Lesson 1: Foundational Concepts – Circuits and Coding 101
Introduction
Welcome to Lesson 1 of Circuits and Coding 101! This course is designed to teach you programming and electronics from the ground up—even if you’ve never done it before. By the end of this month, you'll have a strong foundation in coding and microcontrollers.
Welcome to CraftingTable Academy – Month 4, Lesson 1!
In this kickoff lesson, we’re setting the stage for your biggest project yet:
Building your own self-hosted smart home using Zigbee devices and a Raspberry Pi 5.
Here’s what you’ll learn and set up today:
✅ Install Home Assistant on your Raspberry Pi 5 (using Docker, alongside Raspbian)
✅ Understand what Zigbee is and why it’s ideal for smart home devices
✅ Plug in and configure your Zigbee USB coordinator to connect your devices
✅ Explore the Home Assistant dashboard and start customizing it for your needs
✅ Learn why self-hosting matters—from avoiding prying eyes to protecting your privacy
✅ Bonus Challenge: Personalize your dashboard with a custom theme or layout!
We’ll walk you through the install step by step, explain all the core concepts, and get you ready to connect your first Zigbee devices in the next lesson.
💡 What You Need for This Lesson:
- Raspberry Pi 5 (with Raspbian already installed)
- Zigbee USB coordinator (included in your Month 4 kit)
- Internet connection
- Basic comfort with using the terminal
By the end of this lesson, you’ll have your very own smart home control center—up and running, private, and fully in your hands.
👉 Be sure to follow along carefully and check the lesson notes below for install commands, bonus resources, and helpful links.