RPI3 for Thai Kids
Posted by kll on March 16 2026 08:45:00
i did a test to show a picture of RPI SCRATCH Deutsch
post
to say that even NON ENGLISH native kids can start learn coding early
( as usually need learn english first / means they are 5 years late ! )
Extended Blog
and after that i was thinking about my Thai grand kids
* setup old RPI3 RPIOS desktop 64bit on the TV ( they play with all day anyhow )
* select Linux Thai language
* setup SCRATCH Thai language

but very soon there where questions
you know like from small-weak windows that you have to buy a OS in a specific language ( or pay more )
at setup of linux can choose 'locale' ?Thai?
but my question is, can i change later ? and just reboot ?
( yes, while i was born in Germany i never used any other language on a computer than English
* learn Fortran using punch cards running on the mainframe of the university
* my first PC was a Z80 CP/M with Turbo Pascal and
* a PDP11 / RSX11M with DCL at work https://www.isf.rwth-aachen.de )

so
i setup

RPI3


* use RPI4 RPI Imager to burn a uSD 64GB card
* RPIOS desktop 64bit
* name: 'rpi3th'
* SSH enable


boot in RPI3 ( one of the rare situations where i NOT work headless, today use HDMI, keyboard, mouse )
* VNC enable ( so i can do maintenance remotely )
* set fix IP ethernet .103 and wifi .203
* install SCRATCH ( test Thai language )
use [menu][Preferences][Recommended software]
[Programming][Scratch 3][click select][Apply]

bad luck:




i found at forum that error already from 2024 / older OS
never answered and post locked!

ok, uninstall
but asked at forum
i also failed to find how to install scratch 2
( even after installing https://pi-apps.io/
wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Botspot/pi-apps/master/install | bash
what now also only show 'scratch 3'

but i try chrome browser ( yes on RPI3 too slow )
and can use the online version !!

https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/editor/
* * it does use files up down via /Downloads

what also shows that it is not a cpu gpu RPI3 specific hardware problem





with keyboard setup ( here in thailand all keyboards are anyhow US + TH ) i config [left ctrl][left shift] for language toggle on keyboard input

and locale language setting ( need reboot )




lots of system program entries ( and app menus ) are in Thai, still ?15%? English

i wander if / who is working on that ( Linux translation support )
should be a high value thing for Thai universities?
- - on the other hand i just checked / while worldwide whole countries and companies try to get Windows free
here i am not able to find a computer / laptop without it !
? 50$ per sold computer from struggling parents who want higher education for their kids

lucky i build this PC // AMD AM5 PCIE5
info from fastfetch:
* OS: Ubuntu 25.10 x86_64
* Host: B650M D3HP
* Kernel: Linux 6.17.0-19-generic
* CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 8600G (12) @ 5.08 GHz
* GPU: AMD Phoenix1 [Integrated] No Graphic Card
* Memory: 3.00 GiB / 14.24 GiB (21%)
* Disk (/): 53.06 GiB / 914.78 GiB (6%) - ext4

from parts ( 350 € ) and installed free Linux
oh, just (17.3.2026) see there is a new Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, i was waiting for.
but today this is not yet available for RPI ( via RPI Imager )