finish blog first draft

Author: jamescodesthings

data/blog/2026-05-01-zerocalc.md

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
+[![Cover](../assets/blog-images/cover-wide.png)](../assets/blog-images/cover-wide.png)
+
 # ZeroCalc
 
-_Published: 01 May 2026_
+<span class="published">01 May 2026</span>
 
 How to go from delivery to a ZeroCalc 2W in 2026: My happy standalone little Pico8 dev machine.
 
@@ -78,15 +80,15 @@ In Imager:
 11. Unplug the SD card and plug it into your Pi Zero 2W.
 ```
 
-## 3 Building the hardware
+# 3 Building the hardware
 
 Others have covered this topic better than I could. You can watch Michael's video for a great walkthrough, and the summary below is the steps I took.
 
-### Video
+## Video
 
 Michael posted a great build video that [goes over the soldering](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgE0R1M0_ZE), and physical build.
 
-### Text Summary
+## Text Summary
 
 ```
 1. Solder the 20pin headers to the adapter board
@@ -103,15 +105,15 @@ Michael posted a great build video that [goes over the soldering](https://www.yo
 
 _Note: in this image my SD card isn't plugged in, it should be plugged into the Pi Zero 2W._
 
-## Software setup
+# Software setup
 
 Source: [github.com/nibheis/picocalc_trixie](https://github.com/nibheis/picocalc_trixie)
 
-### Power on.
+## Power on.
 
 Once you have flashed the SD card and completed the hardware build. Power it on. You'll find it may reboot a couple times the first time you hit it; don't worry, it'll eventually come up stable. I think it's doing SD expansiona nd initial set up at that time.
 
-### Find your Pi on the network
+## Find your Pi on the network
 
 The easiest wat to find your zerocalc on the network is to use `ping` with the hostname you set in the imager. For example, if you set your hostname to `zerocalc` you can ping it with:
 
@@ -121,7 +123,7 @@ ping zerocalc.local
 ping zerocalc
 ```
 
-### SSH into the Pi
+## SSH into the Pi
 
 Use the same hostname or ip to ssh in:
 
@@ -131,36 +133,36 @@ ssh zerocalc
 ssh james@zerocalc
 ```
 
-### Update installed software
+## Update installed software
 
 Out the gate you want to run apt update.
 
 ```
 sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
 ```
 
-### Install git
+## Install git
 
 ```
 sudo apt install git -y
 ```
 
-### Clone the picocalc_trixie repo
+## Clone the picocalc_trixie repo
 
 ```
 git clone https://github.com/nibheis/picocalc_trixie.git
 ```
 
 It should be cloned into `~/picocalc_trixie`(`/home/your-username/picocalc_trixie`)
 
-### In the picocalc_trixie directory, copy the display firmware
+## In the picocalc_trixie directory, copy the display firmware
 
 ```
 cd picocalc_trixie
 sudo cp display/picomipi.bin /lib/firmware/
 ```
 
-## Display setup
+## Set up the display
 
 ### Activate the SPI Interface for the display
 
@@ -183,7 +185,7 @@ dtparam=backlight-gpio=18
 dtparam=clock-frequency=50
 ```
 
-### configure the framebuffer configuration in the kernel command line
+### Configure the framebuffer configuration in the kernel command line
 
 ```
 sudo nano /boot/firmware/cmdline.txt
@@ -211,7 +213,7 @@ When you reboot this time, your display should work, but your keyboard won't be
 1. `cd` to the `picocalc_trixie` directory
 1. `cd` into the `keyboard` directory
 
-#### If you need the mouse, edit the firmware
+### If you need the mouse, edit the firmware
 
 If you need the mouse emulation that comes with pico calc:
 `press shift to turn the arrow keys into the mouse, and the square brackets into lmb and rmb`
@@ -248,7 +250,7 @@ dtparam=i2c_arm=on
 dtoverlay=picocalc_kbd
 ```
 
-## Configure Audio
+## Set up Audio
 
 ```
 sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt
@@ -271,7 +273,7 @@ sudo reboot
 
 Once you've rebooted you should have most things working! The rest is optional but might be handy.
 
-## optional: Configure your terminal font for a better display experience
+## (Optional) Configure your terminal font for a better display experience
 
 Source: [a comment by Lachlan_Beveridge](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/235?u=jamescodesthings)
 
@@ -288,9 +290,9 @@ font: Terminus
 size: 6×12
 ```
 
-## optional: fix keyboard layout
+## (Optional) Fix keyboard layout
 
-if, like me you flashed with the wrong keyboard layout, you can fix it with:
+If, like me, you flashed with the wrong keyboard layout, you can fix it with:
 
 ```
 sudo nano /etc/default/keyboard
@@ -301,9 +303,50 @@ sudo nano /etc/default/keyboard
 3. Save the file and exit
 4. Reboot the Pi
 
-## Optional:
+## Optional: Copy useful scripts to your path
+
+Source: [github.com/nibheis/picocalc_trixie](https://github.com/nibheis/picocalc_trixie)
+
+The `picocalc_trixie` repo has some useful scripts for running Pico8 and other utilities. You can copy them to a directory in your `PATH` for easier access.
+
+```sh
+# Go to the picocalc_trixie directory
+cd ~/picocalc_trixie
+# Copy the scripts to /usr/local/bin
+sudo cp -r user_bin/* /usr/local/bin/
+# one is called "shudown" which will lead to an infinite loop. rename it.
+mv /usr/local/bin/shutdown /usr/local/bin/shutdown-pi
+
+# alternatively, modify the script and have it point to /usr/sbin/shutdown
+sudo nano /usr/local/bin/shutdown
+# Change 'shutdown' to '/usr/sbin/shutdown' and save the file.
+```
+
+## Optional: Power off shutdown script
+
+I haven't had this consistently work but I'd like you to know it exists: https://github.com/nibheis/picocalc_trixie#step-7-make-the-pi-turn-off-the-main-board-when-powering-off
+
+tldr; this service should trigger the pi to send a power off signal to the mainboard when the Pi shuts down.
+
+For me, it hasn't been; but that's not a huge issue. Once it's shut down you hold the power button for a few seconds and the green light on the ZeroCalc will turn off.
 
-## Resources
+If I get this fixed I'll add an update here.
+
+# Shameless Plug: Handle, stand, grip for the ZeroCalc
+
+<div class="image-carousel">
+<a href="../assets/blog-images/cover-tall.png"><img src="../assets/blog-images/cover-tall.png" alt="Front"></a>
+<a href="../assets/blog-images/side-on.png"><img src="../assets/blog-images/side-on.png" alt="Side"></a>
+<a href="../assets/blog-images/rear-view.png"><img src="../assets/blog-images/rear-view.png" alt="Rear"></a>
+</div>
+
+If you like the grip in the cover image, you can find it on at Makerworld: [PicoCalc Grip Stand Handle](https://makerworld.com/en/models/2748402-picocalc-grip-stand-handle).
+
+If you like it, check out the other things I make!
+
+Heads up; there's a version you can print without the `pico-8` logo on the front. It's plate 2 in the print profile, and the `.step` files are included in the 3D model files if you want to modify it yourself.
+
+# Resources
 
 Here's the main resources I used when working this out.
 
@@ -313,6 +356,10 @@ Here's the main resources I used when working this out.
 - [The Trixie 64bit install instructions](https://github.com/nibheis/picocalc_trixie/)
 - [A comment in the forum post about making the default font easier to work with](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/raspberry-pi-zero-2-on-picocalc/17946/235?u=jamescodesthings)
 
-```
+# Fin
 
-```
+That's it for this one! I hope it's useful to anyone looking to do something similar. If you have any questions, or suggestions for improvements, feel free to reach out.
+
+Many thanks to everyone mentioned in the resources, and anyone else who's worked on this in the forums. It's a great community and I'm grateful for all the work that's gone into making this possible.
+
+If anyone involved in the project wants to add anything, or correct any mistakes, just let me know!

src/assets/blog-images/cover-tall.png

@@ -1137,6 +1137,7 @@ html:not(.dark) .bento-badge:hover {
 .blog-post {
   max-width: 800px;
   margin: var(--space-2xl) auto;
+  margin-bottom: 75vh;
   padding: 0 var(--space-lg);
 }
 
@@ -1243,16 +1244,10 @@ html:not(.dark) .bento-badge:hover {
 }
 
 .blog-post img {
-  border-radius: var(--border-radius-lg);
-  border: 1px solid black;
   max-width: 100%;
   width: 100%;
 }
 
-.blog-post img:hover, .dark .blog-post img:hover {
-  border-color: var(--color-accent);
-}
-
 .blog-post iframe.yt {
   width: 100%;
   max-width: 100%;
@@ -1266,10 +1261,6 @@ html:not(.dark) .bento-badge:hover {
   color: var(--color-text-muted);
 }
 
-.dark .blog-post img {
-  border-color: white;
-}
-
 .blog-post {counter-reset: section; counter-increment: section -1;}
 .blog-post h1{counter-reset: sub-section}
 .blog-post h2{counter-reset: composite}
@@ -1309,6 +1300,33 @@ html:not(.dark) .bento-badge:hover {
   content: counter(section) counter(sub-section, lower-alpha) counter(composite, lower-roman) counter(detail, lower-roman);
 }
 
+p:has(.published) {
+  margin-top: calc(var(--space-lg) * -1);
+}
+.blog-post .published {
+  font-family: var(--font-mono);
+  font-size: 0.8em;
+  color: var(--color-text-muted);
+}
+
+.blog-post .image-carousel {
+  display: flex;
+  gap: var(--space-sm);
+  overflow-x: auto;
+  padding-bottom: var(--space-md);
+}
+
+.blog-post .image-carousel a {
+
+}
+
+.blog-post .image-carousel a img {
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  transition: transform 0.2s ease;
+}
+
+
 /* ============================================
    Responsive
    ============================================ */

src/assets/blog-images/cover-wide.png

@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ import showdown from 'showdown';
 import config from './config.js';
 
 const debug = Debug('codesthings:utils');
-debug.enabled = false;
+debug.enabled = true;
+const trace = Debug('codesthings:utils:trace');
+trace.enabled = false;
 
 const converter = new showdown.Converter({ tables: true, ghCodeBlocks: true });
 
@@ -72,10 +74,10 @@ export async function cpDir(srcDir, destDir) {
     const srcPath = `${srcDir}/${entry.name}`;
     const destPath = `${destDir}/${entry.name}`;
     if (entry.isDirectory()) {
-      debug(`cp ${destPath}`);
+      trace(`cp ${destPath}`);
       await cpDir(srcPath, destPath);
     } else {
-      debug(`cp ${destPath}`);
+      trace(`cp ${destPath}`);
       await copyFile(srcPath, destPath);
     }
   }