Python in Your Pocket

Python is one of the easier programming languages to get started with, yet it is also powerful enough to build enterprise-grade applications. As such, Python is a go-to language for everyone from weekend hobbyists to professional software engineers. YouTuber Tech Talkies loves Python so much that they built a portable platform for developing and experimenting with all things Python, anytime, anywhere.

The build was greatly simplified by the choice of hardware: the UNIHIKER M10. This single-board computer comes equipped with a quad-core Arm Cortex-A35 CPU that runs at up to 1.2GHz, 512MB of RAM, a 2.8-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a wide range of sensors. Most importantly for this project, it runs a Debian-based Linux operating system with Python programming support.

Since almost everything is already contained in the UNIHIKER M10, Tech Talkies only needed to install a battery and a charging module to use this device on the go. A 3D-printed case was also produced to protect the hardware and make the device easily pocketable.

Tech Talkies demonstrated a nifty little user interface that allows the user to launch games, monitoring tools, and any other applications written in Python. Data from the onboard sensors can be collected with these programs and offloaded either wirelessly or via a USB drive. Additional hardware can be attached via USB or GPIO pins as well.

It may not be the ideal platform for writing code, but using the touchscreen, it is possible to fire up an IDE and make a few edits in the field. This can be a lifesaver if you need to make just a small edit to your application when something isn’t working out exactly as planned.

If you’d like to put together your own multipurpose Python experimentation device, check out the video for some additional tips and tricks.