https://github.com/tscholze/dotnet-iot-raspberrypi-rainbow
A C# .NET implementation for controlling the Pimoroni Rainbow HAT! multi sensor board on a Raspberry Pi.
https://github.com/tscholze/dotnet-iot-raspberrypi-rainbow
apa102 bmp280 chsarp dotnet ht16k33 iot linux-app pimoroni pimoroni-rainbowhat raspberry-pi sensors
Last synced: 2 months ago
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A C# .NET implementation for controlling the Pimoroni Rainbow HAT! multi sensor board on a Raspberry Pi.
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/tscholze/dotnet-iot-raspberrypi-rainbow
- Owner: tscholze
- Created: 2025-06-02T16:42:40.000Z (about 1 year ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-04-07T14:57:52.000Z (3 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-04-07T15:29:55.678Z (3 months ago)
- Topics: apa102, bmp280, chsarp, dotnet, ht16k33, iot, linux-app, pimoroni, pimoroni-rainbowhat, raspberry-pi, sensors
- Language: C#
- Homepage:
- Size: 618 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 1
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# 🌈 Rainbow HAT for .NET IoT
This repository contains a comprehensive C# library for interacting with the [Pimoroni Rainbow HAT](https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/rainbow-hat-for-android-things) using .NET IoT. The Rainbow HAT is a beautiful add-on board for Raspberry Pi that includes various sensors and visual elements.
## 🎯 Features
The library provides easy-to-use controllers for all Rainbow HAT components:
- **📊 Alphanumeric Display** - Four-digit display with scrolling text support
- **💡 RGB LEDs** - Individual control of red, green, and blue status LEDs
- **🎨 APA102 LED Strip** - Seven RGB LEDs with brightness control
- **🌡️ BMP280 Sensor** - Temperature and pressure readings
- **🔘 Touch Buttons** - Three capacitive touch buttons with event handling
- **🔊 Buzzer** - PWM-controlled piezo buzzer
## 🚀 Getting Started
### Prerequisites
- Raspberry Pi 4
- Pimoroni Rainbow HAT
- .NET 10.0 SDK
- Basic knowledge of C# and .NET
### Installation
1. Clone this repository:
```bash
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/Rainbow.git
cd Rainbow
```
2. Build the project:
```bash
dotnet build
```
3. Run the demo:
```bash
dotnet run
```
### Basic Usage
```csharp
// Display scrolling text
using var display = new SegmentDisplayController();
await display.DisplayScrollingText("Hello World!");
// Control RGB LEDs
using var lights = new LightController();
lights.Red.TurnToState(Light.Target.On);
// Read temperature
using var sensor = new Bmp280Controller();
Console.WriteLine($"Temperature: {sensor.Temperature?.DegreesCelsius:F1}°C");
// Play a tone
using var buzzer = new BuzzerController();
buzzer.PlayNote(440, 1.0); // Play A4 for 1 second
```
## 📖 Documentation
Each component has its own controller class with comprehensive XML documentation:
- `SegmentDisplayController` - Manages the alphanumeric display
- `LightController` - Controls individual RGB LEDs
- `Apa102Controller` - Handles the APA102 LED strip
- `Bmp280Controller` - Interfaces with the temperature/pressure sensor
- `ButtonController` - Manages touch button events
- `BuzzerController` - Controls the piezo buzzer
## 🎮 Demo Application
The project includes a comprehensive demo in `Samples.cs` that showcases all features:
```csharp
await Samples.FullTourAsync();
```
## 🖥️ Rainbow.Maui.Gtk — GUI Control Hub
The `Rainbow.Maui.Gtk` project provides a graphical control hub for the Rainbow HAT, built with [.NET MAUI on Linux via GTK4](https://github.com/Redth/Maui.Gtk). It runs directly on the Raspberry Pi and lets you interact with all hardware features through a desktop GUI.
### Features
- **💡 Status LEDs** — Toggle individual red, green, and blue LEDs or control all at once
- **🎨 APA102 LED Strip** — Set solid colors, adjust brightness, or display a rainbow pattern
- **🌡️ BMP280 Sensor** — Read live temperature and pressure data
- **📊 Segment Display** — Show static or scrolling text on the 4-digit display
- **🔊 Buzzer** — Play tones at configurable frequencies
- **👆 Buttons** - Checks of one of the hardware buttons has been tapped
### Prerequisites
- All base prerequisites (Raspberry Pi, Rainbow HAT, .NET 10.0 SDK)
- GTK 4 libraries installed on the Pi:
```bash
# Debian / Ubuntu / Raspberry Pi OS
sudo apt install libgtk-4-dev
```
### Running the GUI
```bash
cd Rainbow.Maui.Gtk
dotnet run
```
### Screenshot
Running on RaspberryOS and an attached small Raspberry Pi Display, the user interface looks like the following.
There is whith reason no customized control appereance.
## 🔧 Hardware Components
The Rainbow HAT includes:
- HT16K33 LED Matrix Driver
- BMP280 Temperature/Pressure Sensor
- APA102 LED Strip
- Piezo Buzzer
- Three Capacitive Touch Buttons
- Three RGB Status LEDs
## 📜 License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
## 🤝 Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.
## 📁 Project Structure
```
Rainbow.sln
├── Rainbow/ Console app & hardware library
│ ├── Apa102/ APA102 LED strip controller
│ ├── Bmp280/ BMP280 temperature/pressure sensor
│ ├── Buttons/ Capacitive touch buttons
│ ├── Buzzer/ Piezo buzzer controller
│ ├── Lights/ RGB status LED controller
│ ├── SegmentDisplay/ 4-digit alphanumeric display
│ ├── Program.cs Console demo entry point
│ └── Samples.cs Demo code
└── Rainbow.Maui.Gtk/ MAUI GTK4 GUI control hub
├── Program.cs GtkMauiApplication entry point
├── MauiProgram.cs MAUI builder configuration
├── App.cs MAUI Application class
└── MainPage.cs Control hub page
```
## ❤️ More IoT projects of mine
I like to tinker around with Raspberry Pis, I created a couple of educational apps and scripts regarding the Pi and sensors - mostly from Pimoroni.
### .NET on Raspberry Pi
- [dotnet-iot-raspberrypi-blinkt](https://github.com/tscholze/dotnet-iot-raspberrypi-blinkt) A C# .NET implementation for the Pimoroni Blinkt! LED board on a Raspberry Pi.
- [dotnet-iot-raspberrypi-enviro](https://github.com/tscholze/dotnet-iot-raspberrypi-enviro) A C# .NET implementation for the Pimoroini Enviro HAT with BMP, TCS and more sensors
- [dotnet-iot-raspberrypi-rainbow](https://github.com/tscholze/dotnet-iot-raspberrypi-rainbow) A C# .NET implementation for the Pimoroini Rainbow HAT with Lights, BMP, segment displays and more
### Windows 10 IoT Core apps
- [dotnet-iot-homebear-blinkt](https://github.com/tscholze/dotnet-iot-homebear-blinkt) Windows 10 IoT Core UWP app that works great with the Pimoroni Blinkt! LED Raspberry Pi HAT.
- [dotnet-iot-homebear-tilt](https://github.com/tscholze/dotnet-iot-homebear-tilt) Windows 10 IoT Core UWP app that works great with the Pimoroni Pan and Tilt HAT (PIC16F1503)
- [dotnet-iot-homebear-rainbow](https://github.com/tscholze/dotnet-iot-homebear-rainbow) Windows 10 IoT Core UWP app that works great with the Pimoroni RainbowHAT
### Android Things apps
- [java-android-things-firebase-pager](https://github.com/tscholze/java-android-things-firebase-pager) An Android Things app that displays a Firebase Cloud Messaging notification on a alphanumeric segment control (Rainbow HAT)
- [java-android-things-tobot](https://github.com/tscholze/java-android-things-tobot) An Android Things an Google Assistant app to controll a Pimoroni STS vehicle by web and voice
### Python scripts
- [python-enviro-gdocs-logger](https://github.com/tscholze/python-enviro-gdocs-logger) Logs values like room temperature and more to a Google Docs Sheet with graphs
- [python-enviro-excel-online-logger](https://github.com/tscholze/python-enviro-excel-online-logger) Logs values like room temperature and more to a M365 Excel Sheet with graphs
- [python-enviro-azure-logger](https://github.com/tscholze/python-enviro-azure-logger) Logs values like room temperature and more to an Azure IoT Hub instance
## 🙏 Acknowledgments
- Pimoroni for the excellent Rainbow HAT hardware
- .NET IoT team for the System.Device.Gpio library
- IoT.Device.Bindings project for the BMP280 driver
- [Platform.Maui.Linux.Gtk4](https://github.com/Redth/Maui.Gtk) for .NET MAUI on Linux via GTK4