This Raspberry Pi Pico-powered ‘barcode beast’ scans your CDs and plays your tunes via Spotify
Originally published on tomshardware.com by Ash Hill on 19 November 2024
Bas has created an innovative Raspberry Pi Pico W project that bridges the gap between physical media and modern digital music streaming. By integrating a barcode scanner with Spotify, Bas has designed a system that allows users to scan the barcode of a CD, automatically identifying the album and queuing it on Spotify.
The process begins with the barcode scan, which the system parses using MQTT. The barcode information is sent to a home assistant running a script that interfaces with the Discogs music database. Once the album is identified, the Spotify API is used to queue up and play the album or its tracks in Bas’s living room.
The hardware involves a Raspberry Pi Pico W for its essential network capabilities and a barcode scanning module for reading CD barcodes. Bas designed and 3D-printed a custom case for the system, complete with a whimsical touch—googly eyes.
The software side of the project is just as impressive, featuring custom scripts that connect all the components. The source code is available on GitHub, providing insight into how the system handles barcode data, verifies album information, and communicates via MQTT to control Spotify playback.
While the 3D printer files for the case are not publicly shared, Bas invites interested makers to contact him directly for access to the designs. If you’re curious about replicating or learning from this clever system, further details are available in Bas’s blog post, which offers a comprehensive look at the project’s development.
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