Build your own Google Home using Raspberry Pi and Android Things A powerful electronics platform running the familiar Android stack with full Java API support Arnav Gupta Co-Founder & Android Mentor @ Coding Blocks
Requirement 1: The Board (any one) • Raspberry Pi 3 • NXP Pico MX6 • NXP Pico MX7 (Recommend this) • Intel Edison • … or crack open an old Android phone you’re not using :P
Wait a sec . . . Runtime permissions ? • Normal Permissions = At install time • Dangerous Permissions = After device reboot • No runtime dialog boxes (duh, no display)
Weighing Pros and Cons of Android Things • We get > 50% of powerful Android Stack • Code sharing with Android applications • Easier to attach ad-hoc UI • Future: Easy delivery via Play Store • Google Backing (duh!) • Uses a lot of resources (vs Linux Kernel + C/Cpp bin) • Dodgy async and multi- threading (electronics are always sync) • Can make similar projects using JS libs in < 5% code • High code complexity trap