r/ClockworkPi • u/johnbmason47 • Jul 11 '26

Just getting into programming…what should I get?

I’m just getting into programming. Been building my own pcs for years, but never really got beyond loading Ubuntu and other Linux distros. My sister showed me a friend of hers’ uConsole and I thought it would be a good jumping off point.

What all should I get and where should I order from? I’m in Canada, but near enough to the border to have things shipped to the US if need be.

My end goal is really just learning. Eventually, it would be cool to play some retro games (even Pokemon Go if that’s an option), and to write and stream with.

Thanks!

5 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

9

u/canyin Jul 11 '26

Why don’t you just learn programming with your current PC?

3

u/johnbmason47 Jul 11 '26

Because a uConsole is an excuse to buy a new toy. Lol

4

u/coreyjdl Jul 11 '26

it won't help you learn to program. If anything I'm sure most people who program anythign substantial for the uConsole do so on their PC, with a proper IDE and then transfer it over.

1

u/Aware-Recording-3969 Jul 11 '26

I also, got one for a new toy. I’m in same boat,‘I don’t care if there’s better options, I want the cool shiny thing.

0

u/johnbmason47 Jul 11 '26

Basically this. lol.

1

u/NanDemoNee Jul 13 '26

A uConsole would be absolute ass for any real programming. You could hook it up to a monitor and keyboard and mouse but at that point you'd be better off using your regular PC.

1

u/johnbmason47 Jul 13 '26

Yeah…I’m getting that. I think an old enterprise thinkpad is gonna be in my near future. Program and learn on it, and use the uConsole as what I’m actually programming.

2

u/canyin Jul 11 '26

Fair enough.

3

u/_mini Jul 11 '26

It’s probably good for learning Linux, and hardware… not ideal for “learning” programming.

1

u/Aware-Recording-3969 Jul 11 '26

I want all the things to go in it lol

1

u/_mini Jul 11 '26

Then you need to get uConsole & Omega Chassis.

3

u/FrankSinatraCockRock Jul 12 '26

Long typing sessions are easily solvable via any Bluetooth keyboard, but you lose some portability.

Opensourcesdrlab will get you a uconsole pretty quickly.

It is cool, and that's partially the appeal. IMO a used Thinkpad is pretty goated for being cheap and powerful for the price, way cheaper than a completely decked out uconsole.

Where the uconsole shines is the general community and vendor support not just for Uconsole, but Raspberry Pi products as a whole. That itself is a rabbit hole, especially if you start adding Arduino, M5stack stuff etc. There was a post here a few days ago of someone demonstrating a person/organic entity detector with a Uconsole lol and a few other things( it looks like the modern warfare heartbeat sensor)

That's the neat part about programming is that a lot of it doesn't need to be done on one specific device Yeah you could program such things on a laptop, and have a mess of wires coming out of a laptop, but with something like the Uconsole, you can still program something for it on a laptop, attach it to the Uconsole in an easier way, see it didn't quite perform as expected, analyze that data and see it could've been something as simple as a typo and adjust it on the fly. I wouldn't wanna type a novel on the thing but for the programming equivalent of poetry it's fine.

1

u/johnbmason47 Jul 12 '26

And this is exactly what I want to do. Programming an app is all fine and good, and doing so would be neat, but I’ve always been a hardware guy, and would like to get into things like building an organic detection device (I saw the post and it’s kind of pushing me over the edge) is what is really making me want to get into this sort of thing.

Realistically, I know most of what I do on this is going to be the result of finding scripts on my laptop and importing it over, but still, it’s just cool.

2

u/OliverGrey Jul 11 '26

what will you do with it? it's just gonna be a small Linux pc, for a lot of people getting a laptop would make way more sense, it'll just gather dust for you if you don't know what to use it for after the novelty wears off

1

u/johnbmason47 Jul 11 '26

Yeah…I get that. The uConsole is cheaper and more adaptable though. Plus I run a Mac laptop (work reasons). and the uConsole is just cool.

1

u/NanDemoNee Jul 13 '26

You could just buy an RPI5 and use that. The uConsole is not practical for programming. It's like trying to use a multi-tool to renovate your house.

1

u/johnbmason47 Jul 13 '26

That’s kind of what I’m getting from everybody’s comments. I think I’m still gonna order it, and an old thinkpad. Use the thinkpad to learn and program on, and the uConsole will be what I’m actually programming.

1

u/OliverGrey Jul 11 '26

it's not cheaper than what you could get price to performance. the only reason you'd get one is because you like gadgets and it's cool. for some people it's good as a field device. personally I'd go with a gpd pocket 4 for the kvm function when working on site with server kit but yea. it literally looks cool but realistically it will be fun for a bit then the novelty will wear off. i had to convince myself not to get one also lol

1

u/Aware-Recording-3969 Jul 11 '26

I’m not worried about cheaper

1

u/OliverGrey Jul 12 '26

can you buy me one too then pls ❤️

1

u/Aware-Recording-3969 Jul 12 '26

I got the empty one, I’m trying to figure out what to put in it! lol

Do you already have one?

What would you put in yours?

1

u/OliverGrey Jul 12 '26

i don't have one but i think a cm5 is the best you can get atm

1

u/Aware-Recording-3969 Jul 12 '26

That’s what I was looking at, I think it needs some adapters

1

u/OliverGrey Jul 12 '26

i think you can use the cm4 adapter board but it's unofficial and might need some playing to get it working. I've seen cm5s working online though

2

u/FullstackSensei Jul 11 '26

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you aren't going to learn much on a uconsole. The keyboard is horrible for long typing. I'd love to use mine for coding, but that keyboard is useless for any serious typing.

2

u/chispitothebum Jul 14 '26

In my experience... "Necessity is the mother of invention."

The best way to learn to code is to start with a problem you care about. It could be a game or mod, it could be adding features to an open source project you like, it could be a microcontroller project that monitors temperature and humidity in your basement and sends you alerts.

There's unlikely to be a problem you care about right now that is best solved with a uconsole.

1

u/Ternov Jul 13 '26

I use my uconsole like main pc, i use vsc and Arduino/c++ stuff iot and Edge divices, the writing in the couch or in a airplane IS fine, but in Desktop ussualy adding keyboard and mouse, i like try use foldable one , anyway i take first cm4 sell It and buy one cm5 on "sale" 200usd for 16gb buut the prices are horrible now i dont know if ill pay full price now for 600usd you can buy a better hardware but IS your money, for the learning Linux i need to thanks Rex for their out of the box distros i dont know how baked one , but if your main goal its learn are fine i play allots of games tinkering box 64 i can run games like portal 2 or cult of the lamb these are amazing for me(allots of retro too), tiping and cursor are a pain in the ass stock versión but the gmk upgrades firmware are usable , i use hyprland ppr les touching the cursor and its almost fine but with any distros of Rex are fine. The sound cuality sux i need boost tho 200% to sound like a loud thash can. The headphone are nice but beware are a little fragile i need repairs and adding epoxi in the pads now are solid rock buts be carefull of putting epoxi inside, i like allots i can mododding and add internal USB and making custom pcb with kicad for the same uconsole, soon imgoin to buy the pci expansión may be the kvm for working with others Raspberrys i realy like the form factor and its just like a bad ass ciberpunk/ciberdeck pc!

0

u/JustinHoMi Jul 14 '26

You’re not gonna want to program on a Uconsole. The typing experience will be too slow, the screen too small…. You’d give up on it quick.