the Nunchuk controller is properly connected.
  • A blue light indicates the controller has been disconnected from the ANAVI Handle.
  • A red light warns that the Nunchuk controller is missing or not connected correctly.

In the demo video, you’ll see the green light on, signaling that you’re ready to enjoy some classic games!

Enjoy Retro Gaming on the Go

Once everything is set up, you can begin your retro-gaming adventure! Power on your computer. RetroPie will start automatically (unless you’ve configured it differently), allowing you to dive into a world of classic arcade, home console, and homebrew games. Whether you’re fighting aliens or challenging a heavyweight champ, a whole world of gaming awaits you. heavyweight champ, a whole world of gaming is waiting for you.

If you have an old Netbook, give it a second chance as portable gaming machine! Get a Nunchuk controller and our open source ANAVI Handle, follow this tutorial, and get ready to relive the golden age of gaming!

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