--- title: 'A look into Ubuntu Core 24: Your first Linux-powered Matter device' description: Discover how to deploy your Matter applications securely and relieably for smart home use with Ubuntu Core 24. url: https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-core-24-matter?format=md --- 1. [Blog](https://canonical.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Gabriel Aguiar Noury](https://canonical.com/blog/author/g-aguiar-noury "More about Gabriel Aguiar Noury") 6 June 2024 # A look into Ubuntu Core 24: Your first Linux-powered Matter device [IoT](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/iot) [smart home](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/smart-home) [Ubuntu Core](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/ubuntu-core) --- Share the article *Welcome to this blog series which explores innovative uses of Ubuntu Core. Throughout this series, Canonical’s Engineers will show what you can build with this Core 24 release, highlighting the features and tools available to you.* In this third blog, Farshid Tavakolizadeh, engineering manager from our Industrial team, will show you how to build a Matter lighting device with a Raspberry Pi. With the release of [Matter 1.3](https://csa-iot.org/newsroom/matter-1-3-specification-released), it is now easier than ever to create interoperable home appliances. The standard now supports devices such as refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers, ovens, robotic vacuums, and electric vehicle chargers. Smart appliances can use the internet to gain added features, such as remote management and maintenance, but this comes with additional risks and security burdens. Ubuntu Core provides a secure and reliable foundation for running smart home applications that are responsible not only for home appliances but also for critical infrastructure powering smart door locks, garage doors, surveillance and security systems. ## Deploy a Matter application on Ubuntu Core The quickest way to create a Matter application is by using the open source Matter SDK. This provides the foundations at the protocol level, ranging from access control to device definition, leaving you responsible for implementing device control logic. Here, I will show you how to work with our reference application that uses the Matter SDK. This reference application will allow you to create more complex applications, such as for a microwave-oven unit, exposing cooking operations over Matter. *Raspberry Pi and led configuration* Our reference application is available [here](https://snapcraft.io/matter-pi-gpio-commander). The `matter-pi-gpio-commander` is a snap that turns a Raspberry Pi into a Matter lighting device. The application allows the control of the GPIO to switch on and off an LED, over the Matter standard. This application can serve as a template for building your own application from a tested starting point. So first, get your RPi and connect an LED as shown in the diagram above. To install Ubuntu Core, follow [these steps](https://ubuntu.com/core/docs/install-on-a-raspberry-pi). After you connect to your device, manually install our reference snap: ``` $ sudo snap install matter-pi-gpio-commander --beta matter-pi-gpio-commander 2.0.0 from Canonical IoT Labs installed ``` Next, you need to configure it to use the right GPIO pin and chip: ``` $ sudo snap set matter-pi-gpio-commander gpio=4 $ sudo snap set matter-pi-gpio-commander gpiochip=4 ``` Make sure to set the `gpio` the right value, based on your wiring. Use `gpiochip=4` on Raspberry Pi 5 and `gpiochip=0` on earlier boards. Then, grant the necessary access to your snap: ``` $ sudo snap connect matter-pi-gpio-commander:custom-gpio matter-pi-gpio-commander:custom-gpio-dev $ sudo snap connect matter-pi-gpio-commander:avahi-control avahi:avahi-control ``` Advertising the device in the local network is done via DNS-SD, which is why we need to connect to `avahi` snap in the above command. Make sure that [Avahi snap](https://snapcraft.io/avahi) is installed. Finally, we start the application: ``` $ sudo snap start matter-pi-gpio-commander ``` At this point, the Matter application should be running, effectively turning your Raspberry Pi+LED into a Matter Device! This application will use WiFi or Ethernet for networking. ## Control the device over Matter Now, let’s see the various ways to pair and control your device remotely, from your developer machine. The device is compliant with the Matter standard, and as a result, any compliant Matter Controller should work. We often find it more practical to use [Chip Tool](https://project-chip.github.io/connectedhomeip-doc/guides/chip_tool_guide.html#working-with-the-chip-tool), an open source controller for Linux. This has a command line interface and produces a good level of debugging information. Chip Tool can be installed [as a snap](https://snapcraft.io/chip-tool). Install it on your development machine: ``` $ sudo snap install chip-tool ``` chip-tool v1.2.0.1+snap from Canonical IoT Labs installed Make sure to have the `avahi-daemon` installed as it is required for the device discovery. Then, pair and control the device: ``` $ sudo chip-tool pairing onnetwork 110 20202021 $ sudo chip-tool onoff on 110 1 ``` That’s it! You just turned on the light! *Led control with Matter* You may use another Matter Controller such as Google Home. To do this, follow [these instructions](https://developers.home.google.com/codelabs/matter-device#create-a-developer-project) to add your device as a test project. This is needed because this device hasn’t been certified with Matter. If you find yourself interested in an open source Controller, read our [Home Assistant guide](https://canonical-matter.readthedocs-hosted.com/en/latest/how-to/home-assistant-ubuntu-core/) and use it in your next smart home project. When using a controller with a graphical user interface, you often need to scan a QR code to pair the device. This QR code can be generated by following the link in the Matter application logs. For example, here is a snippet taken from the `matter-pi-gpio-commander` snap logs: ``` Copy/paste the below URL in a browser to see the QR Code: https://project-chip.github.io/connectedhomeip/qrcode.html?data=MT%3A-24J042C00KA0648G00 ``` ## What’s next? Try building your own device on top of the [Matter SDK](https://project-chip.github.io/connectedhomeip-doc/index.html). If you find it complicated to build the SDK and package your application, use the [Matter SDK plugin for Snapcraft](https://snapcraft.io/docs/matter-sdk-plugin) which takes away most of the complexity. Instead of WiFi/Ethernet, you may want to use Thread networking for your device. You could utilize [OpenThread](https://openthread.io/) implementations to bootstrap your implementation. The OpenThread Border Router can be installed on Ubuntu Core [as a snap](https://snapcraft.io/openthread-border-router). Build a snap and integrate your application into the Ubuntu Core architecture to leverage application security and over-the-air updates at the edge. In production, the operations we did manually to install and configure the snap will be baked into the Ubuntu Core image itself. The image can be tailored to target smart home requirements, with the right suite of applications and user control. Follow the guide on [building your first image](https://ubuntu.com/core/docs/build-an-image) to learn more. And finally, check out the [Matter on Ubuntu](https://canonical-matter.readthedocs-hosted.com/) documentation, where we have several other guides and examples that could help you get started with your smart home projects. ## Sign up for our newsletter Get the latest Canonical news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/dataprivacy). Sign up ## Share on --- ## Related posts [### So you need to add microcontrollers to your fleet: now what?](https://canonical.com/blog/microcontrollers-ubuntu-core-golioth) Your Ubuntu Core fleet is running beautifully. OTA updates roll out in minutes. Every device is strictly confined, cryptographically attested, and carrying a 10 to 15 year long... 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