Official project updates

nerves_system_br, v1.16.5
Updates to shell script which should make them run better on nix. And some busybox stuff. This is the buildroot system and you can expect to see this go out into the different hardware systems later on.

vintage_net_qmi & qmi

The QMI library changes add a lot more of the data, particularly a ton of optional fields, that you can get when working with QMI. The vintage_net_qmi update adds support for VintageNet v0.11.x, adds serial number properties and some additional fixes. See the links above for details. This is more of Matt Ludwigs over at SmartRent going ham on QMI as has been the case for a while now.

I'll take a moment to congratulate SmartRent on going public which I bet is a big deal to everyone involved. Frank and Jon of the Nerves team as well as Matt work over there. And this QMI work is just one example of work being done at SmartRent, for their needs, which is being fed right back into the project. They are a platinum sponsor of Nerves and I think this news shows that a business can do very well on top of Nerves, using Elixir and feeding back into open ecosystems. Love to see it.

Community updates

The Nerves Weather Station book is a PragProg bestseller

There is a thread on the ElixirForum about this book and people are being quite helpful in finding ways to get a hold of the components in these interesting times. So if you are looking to get that book and build it, look there for help with sourcing parts.

Featured talk: G'Day, Nerves

by Jon Carstens

A talk by Jon Carstens for YOW! Lambda Jam 2021 introducing people to Nerves, Elixir and the BEAM.

YouTube video: YOW! Lambda Jam 2021 - Jon Carstens - G'Day, Nerves!

Tech note: Multimedia

Since Nerves is built on Linux, you get all the Linux utilities for working with things like Cameras and Sound devices. An easy way to get started is with the official Raspberry Pi Camera and the picam library on hex. More advanced use might use something like gstreamer or even Membrane.

- Connor

Supporting the Nerves project

We want to encourage everyone to contribute in whatever way works for them. Here are some ways we currently recommend:

Write or port a new hardware library and include it in the Elixir Circuits collection.
Give money to the project via Open Collective.
Get in touch about taking over maintenance duties for some libraries, we might be able to provide you hardware.
Apply for an EEF stipend on something Nerves-related and build it. We can help if you have questions about this.
Send corrections or improvements for documentation wherever it fails to help you.
Write about Nerves, give talks about Nerves. Make videos about Nerves. It is all good.

Finally, if you have questions about the newsletter or want to suggest something you can simply respond to this email it will go directly to me, Lars, who edits this thing. Let me know what you think.

- Lars, Underjord.io