Hacking Hardware Interfaces for Reticulum

# 🛠️ Hacking Hardware Interfaces for Reticulum **Workshop** - jitter; chris (OGM Assembly) ## Practical Interface Workshop for **Reticulum** 🐍 (Python setup) → 🍄 (MicroPython flash) → 📡 (ESP-NOW interface) → 🤝 (peer networking) → 🌐 (mesh) ## 🎯 Workshop Goals - Demonstrate **practical** deployment of Reticulum without relying on traditional Internet infrastructure - Hands-on experience with alternative transport interfaces - Understanding real-world applications and limitations - Not about [`Rnode`](https://unsigned.io/rnode/) - the Reticulum assembly offers a workshop - Call this `Enode`? 😄 ## ⚡ Requirements\r\n\r\n- At least one ESP32 device, two are preferable, but not required - Best is a device from [`m5stack`](https://shop.m5stack.com/products/atom-lite-esp32-development-kit) but we will try to make any ESP32 work - Alternatively, bring a `RPi Zero 2` so we can hack on `USB-CDC` post-workshop - A computer running Python 3 and an Editor - Age 12 or with parent 👶 - Listeners are welcome, you do not have to particpate. The workshop will use devices from Espressif - most **ESP32** devices will work. ## 📡 ESP-NOW Overview ```ESP-NOW is a wireless communication protocol defined by Espressif, which enables the direct, quick and low-power control of smart devices, without the need of a router. ESP-NOW can work with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE, and supports the ESP8266, ESP32, ESP32-S and ESP32-C series of SoCs. It's widely used in smart-home appliances, remote controlling, sensors, etc. ``` > Differently put, no centralized infrastructure is required, it's peer-to-peer and offers a way of "multicasting". ## 💻 Implementation Details * [Flashing MicroPython](https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/esp32/tutorial/intro.html) is probably the hardest part, so assembly staff will assist doing so. * Eventually, there will be some easy soldering required to add a secondary `UART` * The interface code is hosted in a [GitHub repository](https://github.com/gretel/rns-if-espnow). * [`mpbridge`](https://github.com/AmirHmZz/mpbridge) allows easy multiplatform upload and continous development. * Each participant tries to connect the interface built to the assemblies\' Reticulum node. # 📋 Workshop Preparation Checklist Speaker: jitter ## 📚 Essential Reading * https://linuxinabit.codeberg.page/blog/reticulum/ * https://github.com/micropython/micropython/wiki * https://github.com/espressif/esp-now/blob/master/User_Guide.md ## 💾 Software Prerequisites * Python 3.x installed and working * Your preferred code editor * Git client * USB drivers for ESP32 (Windows users) * Terminal emulator (like PuTTY, screen, or minicom) ## 🔧 Hardware Preparation * ESP32 device charged/functional * USB data cable (not charge-only) * USB-UART adapter (beneficial) ## ⚡ Before You Arrive * [ ] Test your Python environment * [ ] Clone the interface repository * [ ] Test USB connection to your ESP32 * [ ] Read through basic MicroPython concepts * [ ] Install required Python packages (`mpbridge`, `rns`) * [ ] Review ESP-NOW protocol basics