Raspberry Pi Full Screen Browser (2015) Gordon Turner

Raspberry Pi Full Screen Browser (2015)

Running full screen browser on boot

This is part of a series on running a browser full screen on a Raspberry Pi at boot.
The most current version is here:
Raspberry Pi Full Screen Browser (Raspbian December 2017)

After Imaging, Before First Boot

Before installing the card in the Raspberry Pi, edit the config.txt file in the FAT32 partition and add to the bottom:

# ADDED
framebuffer_depth=32
framebuffer_ignore_alpha=1
hdmi_force_hotplug=1
hdmi_drive=2

# ADDED

framebuffer_depth=32

framebuffer_ignore_alpha=1

hdmi_force_hotplug=1

hdmi_drive=2

This sets the color depth and some hdmi properties.

First Boot, raspi-config

On first boot /usr/bin/raspi-config is run. The Raspbian distribution defaults to en_GB.UTF-8 UFT-8, in my experience en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8 presents fewer issues.

As a result, my instructions setup en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8 and a Generic 101 keyboard.

The device will also automatically login to the Desktop with user pi.

Replace the password and timezones with appropriate values.

Expand Filesystem: Yes
Change User Password: SEEKRIT
Enable Boot to Desktop/Scratch: Desktop Log in as user ‘pi’ at the graphical desktop
Internationalisation Options:
- Change Locale:
  - Unselect en_GB.UTF-8 UFT-8, Select en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8
  - Default locale for the system environment en_US.UTF-8
- Change Timezone: America, Toronto
- Change Keyboard Layout:
  - Generic 101-key PC
  - Other
  - English (US)
  - English (US)
  - The Default for the keyboard layout
  - No compose key
  - Use Control+Alt+Backspace to terminate the X server? No
Advanced Options: SSH: Enable

Then finally, reboot the Raspberry Pi.

Get Latest Updates

Always update the system:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo reboot
sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo reboot

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

sudo reboot

sudo apt-get autoremove

sudo reboot

Install Packages

Install the Chromium browser, additional fonts and some x11 utilities.

chromium-browser installs Google’s Chrome browser
ttf-mscorefonts-installer adds common web fonts
unclutter is used to hide the mouse
x11-xserver-utils installs xset, which is used to disable screen blanking

sudo apt-get install chromium-browser ttf-mscorefonts-installer unclutter x11-xserver-utils

1	sudo apt-get install chromium-browser ttf-mscorefonts-installer unclutter x11-xserver-utils

Edit Startup Scripts

Edit autostart to add chromium, unclutter, disable the screensaver and prevent screen blanking.

sudo vi /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart

1	sudo vi /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE-pi/autostart

# CHANGED
#@xscreensaver -no-splash

# BEGIN ADDED
# Chromium parameter references:
# http://peter.sh/experiments/chromium-command-line-switches/
@/usr/bin/chromium-browser --kiosk --start-maximized https://google.com

# Hide mouse
@unclutter

# Disable screensaver
@xset s off

# Disable screensaver blanking
@xset s noblank

# Disable DPMS (Energy Star) features
@xset -dpms

# END ADDED

# CHANGED

#@xscreensaver -no-splash

# BEGIN ADDED

# Chromium parameter references:

# http://peter.sh/experiments/chromium-command-line-switches/

@/usr/bin/chromium-browser --kiosk --start-maximized https://google.com

# Hide mouse

@unclutter

# Disable screensaver

@xset s off

# Disable screensaver blanking

@xset s noblank

# Disable DPMS (Energy Star) features

@xset -dpms

# END ADDED

Conclusion

That’s it! You might consider changing the background wallpaper with something branded and perhaps deleting the desktop icons.

Tagged Linux, Raspberry Pi | Posted on Wednesday, February 18th, 2015 | Comments Off on Raspberry Pi Full Screen Browser (2015)

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