When you're starting a remote Pi project, you might want to prepare your Pi from scratch. It's pretty easy.

Prerequisites

You will need:

• A Raspberry Pi with power and an internet connection
• An SD card with the latest NOOBS installed
• A Dataplicity account

Additionally, for the initial setup only, you will need:

• A USB keyboard
• A USB mouse
• A monitor with HDMI connection.

Get your Pi started

Make sure your SD card with NOOBS is pushed in properly. Connect your Pi to a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, and then connect the power.

When it boots up, select the Raspbian OS to install. Allow it to overwrite, and wait a while for it to install. This can take a while.

Your Pi will eventually give you a desktop with a big Pi logo. Awesome! Your Pi is good to go, but you can still only use it with the local keyboard and mouse.

Next we prepare a remote Pi build.

📘

You can no longer carry out a light install without the built in GUI

Since March 2016 the way that you install Raspbian has changed. You are no longer offered the opportunity to install without a GUI.

However, you can disable the GUI and free up processing resources. You may want to do this before you set up your remote Pi.

Install Dataplicity

Here's how to set up a remote Pi:

Under the Pi menu roll down to the option for Accessories, and then click on Terminal.

A Pi prompt will appear.

Simply copy in the line of code we sent for your account at the prompt, press Enter, and wait for Dataplicity to install.

Now go back to your laptop and log in. You'll be able to see your Pi prompt from your laptop, wherever it is, easy as Pi.

Happy remote programming!

Next, if you want a remote GUI, you can even remotely access your Pi desktop using Dataplicity Wormhole.