14 DAY TRIAL // Google has released Coder, a new tool for Raspberry Pi which turns the small computer into a web server and a web-based coding station for beginner and experienced programmers alike.
Coder is simply a customized Raspbian, the Debian-based Linux operating system for the Raspberry Pi.
It's a great way to get started since it comes with everything you need, including a web-based code editor, out of the box. And, because it's based on Raspbian, you can install anything you want on it, including a more powerful editor or another web server, once you get comfortable doing that.
"A quick sprint with my design friend Jeff Baxter led to a little experiment called Coder. It’s an open source tool that turns Raspberry Pi into a simple, tiny, personal web server and web-based development environment – just what you need for crafting HTML, CSS, and JavaScript while you're learning to code ," Jason Striegel from Google's Creative Lab explained.
Coder has everything you need to get started building things for the web. It's also relatively easy to install, even if you don't have much experience with the Raspberry Pi.
All you need to do is download the image and clone it onto an SD card. Plug that card into your Raspberry Pi and you're all set to go.
"We thought about all the stuff we could do to make Coder a more complete package, but we have a hunch that the sooner this gets into the open source and maker communities, the more we'll learn about how it might be used. Hopefully, a few more folks will pitch in and help us make this even more accessible and helpful for new coders," Striegel added.
To get started, you can head over to the Coder project page on GitHub, where you can grab the install images. The entire project is open source, naturally, so you can take a peek under the hood if you want to know how it all works.
