Picroft Migrates to Raspbian Stretch: Picroft Now Available for Raspberry Pi 3 B+

Moe Long

By Moe Long / News / 14th September 2018

Mycroft on the Raspberry Pi is a neat artificial intelligence (AI) project. This do-it-yourself (DIY) virtual assistant provides an open-source alternative to the likes of Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and Cortana. You can spin up Mycroft on the Raspberry Pi, or purchase a Mycroft device such as the Mark I or Mark II that's ready to go out-of-the-box. When the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ launched, compatibility with Mycroft for the Pi, or Picroft, broke. However, with an update to Raspbian Stretch, Picroft now works on the Raspberry Pi 3 B+.

Raspbian Stretch Picroft

While Mycroft runs off of dedicated smart assistant hardware such as the Mark I, Picroft allows anyone with a Raspberry Pi board to create a smart assistant. With a move to Raspbian Stretch, Picroft now functions on both the Raspberry Pi 3 and Raspberry Pi 3 B+ for backward compatibility. Aside from this, the new version of Picroft packs a few changes. Rather than its former Debian package installation, the new Picroft release opts for a Github installation which yields automatic updates. 

Additionally, initial configuration of audio drivers and network settings is simplified. Automatic configuration tests and verifies speaker output, mic input, and sound levels. Google's AIY Voice Kit array microphone is supported in the new version of Picroft. 

Looking ahead, Mycroft is poised to release skills which let you use a GPIO pins similar to the Mark I button. Overall, the Picroft Raspbian Stretch update simplifies the installation process for Picroft, as well as delivers support to the latest Raspberry Pi model. For more smart home Raspberry Pi projects, check out Hass.io and these smart home automation software options!

Photo of Moe Long

Moe Long is an editor, writer, and tech buff with a particular appreciation for Linux, Raspberry Pis, and retro gaming. Writing online since 2013, Moe has bylines at MakeUseOf, TechBeacon, DZone, SmartHomeBeginner, DEV.to, DVD Netflix, and Electropages. You can read his writings on film and pop culture at Cup of Moe, check out his tech reviews, guides, and tutorials at Tech Up Your Life, and hear his thoughts on movies on the Celluloid Fiends podcast. Aside from writing and editing, Moe has an online course, the Beginner's Guide to Affiliate Blogging From Scratch. When he's not hammering away at his keyboard, he enjoys running, reading, watching cinema, listening to vinyl, and playing with his dog Sebastian. 

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