# Programming Nerves (self-published) **URL:** \ **Category:** Books\ **Tags:** book, nerves, liveview, learning, livebook\ **Created:** [December 17, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693 "2025-12-17T21:04:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/akoutmos/32/20230_2.png) [@akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/akoutmos)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/1 "2025-12-17T21:04:51Z")
![Screenshot 2025-12-17 at 21.42.59](https://forum.elixirforum.com/uploads/default/original/3X/f/b/fb2c74d24b94eaf3d20e62190381f834ceebb465.jpeg) @hugobarauna and I (Alex Koutmos) have been hard at work on writing a book on Nerves that takes you from simply blinking LEDs to building LiveView powered kiosks (and everything in between). You’ll be building projects like: 1. A Morse code translator 2. A reaction time tester 3. An Etch A Sketch that renders in Livebook using knobs 4. Upgrading the Etch A Sketch to use a joy stick 5. Rending CPU temperature from the Raspberry Pi in LiveBook using VegaLite (you’ll also write a simple stress test to get the CPU hot 😁) 6. A simple weather report/clock using a 20x04 LCD display 7. Displaying of accelerometer data using OLED displays 8. Interacting with accelerometer data using a LiveView kiosk By the end of the book, you will have built a wide a array of projects and should be more than comfortable tackling some of your own Nerves projects! > 1. > ### Part 1: Rapid Prototyping Nerves Using Livebook > > - Getting Started With Livebook > - Build a Morse Code Translator > - Build a Traffic Light Simulator > - Build a Reaction Time Game > - Building the Etch A Sketch Circuit > - Programming the Etch A Sketch > > 1. > ### Part 2: Building Custom Nerves Firmwares > > - Build a Custom Nerves Firmware > - Optimizing Your WorkflowC > - Interfacing With I²C Hardware > - Creating a Nerves Kiosk > > 1. > ### Appendices > > - Basics of Electricity > - Selecting Resistors > - Using a Breadboard Check out the book landing page for more details and to see how you can buy the book at 38% percent off while we’re in beta: [https://www.programmingnerves.dev/](https://www.programmingnerves.dev/) Also our promo video where we show off a few of the projects that you will build: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2YzlgDBuCOQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Programming Nerves book") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YzlgDBuCOQ) Happy hacking! ---
**Author:** ![arcanemachine](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/arcanemachine/32/29109_2.png) [@arcanemachine](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/arcanemachine)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 11:17pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/2 "2025-12-17T23:17:59Z")
Looks interesting. What is the expected timeline for the book to be completed? ---
**Author:** ![akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/akoutmos/32/20230_2.png) [@akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/akoutmos)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 12:06am UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/3 "2025-12-18T00:06:05Z")
The goal is to have the book edited and completed by mid 2026. ---
**Author:** ![lawik](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/lawik/32/32028_2.png) [@lawik](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/lawik)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 5:25am UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/4 "2025-12-18T05:25:15Z")
Awesome! ---
**Author:** ![ghannam80](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/ghannam80/32/35232_2.png) [@ghannam80](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/ghannam80)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/5 "2025-12-18T14:47:32Z")
Congrats, which hardware you recommend to follow with you? ---
**Author:** ![akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/akoutmos/32/20230_2.png) [@akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/akoutmos)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/6 "2025-12-18T15:42:37Z")
Thanks! Here is a screenshot of the “What you will need” section: ![image](https://forum.elixirforum.com/uploads/default/original/3X/9/7/9785ec3fa3729c253b88cbb8ed8eb5677b48afed.jpeg) This is subject to change as the projects are tweaked here and there during Beta. That said I don’t imagine it’ll change much. Specifically regarding the Raspberry Pi, the wiring diagrams in the book are based on the Raspberry Pi 5 like so: ![image](https://forum.elixirforum.com/uploads/default/original/3X/b/c/bcb9850375231b0ce0b92b9e64d711138a44389e.jpeg) But if memory serves me correctly, any Raspberry Pi that has the 40 pin header should work (Raspberry 2+) as they standardized on the pins. So you have some flexibility with regards to what hardware you use. ---
**Author:** ![pennychase](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/pennychase/32/30921_2.png) [@pennychase](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/pennychase)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/7 "2025-12-20T22:41:34Z")
Any recommendations on the memory size for the Pi and memory card? ---
**Author:** ![akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/akoutmos/32/20230_2.png) [@akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/akoutmos)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 12:26am UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/8 "2025-12-21T00:26:44Z")
It really comes down to what your budget is and what you plan to do with the Pi long term. If I recall correctly, the Nerves Livebook distribution booted up uses about 100mb of memory. So anything above the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (in terms of available memory) will be more than capable for what you throw at it for this book and future Nerves projects. If you plan on using the Pi after this book for a lightweight desktop computer or media player, you may want to get the 8GB or 16GB Pi 5. ---
**Author:** ![pennychase](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/pennychase/32/30921_2.png) [@pennychase](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/pennychase)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 1:47am UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/9 "2025-12-21T01:47:53Z")
Thanks! The book looks great and looking forward to working through it! ---
**Author:** ![lawik](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/lawik/32/32028_2.png) [@lawik](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/lawik)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 7:59am UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/10 "2025-12-21T07:59:18Z")
I really like working with the Pi 4 since it is plenty powerful, has everything across USB-C. Not as tiny as the Zero 2W though. ---
**Author:** ![arcanemachine](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/arcanemachine/32/29109_2.png) [@arcanemachine](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/arcanemachine)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/11 "2025-12-21T20:16:25Z")
> [@akoutmos](#): > > So anything above the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (in terms of available memory) will be more than capable for what you throw at it for this book and future Nerves projects. To be clear, are you saying the Pi Zero 2 W is not sufficient? I am still not 100% sure which Pi I would need. (I would like to keep total spend as low as possible.) Can you add this information to the book? Minimum viable Pi, recommended Pi, etc. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/akoutmos/32/20230_2.png) [@akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/akoutmos)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/12 "2025-12-21T22:30:45Z")
Apologies if my previous comment was unclear. I meant anything with higher specs than the Pi Zero 2 W, including the Pi Zero 2 W. So I would suggest using one of the following to complete the projects within the book (also depending on what you plan on doing with the Pi long term): - Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (can be found for about $20 with headers already soldered on) - Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ (can be found for $40) - Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (1GB version can be found for $40 and price goes up with more ram) - Raspberry Pi 5 Model B (1GB version can be found for $45 and price goes up with more ram) Given that the Livebook distribution of Nerves will consume about 100MB of memory at idle, you have about 400MB of memory left if you go with the cheapest option in the list (that being the Pi Zero 2 W which has 512MB of memory). ---
**Author:** ![imposter\_syndrome](https://forum.elixirforum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@imposter\_syndrome](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/imposter_syndrome)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 4:13am UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/13 "2025-12-25T04:13:43Z")
Might be hard to get those components here in the Philippines ☹ ---
**Author:** ![akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/akoutmos/32/20230_2.png) [@akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/akoutmos)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 5:56am UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/14 "2025-12-25T05:56:28Z")
Sorry to hear that :/. What parts specifically are hard to get in the Philippines? ---
**Author:** ![imposter\_syndrome](https://forum.elixirforum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@imposter\_syndrome](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/imposter_syndrome)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2025, 10:25pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/15 "2025-12-26T22:25:17Z")
The non-generic ones ☹ ---
**Author:** ![tomazbracic](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/tomazbracic/32/1861_2.png) [@tomazbracic](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/tomazbracic)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:35am UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/16 "2026-06-08T11:35:22Z")
Hi everyone, I tried on X and Bluesky, but I can’t seem to reach the authors. Couldn’t find any link on the page itself. Some time ago (Dec 2025), this book “Programming Nerves” came out. 2 versions so far (0.0.1 and 0.2.0), if not mistaken? But then, no new versions. In ToC it says Part1. I would assume more is to come? Or not? Is there any new content coming out or not? Does anybody know this? Appreciate the answers. Regards. ---
**Author:** ![akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/akoutmos/32/20230_2.png) [@akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/akoutmos)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/17 "2026-06-08T18:25:59Z")
Hey Tomaz, I don’t often check my social media DMs as they are always bombarded with spam…but glad you posted here! Hugo and I are currently working on the 0.3.0 release, and with that release Part 1 of the book should be wrapped up. We’ll be sure to post here once that release is cut, but you should also automatically receive that release via ConvertKit. Hope that helps! ---
**Author:** ![akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/akoutmos/32/20230_2.png) [@akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/akoutmos)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/18 "2026-07-28T16:27:03Z")
Howdy howdy everyone! Just wanted to let everyone know that release 0.3.0 has now been published (anyone who purchased the book should have already been emailed the update) 🥳! This release includes Chapter 5 which goes over the hardware side of building a Nerves powered Etch A Sketch in Livebook. We cover the different hardware communication protocols that the Raspberry Pi supports (UART, I2C and SPI), which one we’ll use for the project, and the Nerves libraries that enable this functionality. Hugo and I are really excited about how this chapter came together and we know you’ll enjoy building this project: ![image](https://forum.elixirforum.com/uploads/default/original/3X/e/a/eae878f506965121e3973414315f187a4069d1f8.jpeg) Chapter 6 is almost done as well. In this chapter you’ll be putting together the software side of your Etch A Sketch project and you’ll be able to see the rendered canvas in Livebook: ![image](https://forum.elixirforum.com/uploads/default/original/3X/9/e/9e28cff2c18c7626bb7f355eab9609592f9cc174.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/user_avatar/forum.elixirforum.com/akoutmos/32/20230_2.png) [@akoutmos](https://forum.elixirforum.com/u/akoutmos)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.elixirforum.com/t/programming-nerves-self-published/73693/19 "2026-07-28T17:39:49Z")
I also forgot to add that anyone attending the ElixirConf Nerves training in Sept also gets this book for free!! > **[Hands‑on Embedded Elixir with the new Nerves Development Kit](https://elixirconf.com/trainings/hands%E2%80%91on-embedded-elixir-with-nerves/)** > > Nerves enables programmers to build reliable embedded systems using Elixir. This one‑day, hands‑on training teaches Nerves through practical, incremental exercises on real hardware using Livebook and the new Nerves Development Kit with an e‑paper...