# Adding a Single Board Computer to Blinka ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/089/982/medium800/raspberry_pi_main_image.jpg?1585357290) So you have a new board, that you want to get working with Blinka, our CircuitPython library compatibility layer for Single Board Computers, or SBCs. Adding a board to Blinka is a 2-part process with the first step being to add it to `PlatformDetect` so that Blinka knows what board it is working with. In our [PlatformDetect guide](https://learn.adafruit.com/adding-a-single-board-computer-to-platformdetect-for-blinka), we went over the steps needed to get your chip and board correctly detected so that Blinka knew what it was working with. In this guide, we will go over the second part to get your board functioning on Blinka. This guide goes over everything that's left to get your board working with Blinka including: - Adding the Chip and Board files - Getting GPIO working - Getting I2C, SPI, and UART working Along with some additional resources. The way that Blinka works is it combines multiple techniques to access the parts of the board that it needs. For GPIO, libraries such as `RPi.GPIO` or `libgpiod` are used. For I2C, the [PureIO Python library](https://pypi.org/project/Adafruit-PureIO/) is used, and for SPI, we are using the [spidev Python library](https://pypi.org/project/spidev/). When it comes to Blinka itself, there are two main components that need to be defined. - First there is the  **chip** , the microprocessor definition. - Second, there is the  **board**  definition. **The chip defines which pins of the microprocessor are used by the GPIO library**  and  **the board defines which physical pin on the board maps to the pins defined by the chip file**. There can be multiple boards that all use the same chip, but the specific implementation may be slightly different. The overall layout of the way these files are accessed looks like this: ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/096/158/medium800/raspberry_pi_Blinka_Layout.png?1603222558) In this guide, we will be picking up where we left off in the PlatformDetect guide and going over what steps are needed to add a board such as the Pine A64 to Blinka. ## Parts ### USB to TTL Serial Cable - Debug / Console Cable for Raspberry Pi [USB to TTL Serial Cable - Debug / Console Cable for Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/product/954) The cable is easiest way ever to connect to your microcontroller/Raspberry Pi/WiFi router serial console port. Inside the big USB plug is a USB\<-\>Serial conversion chip and at the end of the 36" cable are four wire - red power, black ground, white RX into USB port, and green TX out... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/954) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/954/guides) ![USB to TTL Serial Cable With Type A plug and 4 wire sockets](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/954-02.jpg) ### FTDI Serial TTL-232 USB Type C Cable [FTDI Serial TTL-232 USB Type C Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4364) Just about all electronics use a UART serial port with RX and TX pins for debugging, bootloading, programming, serial output, etc. But it's rare for a computer to have a serial port anymore. Thus, a serial cable is an essential part of any electrical engineer's toolkit. This is a... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4364) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4364/guides) ![A coiled, black, FTDI cable with a USB-C connector.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/4364-01.jpg) ### Diffused Blue 10mm LED (25 pack) [Diffused Blue 10mm LED (25 pack)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/847) Need some big indicators? We are big fans of these huge diffused blue LEDs. They are really bright so they can be seen in daytime, and from any angle. They go easily into a breadboard and will add that extra zing to your project. - Pack of 25 diffused blue LEDs - 10mm... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/847) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/847/guides) ![Single large LED lit up blue](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/847-00.jpg) ### Tactile Switch Buttons (12mm square, 6mm tall) x 10 pack [Tactile Switch Buttons (12mm square, 6mm tall) x 10 pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1119) Medium-sized clicky momentary switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. These work best in a PCB but [can be used on a solderless breadboard as shown in this tutorial](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-arduino-lesson-6-digital-inputs?view=all). The... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1119) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1119/guides) ![Angled shot of 10 12mm square tactile switch buttons.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1119-03.jpg) ### Adafruit BME280 I2C or SPI Temperature Humidity Pressure Sensor [Adafruit BME280 I2C or SPI Temperature Humidity Pressure Sensor](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2652) Bosch has stepped up their game with their new BME280 sensor, an environmental sensor with temperature, barometric pressure and humidity! This sensor is great for all sorts of indoor environmental sensing and can even be used in both I2C and SPI! This precision sensor from... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2652) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2652/guides) ![small, rectangle-shaped, BME280 temperature humidity pressure sensor breakout board.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/2652-04.jpg) ### Thermocouple Amplifier MAX31855 breakout board (MAX6675 upgrade) [Thermocouple Amplifier MAX31855 breakout board (MAX6675 upgrade)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/269) Thermocouples are very sensitive, requiring a good amplifier with a cold-compensation reference. The MAX31855K does everything for you, and can be easily interfaced with any microcontroller, even one without an analog input. This breakout board has the chip itself, a 3.3V regulator with 10uF... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/269) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/269/guides) ![Angled shot of black, square-shaped thermocouple breakout board with a green 2-pin terminal block.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/269-06.jpg) ### Thermocouple Type-K Glass Braid Insulated [Thermocouple Type-K Glass Braid Insulated](https://www.adafruit.com/product/270) Thermocouples are best used for measuring temperatures that can go above 100 °C. This is a bare wires bead-probe which can measure air or surface temperatures. Most inexpensive thermocouples have a vinyl covering which can melt at around 200 °C, this one uses a fiberglass braid so it... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/270) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/270/guides) ![Angled shot of a Thermocouple Type-K Glass Braid Insulated wire. ](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/270-02.jpg) ### Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout - 66 channel w/10 Hz updates [Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout - 66 channel w/10 Hz updates](https://www.adafruit.com/product/746) We carry a few different GPS modules here in the Adafruit shop, but none that satisfied our every desire - that's why we designed this little GPS breakout board. We believe this is the **Ultimate** GPS module, so we named it that. It's got everything you want and... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/746) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/746/guides) ![Angled shot of GPS module breakout.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/746-11.jpg) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/adding-a-single-board-computer-to-blinka/software-setup.md) ## Featured Products ### USB to TTL Serial Cable - Debug / Console Cable for Raspberry Pi [USB to TTL Serial Cable - Debug / Console Cable for Raspberry Pi](https://www.adafruit.com/product/954) The cable is easiest way ever to connect to your microcontroller/Raspberry Pi/WiFi router serial console port. Inside the big USB plug is a USB\<-\>Serial conversion chip and at the end of the 36" cable are four wire - red power, black ground, white RX into USB port, and green TX out... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/954) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/954/guides) ### Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout - 66 channel w/10 Hz updates [Adafruit Ultimate GPS Breakout - 66 channel w/10 Hz updates](https://www.adafruit.com/product/746) We carry a few different GPS modules here in the Adafruit shop, but none that satisfied our every desire - that's why we designed this little GPS breakout board. We believe this is the **Ultimate** GPS module, so we named it that. It's got everything you want and... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/746) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/746/guides) ### FTDI Serial TTL-232 USB Type C Cable [FTDI Serial TTL-232 USB Type C Cable](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4364) Just about all electronics use a UART serial port with RX and TX pins for debugging, bootloading, programming, serial output, etc. But it's rare for a computer to have a serial port anymore. Thus, a serial cable is an essential part of any electrical engineer's toolkit. This is a... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4364) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4364/guides) ### Adafruit BME280 I2C or SPI Temperature Humidity Pressure Sensor [Adafruit BME280 I2C or SPI Temperature Humidity Pressure Sensor](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2652) Bosch has stepped up their game with their new BME280 sensor, an environmental sensor with temperature, barometric pressure and humidity! This sensor is great for all sorts of indoor environmental sensing and can even be used in both I2C and SPI! This precision sensor from... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2652) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2652/guides) ### Thermocouple Amplifier MAX31855 breakout board (MAX6675 upgrade) [Thermocouple Amplifier MAX31855 breakout board (MAX6675 upgrade)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/269) Thermocouples are very sensitive, requiring a good amplifier with a cold-compensation reference. The MAX31855K does everything for you, and can be easily interfaced with any microcontroller, even one without an analog input. This breakout board has the chip itself, a 3.3V regulator with 10uF... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/269) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/269/guides) ### Thermocouple Type-K Glass Braid Insulated [Thermocouple Type-K Glass Braid Insulated](https://www.adafruit.com/product/270) Thermocouples are best used for measuring temperatures that can go above 100 °C. This is a bare wires bead-probe which can measure air or surface temperatures. Most inexpensive thermocouples have a vinyl covering which can melt at around 200 °C, this one uses a fiberglass braid so it... Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/270) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/270/guides) ### Diffused Blue 10mm LED (25 pack) [Diffused Blue 10mm LED (25 pack)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/847) Need some big indicators? We are big fans of these huge diffused blue LEDs. They are really bright so they can be seen in daytime, and from any angle. They go easily into a breadboard and will add that extra zing to your project. - Pack of 25 diffused blue LEDs - 10mm... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/847) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/847/guides) ### Half-Size Breadboard with Mounting Holes [Half-Size Breadboard with Mounting Holes](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4539) This cute 3.2″ × 2.1″ (82 × 53mm) solderless half-size breadboard has four bus lines and 30 rows of pins, our favorite size of solderless breadboard for projects. You get a whoppin' **400 tie points**! [Plug in...](http://adafruit.com/feather) In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4539) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4539/guides) ## Related Guides - [MAX31855 Thermocouple](https://learn.adafruit.com/thermocouple.md) - [MAX31855 Thermocouple Sensor Python Library](https://learn.adafruit.com/max31855-thermocouple-python-library.md) - [CircuitPython Libraries on Linux and the 96Boards DragonBoard 410c](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-libraries-on-linux-and-the-96boards-dragonboard-410c.md) - [Adafruit Ultimate GPS Logger Shield](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-ultimate-gps-logger-shield.md) - [Textable Sensor with FONA and CircuitPython](https://learn.adafruit.com/textable-sensor-with-fona-and-circuitpython.md) - [Adafruit 1-Wire Thermocouple Amplifier - MAX31850K](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-1-wire-thermocouple-amplifier-max31850k.md) - [Arduino GPS Clock](https://learn.adafruit.com/arduino-clock.md) - [CircuitPython Libraries on Linux and ODROID C2](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-libaries-linux-odroid-c2.md) - [I2C Addresses and Troublesome Chips](https://learn.adafruit.com/i2c-addresses.md) - [Connecting the MAX31855 Thermocouple Amplifier breakout to an Electric Imp](https://learn.adafruit.com/connecting-the-max31855-thermocouple-amplifier-breakout-to-an-electric-imp.md) - [No-Code Offline Data Logger with WipperSnapper](https://learn.adafruit.com/no-code-offline-data-logging-with-wippersnapper.md) - [CircuitPython I2C and SPI Under the Hood](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-basics-i2c-and-spi.md) - [Adafruit IO Environmental Monitor for Feather or Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-io-air-quality-monitor.md) - [Adafruit Ultimate GPS with gpsd](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-ultimate-gps-on-the-raspberry-pi.md) - [CircuitPython Libraries on Linux and the NVIDIA Jetson Nano](https://learn.adafruit.com/circuitpython-libraries-on-linux-and-the-nvidia-jetson-nano.md)