🛠️ 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 - the Reticulum assembly offers a workshop
• Call this Enode? 😄

⚡ Requirements

• At least one ESP32 device, two are preferable, but not required
• Best is a device from m5stack 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 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.
• mpbridge allows easy multiplatform upload and continous development.
• Each participant tries to connect the interface built to the assemblies' Reticulum node.

📋 Workshop Preparation Checklist

📚 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