The Tech Pulse

The Tech Pulse

I built a Spotify Music Player

One Sentence Summary:

Builds a touchscreen Spotify player with Raspberry Pi Pico2, displaying cover art, controls, and ambient LEDs, using open-source code.

Main Points:

  1. Utilizes the Primro Presto with a 4-inch touchscreen and Raspberry Pi RP2350 chip for a sleek display.
  2. No soldering needed; fully assembled device with USB-C power, micro SD, LEDs, and optional accessories.
  3. Uses Thonnie IDE and MicroPython to upload and run the project code on the Presto.
  4. Flashes the device with latest firmware via drag-and-drop UF2 files from the GitHub repository.
  5. Sets up a Spotify developer app, creating credentials and authorizing API access with a premium account.
  6. Clones the project repository, generates Spotify credentials, and authorizes the device through a browser.
  7. Uploads project files to the Presto, updates Wi-Fi and Spotify credentials in secrets.py.
  8. Runs the main script, which displays current song cover art and provides playback controls via touch.
  9. Ambient LEDs change colors based on album art, enhancing visual feedback and user experience.
  10. Challenges included handling API call frequency and graphics limitations with international characters.

Takeaways:

  • Use open-source hardware and software to create customized media control devices.
  • Proper setup of API credentials and firmware flashing is crucial for seamless integration.
  • Touchscreen controls can mimic popular app interfaces, providing intuitive user experiences.
  • Ambient lighting enhances aesthetics and can be synchronized with media content.
  • Open-source projects benefit from community contributions, suggestions, and ongoing improvements.