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+layout: post
+title: Plan 9 on a Raspberry Pi 3B+
+tags: [plan9, raspberrypi]
+---
+
+If you've never heard of [Plan 9 from Bell Labs](https://9p.io/plan9/) maybe this
+post isn't for you (or maybe it is). If you have any interest in Unix-like
+operating systems, then Plan 9 might be worth checking out.
+
+For this you need a Raspberry Pi (I have a 3B+), an SD card, keyboard, mouse and
+an HDMI monitor. My work environment is GNU/Linux, so all commands are meant to
+be run on a GNU/Linux system. Insert the SD card in your system, make sure it's
+not mounted and figure out its device name (you can typically do `lsblk` to
+figure this out).
+
+    $ wget https://9p.io/sources/contrib/miller/9pi.img.gz
+    $ gunzip -dc 9pi.img.gz | sudo dd bs=1M of=/dev/sda
+
+Eject the SD card, put it into your Pi and plug in the power. The system should
+boot almost immediately.
+
+The first thing to configure is some networking. Thankfully, the documentation
+[^p9wiki-networking] can guide us:
+
+    term% ip/ipconfig
+
+should exit with no output, any errors are reported.
+
+To enable DNS, run:
+
+    term% ndb/dns -r
+
+There's this wonderful person, [Sigrid](https://git.sr.ht/~ft), who writes
+applications for Plan 9. To get it simply do:
+
+    term% 9fs ftrv.se
+    term% ls /n/ftrv.se
+
+and a whole list folders should show up.
+
+This is what it looks like right after boot (plus the small terminal to take a screenshot):
+
+[![Plan 9 on Raspberry Pi screenshot](/img/plan9-rpi.png)](/img/plan9-rpi.png)
+
+(click to enlarge)
+
+What's next? Dig in and learn. Plan 9 feels quite different from GNU/Linux, but
+it's still similar enough that I occasionally try commands that I usually use
+(and fail). For example, `cp` does not move folders, only files. Use `dircp`
+instead.
+
+I started using GNU/Linux when I was 21 and was a pretty comfortable Windows
+user. The switch felt huge and nothing worked as I was used to, but this also
+meant that all the problems I faced could be solved with a fresh outlook that
+wasn't obstructed by any preconceived notions. Getting into Plan 9 requires a
+little more conscious effort to forget that you're not on a Unix system.
+
+It's refreshing though.
+
+If you are interested in more, check out
+[Devine](https://merveilles.town/@neauoire) who posted [a long
+thread](https://merveilles.town/@neauoire/104609568812530054) on Mastodon on his
+journey with Plan 9. It's what got me started (again) on Plan 9. The wiki
+[^p9wiki] is also a great resource.
+
+[^p9wiki-networking]: [https://9p.io/wiki/plan9/network_configuration/index.html](https://9p.io/wiki/plan9/network_configuration/index.html)
+[^p9wiki]: [https://9p.io/wiki/plan9/plan_9_wiki/](https://9p.io/wiki/plan9/plan_9_wiki/)

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