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Raspberry PI on Mac for comfortable working

balearicdynamics

This short article is for all those working on Mac computers running OSX operating systems, and need to connect in a reliable way their Raspberry PI for a more comfortable development. I have tried and used this method for several different kind of developments with very good results.

 

It is possible to connect the Raspi to almost any PC through the networks (LAN or WiFi) using the popular protocols like SSH, SFTF (for data exchange), FTP etc. But the OSX has its own sharing method very efficient on the Mac computers that is the AFP protocol.So I simply searched if there is a way to install this protocol inside a Raspberry to reach some sort of file sharing with the Mac. I have found the very good blog post https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=26826 (the article is also attached here as pdf document)

This simple tutorial explain how to install the Mac aft sharing protocol on the Raspberry PI but not only, it is interesting what I have discovered using it.

 

After the PI installation has been completed and the device rebooted at tis point it is visible and accessible from the Mac Finder. After you log to the PI exposed folders from your Mac as a matter of fact all the folders are available as stable mounts. This means that you can directly manage, edit and develop from the Mac on the Pi and immediately test and use what you have aded/changed on the Raspberry with zero effort. It is different than accessing to the PI via VNC and in my opinion it is better just for developing and not only. Below a short list of the environments I have used this approach connecting a Rapsberry PI3 to a Macbook pro running Sierra OSX

 

  • Develop Python with the advanced and very complete IDE PyCharm, community edition
  • Manage on the Mac the Raspberry PI Git repositories for the developed software using the GitHub desktop application
  • Edit and review shell commands and other scripting text files with JEdit on Mac (but this is just one of my preferred editors)
  • Backup and file transfer of the fiels from the Raspberry PI made easy

 

All these operations can be done easily and in a very comfortable way without involving the Raspcherry PI CPU and no extra storage.

Attachments:
imageRaspberry Pi • View topic - File sharing with OSX.pdf

  • Ooohhhh, must bookmark this as if I ever get around to playing with my Pi then I'll face this potential issue.

     

    Thanks for this

  • Excellent Enrico, thanks for sharing! I'll definitely be taking this approach when I get back onto a Pi project!

  • in reply to shabaz

    There is only one safe way to run windows, inside a virtual machine where it can be protected from rot and prevented from doing any harm! image

  • in reply to rachaelp

    and prevented from doing any harm!

    That won't do it ....

     

    Just remember all you Windows Haters ... if Bill gates hadn't invested $150m in Apple, it wouldn't be and the iToys you have now most likely wouldn't be in existance.

     

    mark

  • in reply to mcb1

    I'm a mac and linux guy but run windows too but just remember that windows wouldn't be around if bill gates hadn't licensed a large amount of gui patents of apple after Steve was ousted in the late 80's. the $150 million deal you refer to was where microsoft agreed to produce office for mac for 5 years and apple agreed to make internet explorer the default browser on macintosh. enough said there, and NO I'm not a microsoft hater or apple lover i just use what systems run the software i need at the time

  • in reply to rachaelp

    Hello Rachel, you was the first person I thought when I read the article. As far as I know this is the better way to manage any kind of Pi development from the Mac (not sure that a so stable Windows kind of sharing exists image ) The most important thing I have experiences is that is saves an incredible amount of time for testing directly on the machine and the largest storage (workspaces, project and git can stay on the Mac local storage. It works also well for the documentation side as Doxygen (or similar) run on the Mac instead of the PI. I have tested and works also in conjunction with other methods to reach the PI, e.g. the remote PI desktop as well as the SHH terminal access.

     

    Enrico

  • in reply to rachaelp

    It's absolutely true, Rachel!

    It is just what I do. Few months ago after years of the Oracle free VirtualBox usage, I moved to a licensed (a cheap 50$ one shot) VMWare engine that is better, faster and more stable than Virtual Box - almost equivalent but hardware on VMWare Window machines runs better and is easier to connect/disconnect. The advantage that you can decide just what resources you need and want in the Windows machine gives the possibility to tailor specific configurations for any kind of development. I have developed for one year embedded hardware software solutions for NXP with my Macbookpro running together Windows 7 32 bit with Python development platform, another Windows 7 64 bit with Python + Qt development environment  and a third platform with Ubuntu 16.04 LT 64 bit. Interesting configuration for the usage:

     

    • Windows #1 - Starting platform with old software as reference
    • Windows #2 - New development environment and new hardware testing machine
    • Ubuntu - Linux version of the same hardware control developed in C for some low-level features testing

    The other incredible advantage is that all the machines share alternatively the same hardware (always connected through USB and USB LAN via a BBB), share the same software files (The VM disks are shared folders on the Mac mounted as external storage), share the same clipboard so any copy-and-paste become extremely easier.

    All the everyday stuff (email, calendar, Skype, chatting, messaging etc.) are on the Mac. The result is an entire affordable and reliable hardware/software development lab that fir in my backpack...

     

    Another interesting experience that frankly I have no idea how many different computers I had been used alternatively is with the APS printer driver: one version Windows32, one version Windows64 both to be tested on Windows 7 and Windows 10 machines. All the other stuff, as usual on Mac.

     

    Just to mention almost all, there are other two great advantages (I consider priceless); every machine when it is not needed it can be securely suspended and freeze (safe and working if done by the virtualisation engine). The other very interesting aspect solving a lot of time-consuming problems is the way VM are managed. I have a series of VM with a fresh installation: Windows7, 8.1 industrial, 10, Ubuntu 16 and 32 bit etc. Everytime I need to test a new application to see how it runs before delivery, I replicate one of these machines and run everything I need on the fresh installation. Then the machine can be just deleted from the computer...

     

    Maybe the worth to write down a tutorial on the advantages and usage methodologies of Virtual Machines in embedded hardware development ? Most of the features represent a great advantage also on the Windows virtualisation environment. Maybe can address us about...

     

    Enrico

  • in reply to mmcphail

    Me too, as I have already discussed in past with The point is that some plaftorms are undoubtly less robust then other. Until a certain period Apple hardware was better but while I aim for a Mac desktop, today the last thing I will buy is a Macbook pro last generation.

     

    Enrico