Operating Modes
Basic
HealthyPi 5 supports four operating modes for capturing physiological data. The Basic firmware lets you use all four — pick the one that fits how you want to use the device, and you can switch between them without changing firmware.
| Mode | Where data goes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| USB Streaming | Desktop application via USB | Bench work, signal validation, capturing CSV logs on a computer |
| BLE Streaming | Mobile app via Bluetooth LE | Mobile / portable monitoring without a wired connection |
| Data Logging | On-board microSD card | Long unattended recordings, off-line data capture |
| Display Mode | On-board TFT screen | Standalone use without a phone or computer |
Which firmware build do I need?
The Basic firmware build supports USB streaming, BLE streaming, data logging, and a numeric vitals view on the display — all four modes are available from the same image. Download from the table on the Welcome page, matching the panel in your kit:
- ILI9488 (white display) →
healthypi5_basic_ili9488.uf2 - ST7796 (black display) →
healthypi5_basic_st7796.uf2
If you don’t have a display (Basic Kit), either build works.
The Display firmware is a separate purpose-built image for the visual plot mode — see Display Configuration.
Programming the firmware yourself
For everything in the docs so far, the pre-built .uf2 files are enough. If you want to modify the firmware, add new sensors, or rebuild from source:
- Arduino IDE — the easier on-ramp. The Arduino codebase is published primarily to help newcomers understand how each subsystem works.
- Zephyr RTOS — the primary development platform for HealthyPi 5. All ongoing firmware work happens here.