How do I create a kiosk in Balena?

Project help
1

Hi, I’d like to create x1 Pi kiosk / public display with all the available security settings enabled via Balena. How do I do this?

I have a Raspberry Pi 4.

Thanks Lee

2

You can check out the Balena Browser project.

3

Thank you.

:slight_smile:

4

Will this support multiple URLs to display? I only see one URL variable.

5

The balena browser block will follow any link in your page that is clicked on if you have a mouse connected or are using a touch screen. You could also manipulate the displayed URL from your own code or application using the API: GitHub - balena-io-experimental/browser: A drop-in web browser block · GitHub

6

Hi,

I want to rotate 3 URLs. No user interaction. On a large display.

Can Balena do this ? As I’d like to keep Balena as central management as we already have a Pi for other reasons.

I’m not a developer, so I need to avoid too much code if I can.

7

Let’s say you have a 3 different html files with it’s corresponding css and js files for example:-

  1. page1.html, page1.css, page1.js
  2. page2.html, page2.css, page3.js
  3. page3.html, page3.css, page3.js

when the browser container opens the provided url it will load page1.html, page1.css, page1.js → inside your page1.js file you can implement a setTimeout() feature of JavaScript. Inside the setTimeout features callback function you can use window.location.href to set the page url of the current tab and given that your RPI is connected to internet this will load your provided function. Something like this
setTimeout(() => {
window.location.href = “https://www.url_to_page2.com/”;
}, 10000);

This function is inside your page1.js file

setTimeout(() => {
window.location.href = “https://www.url_to_page3.com/”;
}, 10000);

This function is inside your page2.js file

setTimeout(() => {
window.location.href = “https://www.url_to_page1.com/”;
}, 10000);

This function is inside your page3.js file
Here 10000 is time in milli-second.

8

That’s great. Can I use my local html files in localhost with this method?

This solves my other display project. Which means I can have all 3 of my Pi’s in Balena and it be easier for updates and maintenance. I’ll do this and update you later.

9

Yes, you can use your local HTML files in localhost.