{"id":2204,"date":"2023-08-12T01:13:16","date_gmt":"2023-08-12T01:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/?p=2204"},"modified":"2025-12-23T21:41:04","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T21:41:04","slug":"create-a-2-8-or-3-5-inch-macintosh-with-a-raspberry-pi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/?p=2204","title":{"rendered":"Create a 2.8 or 3.5 inch Macintosh with a Raspberry Pi"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"
Creating a tiny Macintosh has been a long-standing dream of mine. As I delved into this exciting project, I discovered a community of like-minded individuals who shared the same desire. Inspired by our collective passion, I decided to compile this article to provide a comprehensive guide on bringing this mini Mac masterpiece to life. Let’s embark on this creative journey together and transform our vision into reality!<\/p>\n

I am selling an even smaller one here<\/a>
\"micro<\/a><\/p>\n

Prerequisite:<\/strong>
– A lot of the files you will need are here<\/a> on my github
– Raspberry Pi Zero or alt (You\u00a0MUST<\/strong> pick the right Pi OS. I used Buster)<\/strong>
– 2.8 inch IPS 480\u00d7640 Display<\/a> For install instructions<\/a>
– LANMU Micro SD to SD Card Male to Female Extension Cable Adapter<\/a>
– 3D Printer Filament PLA<\/a>
– GPIO Ribbon Cable 40Pin Male to Female<\/a><\/p>\n

Installing Raspberry Pi:<\/strong>
You will need to install the raspberry pi OS. If you are doing this headless try this link<\/a> for info on how to do it.
SSH into your pi then run
sudo raspi-config<\/code>
Step down to Interface options<\/code> then SPI option<\/code> and enable it.<\/p>\n

Set up screen 3.5 inch:<\/strong>
Here is a comprehencive link<\/a> on how to install the screen. But the jist of it is
Before plugging the screen in to the following:<\/em><\/p>\n

NOTE: for 2.8 inch use LCD28-show<\/code><\/p>\n

When you plug in the screen it will just be white. So you will need to install the drivers.
2.8inch_DPI_LCD<\/a>
3.5inch_DPI_LCD<\/a><\/p>\n

Copy these files for
2.8
28DPI-DTBO.zip<\/a>
3.5
3.5DPI-dtbo.zip<\/a><\/p>\n

the the folder \/boot\/overlays\/<\/code><\/p>\n

Clone the drivers
git clone https:\/\/github.com\/djmason9\/LCD-show.git<\/code>
Go to the directory LCD-show
cd LCD-show\/<\/code>
Set the privlages
chmod +x LCD35-show<\/code>
Install
.\/LCD35-show<\/code>
Now Reboot sudo reboot<\/code><\/p>\n

Rotate your screen
SSH in edit this file
sudo nano \/boot\/config.txt<\/code>
Add to the bottom<\/p>\n

# Rotate 180\u00b0
\nLCD35-show 180<\/code><\/p>\n

Setup Config<\/strong><\/p>\n

# 3.5 inch display\n######################################\ngpio=0-9=a2
gpio=12-17=a2
gpio=20-25=a2
dtoverlay=dpi18
enable_dpi_lcd=1
display_default_lcd=1
extra_transpose_buffer=2
dpi_group=2
dpi_mode=87
dpi_output_format=0x6f006
hdmi_timings=640 0 20 10 10 480 0 10 5 5 0 0 0 60 0 60000000 1
dtoverlay=waveshare-35dpi-3b-4b:rotate=0
dtoverlay=waveshare-35dpi-3b:rotate=0
dtoverlay=waveshare-35dpi-4b:rotate=0
display_rotate=0\n#####################################\n# 2.8 Inch\n#gpio=0-9=a2\n#gpio=12-17=a2\n#gpio=20-25=a2\n#dtoverlay=dpi24\n#enable_dpi_lcd=1\n#display_default_lcd=1\n#extra_transpose_buffer=2\n#dpi_group=2\n#dpi_mode=87\n#dpi_output_format=0x7F216\n#hdmi_timings=480 0 26 16 10 640 0 25 10 15 0 0 0 60 0 32000000 1\n#dtoverlay=waveshare-28dpi-3b-4b:rotate=270\n#dtoverlay=waveshare-28dpi-3b:rotate=270\n#dtoverlay=waveshare-28dpi-4b:rotate=270\n#####################################<\/pre>\n
# BOTH display_rotate=3<\/pre>\n
Mac Rom:<\/strong>
Download the following files:
disk1.dsk<\/a>
Get the ROM you want I used 9779D2C4 – Macintosh II.7z and rename it to MacII.ROM<\/a>
You will also need to executables<\/a><\/p>\n
Move<\/strong> all files to the PI in a folder called MinivMac<\/strong><\/p>\n
Startup Mac on boot<\/strong><\/p>\n
On your Desktop create a file called start_minivmac.sh<\/code> and paste the following code:<\/p>\n
#!\/bin\/bash\n\n#Redirect standard output and standard error to a log file\nexec >> \/home\/pi\/startup_log.txt 2>&1\n\n#Set environment variables and paths\nexport DISPLAY=:0.0\nexport XAUTHORITY=\/home\/pi\/.Xauthority\n\n#Wait for the graphical environment to initialize (increase the sleep time if needed)\nsleep 20\n\n#Change to the Mini vMac directory\ncd \/home\/pi\/Desktop\/MinivMac\/\n\n#Start Mini vMac in headless mode\n.\/Mini_vMac_ARM<\/pre>\n
Set up the service. Create a new file called minivmac.service
sudo nano \/etc\/systemd\/system\/minivmac.service<\/code><\/p>\n
In there paste the following<\/p>\n
[Unit]\nDescription=Mini vMac Service\nAfter=graphical.target\n\n[Service]\nUser=pi\nWorkingDirectory=\/home\/pi\/Desktop\/MinivMac
ExecStart=\/home\/pi\/Desktop\/start_minivmac.sh\n\n[Install]\nWantedBy=graphical.target<\/pre>\n
In the terminal, reload the systemd manager configuration to pick up the new service unit:
sudo systemctl daemon-reload<\/code><\/p>\n
Enable the minivmac service to start on boot:
sudo systemctl enable minivmac.service
\nsudo systemctl start minivmac.service<\/code><\/p>\n
Disable annoying voltage banner<\/strong>
sudo apt remove lxplug-ptbatt<\/code><\/p>\n
Edit config.txt<\/strong>:<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
sudo<\/span> nano \/boot\/config.txt\n<\/code><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Add this exact line<\/strong>:<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
avoid_warnings<\/span>=1<\/span>\n<\/code><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Save and reboot:<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
sudo<\/span> reboot<\/code><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Rotate Touch<\/strong>
Touch Rotating
After the display is rotated, the position of the touch is incorrect because the touch doesn’t change with the display angle. So the touch also needs to be modified.<\/p>\n
1. Install libinput.<\/p>\n
sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-input-libinput<\/code>
If the system you installed is Ubuntu or Jetson Nano. The installation code is:<\/p>\n
sudo apt install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics<\/code>
2. Create the xorg.conf.d directory under \/etc\/X11\/ (if the directory already exists, proceed directly to step 3).<\/p>\n
sudo mkdir \/etc\/X11\/xorg.conf.d<\/code>
3. Copy the 40-libinput-conf file to the directory you created just now.<\/p>\n
sudo cp \/usr\/share\/X11\/xorg.conf.d\/40-libinput.conf \/etc\/X11\/xorg.conf.d\/<\/code>
4. Edit this file.<\/p>\n
sudo nano \/etc\/X11\/xorg.conf.d\/40-libinput.conf<\/code>
Find the part of the touchscreen, add the following statement inside, and then save the file.<\/p>\n
Option \"CalibrationMatrix\" \"0 1 0 -1 0 1 0 0 1\"<\/code><\/p>\n
example:<\/p>\n
Section \"InputClass\"\n    Identifier \"libinput touchscreen\"\n    MatchIsTouchscreen \"on\"\n    MatchDevicePath \"\/dev\/input\/event*\"\n    Driver \"libinput\"\n    Option \"Tapping\" \"on\"       # Enable tapping (optional)\n    Option \"CalibrationMatrix\" \"0 1 0 -1 0 1 0 0 1\"  # Example calibration matrix (optional)\nEndSection<\/pre>\n
Note:<\/p>\n
90 degrees: Option “CalibrationMatrix” “0 1 0 -1 0 1 0 0 1”
180 degrees: Option “CalibrationMatrix” “-1 0 1 0 -1 1 0 0 1”
270 degrees: Option “CalibrationMatrix” “0 -1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1”<\/p>\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make sure you turn off Screen Blanking<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Creating a tiny Macintosh has been a long-standing dream of mine. As I delved into this exciting project, I discovered a community of like-minded individuals who shared the same desire. Inspired by our collective passion, I decided to compile this article to provide a comprehensive guide on bringing this mini Mac masterpiece to life. Let’s…<\/p>\n
Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2270,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-electronics","category-hacking"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2204"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2407,"href":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2204\/revisions\/2407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2270"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bitcows.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}