From Unboxing to Running a Program in Minutes!

A step-by-step guide on how long it takes to set up your Raspberry Pi 3 from scratch, including hardware preparation and software installation. …


Updated October 17, 2023

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A step-by-step guide on how long it takes to set up your Raspberry Pi 3 from scratch, including hardware preparation and software installation.

It only takes minutes to install Raspberry Pi 3, but let’s break down the process into steps for a more accurate time estimate. The actual time may vary depending on your experience level and internet connection speed.

  1. Unboxing: Open the package and remove the Raspberry Pi 3 and accessories (micro SD card, power supply, USB cable).
  2. Preparing the micro SD card: Use a program like Etcher or Win32DiskImager to flash the latest version of Raspbian onto your micro SD card (8GB or higher recommended).
    • Time estimate: 10-20 minutes
  3. Attaching peripherals: Connect the power supply and micro USB cable to the Pi, insert the micro SD card into the Pi, and connect any peripherals you’ll be using (keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc.).
  4. Powering on the Pi: Plug in the power supply and wait for it to boot up (indicated by a blinking LED). This may take a few minutes.
    • Time estimate: 2-5 minutes
  5. Setting up WiFi or Ethernet: Connect your Raspberry Pi to a network using either WiFi or Ethernet (if available).
    • Time estimate: 5-10 minutes
  6. Updating and upgrading software: Open the terminal and run sudo apt update followed by sudo apt upgrade. This will ensure your Pi is running the latest software versions.
    • Time estimate: 5-10 minutes (depending on your internet connection)
  7. Changing default passwords: Change the default password for user “pi” and root using the passwd command in the terminal.
    • Time estimate: 2-3 minutes
  8. Configuring software options: Customize your Raspberry Pi by installing additional software or changing settings as desired (e.g., enabling SSH, setting up VNC).
  9. Running a test program: Write a simple Python script to display “Hello, World!” on the screen using pygame or another library. Save it as hello.py and run it with python3 hello.py.
    • Time estimate: 5 minutes (including writing the code)
  10. Celebrate: You’ve successfully installed your Raspberry Pi 3 and are ready to start building!

In total, the entire process should take around 45-60 minutes from unboxing to running a test program. However, this can be shorter or longer depending on your familiarity with Linux and the Pi ecosystem, as well as any issues that may arise during the installation. Regardless, it’s an exciting time as you get ready to explore the world of Raspberry Pi!