Robert Markoski

Raspberry Pi Bluetooth Tracker

2019-05-29T00:00:00+08:00

Bluetooth Device Tracking with Rasberry Pi’s

Hot on the heels of my post on using a raspberry pi as a motion sensor is another script that uses MQTT to integrate with Home Assistant and use it as a device tracker with bluetooth.

This can help with presence detection, especially if you got a bunch of bluetooth capable Raspberry Pi devices around the place.

Check it out here

Raspberry Pi Motion Detection MQTT Device

2019-05-13T00:00:00+08:00

PIR Motion Sensing MQTT Device

MQTT is an excellent protocol for simple device communication. Even better is how well it integrates with Home Assistant to create useful sensors using cheap gear.

Here is a short python script to turn a PIR mounted on a PI as a communicating motion sensor.

Check it out here

AS4130 - HDPE Pipe Dimensions

2019-03-07T00:00:00+08:00

AS/NZS 4130 HDPE Pipe Data

We have released the internal datasheets used for sizing HDPE Pipe and completing Dewatering Designs at IMEC.

It provides the sheet in PDF, CSV as well as xslx Format.

Find the repository here

Python Library for Using Colebrook Approximations of Darcy Friction Factor

2019-03-01T00:00:00+08:00

Colebrook.py

The colebrook.py python module is one I have released which we use internally at IMEC.

It includes a bunch of functions which use various Colebrook-White approximations to calculate the Darcy Friction factor using the flows reynolds number and pipes relative roughness.

Find the repository here

How to upgrade Ubuntu WSL to 18.10

2019-02-17T00:00:00+08:00

Upgrading to Ubuntu 18.10 on WSL

Although not officially released you can upgrade to Ubuntu 18.10 on WSL

sudo apt update && sudo apt dist-upgrade -y

Next edit /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades and change Prompt=lts to change Prompt=normal

Now run:

sudo do-release-upgrade

This may take a while.

You may get an LXD Error when upgrading. Purge it (I haven’t found any issues yet) via the following:

$ sudo dpkg --force depends -P lxd
...
$ sudo dpkg --force depends -P lxd-client
...

Then run the upgrade again.

How to install Xfce4 on Ubuntu 18.04 WSL

2019-02-15T00:00:00+08:00

Installing xfce4 on WSL

Amazingly, you can run a Window environment with WSL. This lets you run nix based GUI applications on Windows. Not officially supported, but I personally haven’t had any issues.

I am running this on Ubuntu 18.04

Installation

First off update your system and install xfce4

$ sudo apt update && sudo apt install xfce4 -y

Next on Windows go ahead download and install VcXsrv

Next you need to set the default display in WSL, so in your bash prompt set it as follows:

$ export DISPLAY=:0.0

If you would like to make the change permanent, add that line to the end of your .bashrc

That’s it! Installation is complete.

Running

Now lets get VcXsrv up and running. Run VcXsrv and then select the One Window without titlebar option

Next select Start no client

Now select Disable Access Control

Finally you can save the configuration and Finish up

You should have a blank VcXsrv screen now open. Open up your bash prompt and type:

$ xfce4-session &

Your Desktop should now show up on in the VcXsrv window.

Bonus: Automation

To automate the entire process if you like, you can create a VBS script that will automatically run VcSrv with the correct configuration and then launch and xfce4-session as follows.

Create a new bash script called launch.sh as follows:

#!/bin/bash
# This script checks if another xfce4-session is running first.
if [ -z $(pidof xfce4-session) ]; then
    source ~/.bashrc
    xfce4-session

fi;

Ensure the script is executable via chmod +x launch.sh

Next on the windows side create a new VBS Script wslgui.vbs and then add the following code. Obviously update the install and script locations to wherever they are for you

' Script to Automatically Run and Xfce4 Session
' It opens a single window/no-decoration VcXsrv window
' Then runs your WSL Launch Script
' Update file locations accordingly

Set shell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell" )
shell.Run """C:\Program Files\VcXsrv\vcxsrv.exe"" :0 -screen 0 @1 -nodecoration -wgl"
shell.Run "bash -c ""~/launch.sh""", 0

Now Run the Script and you should automatically get a running desktop environment.

From here you can go ahead and try a few themes and other customisations to get working.

Welcome to RobertMarkoski.net

2018-10-24T00:00:00+08:00

Welcome to RobertMarkoski.net