Installing Fancygotchi 2.0 Plugin on Your Pwnagotchi

For a while now, I’ve been referring to an upcoming top 10 pwnagotchi plugins video, but today we’re jumping right into number two on the list. We’ll be installing Vortex’s Fancygotchi 2.0 plugin on a pwnagotchi featuring the Pimoroni Display Hat Mini!

Fancygotchi is a GUI framework developed by V0rT3x that lets users customize the appearance and behavior of their Pwnagotchi devices.

Key Features

• Theme Management: Fancygotchi enables users to create and manage custom themes for their Pwnagotchi devices. Themes can be shared and easily installed on other devices.
• Extended Display Support: The Fancygotchi plugin supports the Pimoroni Display Hat Mini, allowing users to leverage the larger, full-color LCD screen to display more detailed graphics, animations, and real-time data.
• Configuration: Fancygotchi 2.0 features extensive WebUI integration, empowering users to quickly and easily edit settings. A theme editor is also in development!

Hardware (w/ affiliate links)

• Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W: https://amzn.to/4eiBPWO
• Pisugar2 Portable 1200 mAh UPS Lithium Battery: https://amzn.to/3UGzEVV
• Pimoroni Display Hat Mini: https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/display-hat-mini?variant=39496084717651
• Case Files: https://cyberspacemanmike.com/product/fancygotchi-external-display-hat-mini-case-v1/

An early Fancygotchi colorway that looked a little too much like a Ghostbusters trap…

Steps to Install Fancygotchi 2.0

1. Download and Prepare the Image
   • Download Aluminum Ice 1.8.5 from the releases page.
   • Unzip the .7z file and select the image file in Balena.
   • Flash the image and insert the micro SD card into your pwnagotchi.
2. Configure USB Network Adapter
   • Connect your pwnagotchi to your computer via a USB data cable.
   • On Windows: Press Windows + I, select Network and Internet, then Change Adapter Options.
   • Right-click on USB Ethernet/RNDIS Gadget and select Properties (if it doesn’t show, install the drivers).
   • Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), click Properties, and set the IP of the adapter to 10.0.0.1 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
3. Connect to the Pwnagotchi via SSHOpen PuTTY and enter the IP address 10.0.0.2 with port 22.
4. Enable SFTP AccessTo allow root login over SFTP, enter the following commands:

   sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

   • Press Ctrl+W and type in “root”
   • Uncomment PermitRootLogin and change its value to yes.
   • Save and exit with Ctrl + X, Y, and Enter.

   Then, create a password for root:

   sudo su
   passwd root

   Restart SSH to apply changes:

   service ssh restart

5. Upload Fancygotchi Files Download Fancygotchi2.zip from GitHub (https://github.com/V0r-T3x/Fancygotchi/releases : Click on and download “Source code (zip)”) unzip it, and open FileZilla with these settings:
   • Host: 10.0.0.2
   • Username: root
   • Password: the password you set previously
   • Port: 22

   Copy the Fancygotchi.py script to /home/pi on the remote side.

6. Move the Script to Custom Plugins Directory

   cp /home/pi/Fancygotchi.py /usr/local/share/pwnagotchi/custom-plugins/Fancygotchi.py

7. Enable the Plugin and Set the Theme
   • In your browser, go to 10.0.0.2:8080, logging in with changeme for both username and password.
   • Go to Plugins, enable Fancygotchi, refresh, and enter the Fancygotchi UI by clicking on “Fancygotchi.”
   • Select cyber theme from the drop-down menu, and then click on the Select Theme button.
   • Restart the pwnagotchi in Auto Mode.
8. Edit Config File

   sudo nano /etc/pwnagotchi/config.toml

   Set the display type to displayhatmini and save the file. Then, reboot your device. It should work now!

Troubleshooting

If the cyber theme is not displaying on the Display Hat Mini, open up config.toml. If the display type still reads “wavesahre_3,” re-edit it to say “displayhatmini” and save and exit. At the command prompt type in sync

Reboot it, and it should now work! (^‿‿^)

Turn off the LED on the Display Hat Mini

Follow these steps to turn off the crazy bright LED in software.

1. Create a Directory for the Script

   sudo mkdir -p /etc/systemd/scripts

2. Create the LED Control Script

   sudo nano /etc/systemd/scripts/turnOffDisplayLED.py

   Paste in the following Python code and then save it:

   import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
   
   red_pin = 17  # GPIO pin for red channel
   green_pin = 22  # GPIO pin for green channel
   blue_pin = 27  # GPIO pin for blue channel
   
   GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
   GPIO.setup(red_pin, GPIO.OUT)
   GPIO.setup(green_pin, GPIO.OUT)
   GPIO.setup(blue_pin, GPIO.OUT)
   
   GPIO.output(red_pin, GPIO.LOW)
   GPIO.output(green_pin, GPIO.LOW)
   GPIO.output(blue_pin, GPIO.LOW)
   
   GPIO.cleanup()

3. Create a Service for the LED Script  and  then  save  it

   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/turnOffDisplayLED.service

   Add the following content and then save it:

   [Unit]
   Description=Dim LED on Display HAT Mini
   After=multi-user.target
   
   [Service]
   Type=simple
   ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 /etc/systemd/scripts/turnOffDisplayLED.py
   Restart=on-failure
   User=pi
   
   [Install]
   WantedBy=multi-user.target

4. Enable and Test the Service

   sudo systemctl daemon-reload
   sudo systemctl enable turnOffDisplayLED.service
   sudo reboot

   If the service doesn’t work as expected, debug with:

   sudo systemctl status turnOffDisplayLED.service

Fancygotchi External Display Hat Mini Case V1

Now you’re going to need a case that looks all exposed and industrial and cyberpunk! Introducing the Fancygotchi External Display Hat Mini Case, a sleek and functional protective shell designed specifically for the Pimoroni Display Hat Mini! This case is crafted to secure and enhance your Pwnagotchi setup, featuring robust MSD card protection to keep your data safe during field use. The bolt-on display functionality provides a stable mount for the screen, ensuring optimal visibility and ease of access without compromising portability. Styled with an industrial, cyberpunk aesthetic, the Fancygotchi case combines rugged durability with a futuristic look. The secure yet removable lid makes it easy to access the device when needed, adding flexibility without sacrificing security.

Features include:

• MSD card protection
• Bolt-on display functionality
• Industrial, cyberpunk styling
• Secure but removable lid

Download the files for free, today!

Final Thoughts

In this post, we installed the new Fancygotchi 2.0 plugin, demoed my new case, and showed how to turn off the display’s LED at boot. Thanks for reading, and if you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to like and subscribe! Next up, we’ll dive into pineapple clone mods with added USB expansion!