About to build for the first time, dont understand the point of the OS.
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When I first starting seeing these projects, they all just pointed to a custom web page. I can imagine that not having to throw some HTML together and not having to host a web server is slightly advantageous. What is the true value of the OS? (Also, super stoked to find this group, subscribed) Speed Test Scrabble Word Finder
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Free? Open source?
The fact that you can have a lot more background services then just with a regular webpage?
Just the fact that you can easily connect the gpio of a pie to a MM2 module.
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As @broberg said: Freedom! You can do anything and you can use the OS itself for any further Raspbian things you would like. (A mirror as a jdownloader host? possible… Measuring temp in bath room directly using the mirror? possible…)
There are so many possibilities…Also, you don’t necessarily have to throw any html or setup a web server. It’s all done automatically at the installation.
Yes, if you want to go forward there’s a lot to learn, but I have contributed / played with a lot of modules already and not written more than 3 lines of html (albeit lots of JS)
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@seedhe - The module framework that @MichMich created is where the technique of hosting the mirror on a Pi really shines. While the Magic Mirror is more-or-less a customizable web page, the ability for the modules to call background processes adds a level of utility.
For example, I can put a static web page up on an Amazon cloud IP and just hit that from my mirror. It will display static data and maybe some things from various APIs, if I code it cleverly enough. But that’s about it.
With the OS working behind the scenes, I can display anything behind my firewall (IP cameras, weather stations, temperature sensors, PIR sensors, etc.). I can also plug in a camera and/or microphone and use the data from those devices in my modules.
It also allows you to scale up if you need to. A Raspi is pretty slick for its size and cost. But if you put something like a NUC behind it, you can use that processing power for some really cool features. Voice recognition, facial recognition, complex animations, etc.
