[ØMQ] Getting started with ØMQ and Python on Windows 7, x64

ØMQ (zeroMQ) is one of these sexy "new" Message Queue Systems. I wanted to dive into it right away, starting with Java. However, building zeroMQ with Java Binding on Windows 7, x64 is a pain (read: Did not work out fast enough - as I wanted to get my feet wet fast!) - so I switched over to Python. Well. Getting that to work is quite easy.

1.) Download and install latest zeroMQ
You can get the Windows Downloads on http://zeromq.org/distro:microsoft-windows, i choose the Stable Release 4.0.4 for Windows, x64 Release for Vista and newer. Just download and install it.

2.) Download and install Python
As I really like the 2.7 branch, I went for Python 2.7.9 which can be downloaded at https://www.python.org/downloads/.
You should install it with all default settings, but enable the "Add Python to System Path".
After installation you should check that the Path Variables for your Python Install are added correctly, i.e. "C:\Python27;C:\Python27\Scripts"
( More information on how to add path variables on http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm)

3.) Download and install the Python Binding pyzmq
Open a cmd / command prompt and enter pip install pyzmq. That should install pyzmq.

4.) Final words
After that you can open your Python IDLE and start with some demo code, which can be found on the Github of pyzmq: https://github.com/zeromq/pyzmq/tree/master/examples

The getting started guide is also an awesome source of information:
http://zguide.zeromq.org/py:all

Common Problems:
If you get an "pip not found", you most probably have not set the Path / Enviromental Variables correctly.

[RaspPi] Minibian Basic Setup

For basic appliances with an very specific task, an complete Raspbian Installation can be too heavy weight and unnecessary. Striping down Raspbian of things like Mathematica can be time consuming. Enter Minibian: Just download the Image at https://minibianpi.wordpress.com/ and flash it to your SD Card like a normal Raspbian Image. Following is the procedure to setup Minibian with raspi-config, rpi-update and sudo / Default User pi.

How much resources does Minibian need after installation?
About 469 MB of space on the SD Card.
About 60 MB of RAM.
I think that is way better than Raspbian.

apt-get update
apt-get install -y raspi-config
raspi-config
# Default Configuration and Expand Filesystem using raspi-config
# Enter Finish and press Yes on Reboot the Device

apt-get install -y rpi-update sudo
apt-get -y upgrade
reboot

rpi-update

# Create Default User pi
adduser pi
# Enter Password as wanted, i.e. raspberry
# Add user to default groups
usermod -a -G pi,adm,dialout,cdrom,audio,video,plugdev,games,users pi
# Add sbin Paths to pi
echo 'export PATH="$PATH:/sbin:/usr/sbin:usr/local/sbin"' >> /home/pi/.bashrc
# Add user to sudo
visudo
# Add under
# # User privilege specification
# root ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL
pi ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL
# Save and Exit
reboot

# Disable root login
sudo passwd -l root

[Art] Suomalainen Äänimaisema

Suomalainen Äänimaisema was an project of Melanie Windl, an artist from the University of Mainz, Germany on which I helped as technical advisor and programmer. The idea of the project was to field-record several sounds and music of Finland, load them onto some Raspberry Pis and let them play, as soon as a person came close enough to the object. The project was realised using three Raspberry Pi, Modell B+, some PIR sensors and USB Soundcards. You can find more about the project here: https://atelier-windl.com/portfolio/suomalainen-aanimaisema-2/

Exhibition
Suomalainen Äänimaisema
25.03.-02.04.2015
Titanik Galleria, Itäinen Rantakatu 8
20700 Turku, Finnland

A short video showing the project can be found here