Copying Files
To copy a file to the EV3 from the Chromebook you need to do the following:
  • scp <old filename> robot@192.168.0.1:<new filename>
  • Here <old filename> represents the filename on the Chromebook. It could include the directory the file is in. Similarly <new filename> is the file name on the EV3. You may need to change the numbers, depending on how you are connecting the EV3 to your Chromebook.
  • You will need the EV3 password (maker)
To copy a file from the EV3 to the Chromebook do the following:
  • scp robot@192.168.0.1:<old filename> <new filename>
  • Here <old filename> represents the filename on the EV3. It could include the directory the file is in. Similarly <new filename> is the file name on the Chromebook. You may need to change the numbers, depending on how you are connecting the EV3 to your Chromebook.
  • You will need the EV3 password (maker)
Another option is to make it so the EV3 and the Chromebook share a directory. To do this, do the following in a terminal window on the Chromebook:
  • Type: mkdir ~/ev3
  • Type sshfs robot@192.168.0.1:/home/robot ~/ev3
  • Note, you may need to change the numbers listed in this example to match your EV3.
  • Now you can directly access the files on the EV3.
  • If you disconnect the EV3 you will need to reissue the sshfs robot@192.168.0.1:/home/robot ~/ev3 command to reattach the directory.

Writing and Running Programs
The easiest was to write and run programs is to share a directory between the EV3 and the Chromebook. Sharing a directory is described in the previous section.
  • Move to the shared directory on the Chromebook by typing: cd ~/ev3
  • Next open the editor by typing: idle3
  • Create a program file by going to the "File" menu and selection "New Window" (if you want to edit an existing file you would select "Open..,").
  • You can then type your program into the file. You must select "Save" before you try to run your program.
  • Open a second terminal window on the Chromebook and connect to the EV3 by typing the following. You will need to change the number to match your EV3: ssh robot@192.168.0.1
  • If you want to use matplotlib you will want to use:
    ssh –X robot@192.168.0.1
  • You will need the password: maker
  • Notice that the prompt is now "robot@ev3dev:" this means that commands you type in this window go to the EV3.
  • You can run your program by typing: python3 myprogram.py
  • Here "myprogram.py" should be replaced with the name on the program you want to run.

Running Python Programs Using Brickman
A Python file is a simple text file and cannot be run directly without a couple modifications. If you want to be able run a program directly through Brickman (no computer needed) then you need to turn it into an executable file.
  • First you need to add the following line to the beginning of the Python file. You can do this using IDLE or any other editor:
    #!/usr/bin/env python
  • Where <filename> is the complete name of the program file, including the .py, type: chmod +x <filename>
  • You should now be able to download the file to the EV3.
  • To run the file using Brickman select "File Browser" and navigate to the desired file.
  • Your program should run on the EV3.