Raspberry Pi Official Magazine #163, March 2026

Issue 163: Learn the Fundamentals, Then Build Something

Raspberry Pi Official Magazine returns for March 2026 with a packed issue built around practical making. The cover sets the tone: an AI duck alarm clock that can annoy you awake, a beginner-friendly route into electronics using Raspberry Pi Pico, and a survey of e-ink displays for Pi projects. Inside, the centrepiece is Sean McManus’s Quick Intro to Python.

That feature is not a dry syntax tour. It begins with Hello World and then moves steadily through lists, functions, and objects before putting those ideas to work in small programs that create art, generate QR codes, edit PDFs, and control turtle robots. It is a clear invitation to learn by making.

Python That Turns Ideas into Working Projects 💻

If you have wanted to add Python to your Raspberry Pi toolkit, this issue offers a structured way in. The material connects core language ideas to visible, useful results, so concepts like loops, data structures, and functions have somewhere concrete to land. Readers who already know a little code may also find the project examples useful as a refresher and a source of quick wins.

Pico, Electronics, and the AI Duck Alarm Clock ⚙️

Electronics is a strong thread throughout Issue 163. The AI duck alarm clock project shows how a playful idea can become a buildable device, while the Raspberry Pi Pico coverage gives readers a compact board to explore sensors, inputs, outputs, and control. The issue is aimed at hands-on learners who like to understand what happens between the code and the circuit.

E-Ink Displays and Pi Projects 📟

E-ink screens remain one of the most appealing ways to give a Raspberry Pi project a low-power, readable display. This issue looks at display options and the kinds of projects they suit, from status panels to compact information screens. For makers deciding where to spend their budget, the coverage helps frame the trade-offs rather than simply listing specifications.

Who Is This Issue For?

Raspberry Pi Official Magazine #163 suits hobbyists, students, and educators who want approachable routes into coding and electronics. Newcomers can follow the Python introduction from the beginning. More experienced makers can dip into the Pico, e-ink, and project features for ideas and techniques to adapt to their own builds.

Why March 2026 Matters

The issue balances foundational skills with the fun of making. It recognises that learning to code is not only about memorising syntax; it is about breaking problems down and getting computers to do useful, creative work. That spirit runs through the Python feature, the electronics projects, and the display guidance.

Digital Delights is pleased to offer this issue as a digital magazine for readers who want the March 2026 edition ready to read on their preferred device.