Linux

MaslowCNC: Electronics | Firmware | Mechanics | Software

Linux

How to install Ground Control from the source

Note, this method does not work well for Raspberry Pi. See the Raspberry Pi instructions below.

Step 1: Install Kivy

Install Kivy using by folowing the instructions found at https://kivy.org/docs/installation/installation-linux.html

NOTE: at this time Ground Control does not support Python3, so use Python2 instead

Step 2: Install PySerial

Install the PySerial package by running the command pip install pyserial

Step 3: Download the Source Code

Download a copy of the Ground Control source code from https://github.com/MaslowCNC/GroundControl using the "clone or download" button on the right side.

Step 4: Launch Ground Control

Launch Ground Control by using the command python main.py from within the folder

How to run Ground Control on a Raspberry Pi

These instructions were written using a Raspberry Pi 3, but the instructions should be similar for other operating systems.

Step 1: Download KivyPie

Download the latest KivyPie image from http://kivypie.mitako.eu/kivy-download.html

Step 2: Burn KivyPie to an SD Card

Burn the KivyPie to an SD card. There are many guides about how to do this on the internet, the official one is here.

Step 3: Login

Boot the Raspberry Pi and log in using the default user name and password: Login: sysop Password: posys

Note both the login and password are lower-case

Step 4: Connect to the internet

Connect your Pi to the internet by plugging in an Ethernet port or by following these instructions to connect to wifi from the command line.

Step 3: Install Kivy

As of this writing the current version of KivyPi does not actually come with Kivy installed for python 2 which seems like an oversight. Install Kivy with the commands:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install python2-kivypie

sudo ln -sf /usr/bin/python2 /usr/bin/kivy

Step 3a: Configure Kivy (correct double inputs)

To remedy double-typing of characters and double-clicking of buttons when using a USB HID input device (keyboard/mouse) edit the Kivy ini file with the following command:

sudo nano ~/.kivy/config.ini

Which will open the ini file in a text editor. Comment the line that reads

%(name)s=probesysfs,provider=hidinput

so it will now read

#%(name)s=probesysfs,provider=hidinput

Save the file by pressing Ctrl+x then y then press enter.

Repeat the process for root.

sudo nano /root/.kivy/config.ini

Step 4: Install PySerial

Install PySerial with the command sudo apt-get install python-serial

Step 5: Download Ground Control

Download Ground Control with the command git clone https://github.com/MaslowCNC/GroundControl.git

Step 5a: Configure Kivy theme to correct mouse click position

Backup the existing theme file with the command

sudo mv /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/kivy/data/images/defaulttheme-0.png /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/kivy/data/images/defaulttheme-0.old.png

Copy one of two theme files from Ground Control.

For the Maslow Theme, use the command

sudo cp ~/GroundControl/Images/MaslowTheme.png /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/kivy/data/images/defaulttheme-0.png

For the standard Kivy Theme (with a replacement cursor), use the command

sudo cp ~/GroundControl/Images/ArrowTheme.png /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/kivy/data/images/defaulttheme-0.png

Step 6: Launch Ground Control

Launch Ground Control with the command cd /home/sysop/GroundControl/ and sudo python main.py

Step 7: More

See the KivyPie FAQ for more information about how to do things like make Ground Control launch on startup turning your Raspberry Pi into a touch screen controller, or how to VNC into your Raspberry Pi.