GPIO for Raspberry Pi: What is it, what is it for, and what is its use in this mini-computer?

Project development is one of the reasons for any organization's existence. Raspberry Pi. But in order to put them into practice, The GPIO pins on this device need to be put to good use.Each model comes with connections that have different characteristics, and to take advantage of them, it is essential to know them.

The success in the use of pins GPIO is learn how the programming system works and in properly connecting the components so as not to cause any damage to the board.

In this guide, we will go into detail about different aspects related to these pins, taking a look at the functions they perform in Raspberry Pi models We will also recommend projects that can be developed on these single-board computers.

What is GPIO for Raspberry Pi and what are these pins used for on my mini PC board?

The acronym GPIO refers to "General Purpose Input/Output" Or, translated into English, this is equivalent to general-purpose inputs and outputs. Once properly configured, the pins are ready to perform various functions, not just one specific function. This applies to all Raspberry Pi models. They are organized and distributed in the same way.

The pins are adapted to the needs of each project through the programming language. They are used to control electronic circuits, easily add peripherals, and establish communication between these peripherals and the board. In short, It makes the integration of the boards with external components less complex.

What are the main functions of the Raspberry Pi GPIO pins depending on the model?

The number of pins on the Raspberry Pi has been increasing since from the first version which had 26, to the current one which has 40creating more options when designing a project. The good thing is that regardless of the version, they are all equally compatible with any project. The pins They are located in a row at the far right of the plate, And since they are not populated, they provide the flexibility to use whatever connections are necessary for the project.

Some of the functions they can perform are the following:

• Connect a device external.
• Receive the voltage signal incoming message sent by the connected device and determine from the reading whether it is high or low.
• Send the signal voltage.
• UART connection for serial ports and devices.
• Modular the pulse width.
• GND connection or land.
• Communication for the SPI protocol for data synchronization.

GPIO pin utility: What can I connect and program with them on a Raspberry Pi?

The number of external devices that will be connected to the board depends largely on the project being developed. In some cases, more components are required than in others, but The capabilities of each microcomputer never cease to amaze. Each project comes with clear and specific instructions where to make the connections, so that the user can understand this process regardless of their level of knowledge.

Regarding the connections, we should point out that the following can be installed on the pins:

• Energy supply 3.3V and 5V.
• Digital inputs and outputs for connecting simple switches and sensors.
• SPI Devices Of high speed.
• I2C components that allow communication between connected chips.

On the other hand, in terms of programming, with the operating system is They can assign various functions to the GPIO pins.because the Pi board is designed to work with physical programming.

Among the tasks that can be scheduled, we have:

• Program the voltages of the entrances and exits.
• Automate pulse width modulation, which controls the energy that is sent to a load.
• The information pass between the integrated circuits on the board.
• Communication between integrated circuits and controllers.
• And communication between the transmit pin and the receive pin.

GPIO vs Arduino Pins: What are the differences between these electronic components?

At first glance, we would say that They are two very similar platesWith both, you can create various projects.

However, the differences begin to appear when we look at more details of each one:

• Free software: In the case of Arduino, anyone can create their own versions of the board because the software is open source, whereas with Raspberry Pi they have control over the creation and production.
• TicketsOne of Arduino's strengths is its combination of analog and digital inputs, which are easily activated and deactivated by its system. Raspberry Pi, on the other hand, was designed as a computer, has greater computing power, and new features are added with each version.
• ConnectivityIf we talk about connection modes, the Raspberry Pi has integrated Wi-Fi and Ethernet, while an Arduino requires adding a new board, which increases costs and limits the number of ports.
• System: Arduino executes programmed tasks directly, while Raspberry Pi requires a fully functional operating system and takes slightly longer to boot. This difference impacts the development of some electronics projects, as it takes more time to execute functions, activate ports, and run the program.
• Arduino It's an easy-to-use microcontroller that runs small applications controlling basic devices and is ideal for any electronics project. Raspberry Pi was created more as a computer, ideal for running programs, acting as a server, and for projects requiring greater complexity and multitasking.

However, Both applications are used by project developers worldwide.taking into account its characteristics and particularities.

Programming Raspberry Pi GPIO Pins: What languages ​​are used to program any project?

Acquire the Programming skills are necessary when working on the development of electronic projects. Fortunately, for the Raspberry Pi There are several simple tools available that allow you to schedule tasks.

Here are four programming languages ​​you can use:

Scratch

This language allows Learn to program without being an expert in handling codes. And although you could use the online version, it's better to use the installed version so as not to miss out on the advantages of GPIO.

Therefore, once you download and install the program, you use it in this way:

• Enter the Raspberry Pi menu, click on “Programming" and then you select "Scratch".
• The application will open there, and a good recommendation is set language.
• In the blocks menu, select the option “Add an extension"to use the pins GPIO.
• Choose the option “PI GPIO” and on the right side press "Ok”.
• With these options now activatedYou can add an input/output pin with the possibility of activate it y disable it. Furthermore, the team is ready to carry out any task assigned to it..

Python

This language is one of the most widely used in the world for the purpose of create applications and automate operations. The philosophy is that anyone with basic programming knowledge can use it and benefit from its advantages. It should be noted that It comes pre-installed on the Raspberry Pi OS operating system, That's an advantage because you won't have to install anything extra.

To use it, follow these steps:

• Within the device, we go to the section "Menu - Programming".
• Once it shows us the options, Select the version you should use..
• Opens the "Python Shell Tab"From that moment on, we will be able to write and execute commands, seeing the results instantly.
• Every time the symbol ">>>" appears It's giving us the option to enter commands.

C/C++/C#

The C language is used to create systems and also applications.It could be categorized as mid-level, although it also has features for a low level. For its part, C++ is a hybrid language and multiparadigm to which aspects of generic programming have been added. Finally, C# is derived from the two previous ones.It has some similarities to Java but with improvements. It is designed to generate programs based on itself.

processing3

This language is developed based on Java and It is useful for the production of digital multimedia elements. Is open source and it's very easy to use.

List of the best projects you can do with the GPIO pins of your Raspberry Pi

The time has come to innovate and invent. We have chosen three interesting projects that have been shared and that can be developed by anyone. It applies to both advanced users and children with little programming knowledge. What's most required is a desire to learn.

Read carefully what the projects are:

Simple traffic light

We are going to program a conventional traffic light using the Python application, which, as I mentioned above, comes pre-installed on the Pi.

The steps are the following:

• Import bookstores to use.
• Then We declare the pin type.
• We created a loop, then deactivated and activated it. the pins connected to the LED. Finally, we built the traffic light based on the prototype and connected it to the board.

The materials needed for this operation are as follows:

• 4 hoses.
• 3 resistors.
• 3 LED diodes.
• 1 protoboard.

LED lights

This simple project is based on Create a small circuit with a couple of LEDs and control one of them with command lines using our Raspberry Pi. This light will blink at an interval of one second.

To achieve this, we must take the following steps:

• Open Python and create a new file to save the programming code.
• In first line, it matters the GPIO pin libraries that will allow us to take control.
• Then We choose the method by which we will access the pinWhether through the board or the chip. Once we decide, we initialize the pin and control it with the options True o "false".
• In the end, A tab will show us the final programming. and we give "Keep«.

To achieve this goal, we need to have the following items on hand:

• 1 resistor 100Ω.
• 2 hoses.
• 1 protoboard.
• 1 LED diode (5mm).

Security System

Programming your Raspberry Pi board is not complicated. This system scans your home's surroundings and sends a notification to your phone. It also notifies you when it disconnects for any reason. The basis of this project is a Raspberry Pi 3.