Raspberry Pi KidKomputer

1. Stock 32-Bit RaspOS - Raspbian GNU/Linux 11 (bullseye) - on 32g sd using RPI Imager
   // Much improved!  It has been a while since I fiddled with GUI RaspOS.//

2. Initial Boot with Monitor/Keyboard attached for guided setup followed by reboot - approx 10 mins
   // User/password, localization and updates handled @ initial boot - even Bluetooth Mouse/Keyboard pairing! // 

3. Couple of touch-ups via raspi-config utility (gui version is fine for these)
   Via Preferences->Raspberry Pi Configuration:

   • System Tab->Change Hostname, Boot to Desktop, Set Auto Login and Splash Screen

   • Display Tab->Screen Blanking

   • Interfaces Tab->SSH & VNC will be handy in this world

   • Performance Tab->no changes (yet!) 

   • <OK - go ahead and reboot>

4. Software installs ... I do these via ssh (Preferences->Add/Remove Software would also work)

   • sudo apt-get install joe // My goto editor //

   • sudo apt-get install gcompris // Educational Software for ages 2-10 ... Initially the main program on SmartiePi //

   • sudo apt-get install scratch // Programming environment for ages 8-16 ... one step ahead! //

5. Couple more tweaks ... again via ssh 

   • fix slow/sporadic (albeit cute) mouse
     edit /boot/cmdline.txt and append usbhid.mousepoll=0 (I think this lets device choose poll rate - odd/age old issue on RPi)

   • VNC Server:  Set up to use VNC over Remote.it - VERY handy

6. Setup a limited RaspOS user for the grandkid - again via ssh.  Auto-Login one user initially but option to create multiple age-based environments in future

   • Create user w/ home directory -> sudo useradd -m <grandkidname>

   • Set password-> sudo passwd <grandkidname>

   • Set/append groups (I think these will be enough) -> sudo usermod -a -G audio,video,games <grandkidname>

7. Shutdown and Reboot on target RPI/Monitor/Keyboard/Sound

8. Via GUI/Desktop

   • Choose Audio device (if necessary) - We have a cute little hdmi monitor with built in sound 

   • Run/Test Gcompris the first time.  Menu->Games.  It will download whatever it needs - music, sounds, etc.  Try a game or 2 to test sound/music and check 

   • Season Desktop to taste via <right-click on desktop> Desktop Preferences.  Unicorn wallpaper, menu bar, whatever.  Each user's desktops can be unique

   • Adjust menu bar panel as needed <right-click on menu bar> Panel Preferences.   Clock & Sound in panel is probably enough.
     // I ended up auto-hiding the panel initially - Desktop icon only //

   • Add Gcompris to desktop (right-click-> add to desktop)

   • Eliminate unnecessary or dangerous RPi menu items via Preferences->Main Menu Editor.  
     //  VERY Limited set of menu options initially for grankids (e,g, no internet, no admin - see note on Alacarte below! //

     1. Programming -> Scratch

     2.  Games -> Gcompris

     3.  Preferences -> Keyboard & Mouse 

9.  Final touchups:  change wallpaper in system greeter (login screen) and autologin a grandkid user for now (this may change if there are more than one users!) 

   • Set greeter background image (wallpaper) in  /etc/lightdm/pi-greeter.conf

   • Change default autologin user in  /etc/lightdm/ligntdm.conf

   • Also ... Remote.it is VERY useful with remote devices and grandkids!  See https://www.remote.it/getting-started/raspberry-pi

10. Reboot-A-Roooo!   To get the witches out and to ensure all is well

******

Important Note!  Alacarte is a HANDY COMMAND!  It is the RaspOS GUI Main Menu Editor!   Select Run menu option and enter "alacart" to Edit Menu 

******

(April 2023 Work in process)

DOS Box for some good old Kid Games 

From unrestricted (superuser) account

1. Updated everything first (Its been a while)

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

2. Install dosbox

sudo apt install dosbox

3. Find a couple of good games
   Search the Wayback Machine (aka Internet Archives) - https://archive.org/details/classicpcgames

Install into dosbox directory.  Typically unzipping, restore directory structure so you can host multiple games

4. Initial run of game appears to create the dosbbox config under /home/<user> ...
   for example /home/<user>/.dosbox/dosbox-0.74-3.conf
   Season to taste:  I changed ours to start in fullscreen mode, for example:  fullscreen=true

5. Create Desktop Shortcuts for the games ... they look a little like this

[Desktop Entry]

Name=Word Rescue

Comment=Play Word Rescue using DOSBox

Exec=sh -c "cd /home/xxxx/Public/dosbox/WordResc && dosbox onerun.bat"

Icon=/home/xxxx/Public/dosbox/WordResc/icon_wordrescue.png

Terminal=false

Type=Application

Categories=Games;

6. Launching via Desktop Shortcut will pop up a dialog asking how to start the program ... to disable/skip this edit preference in Pi file manager (of all places)
   In Pi File Manager:  Edit->Preferences and set the following option: 
   X   Don't ask options on launch of executable file

7. <I think that is it ... but this little note was left half-baked ... we'll see when I try this again>