ILI9488 Raspberry Pi Setup Script

This repository contains a script - setup_ili9488.sh - designed to simplify the setup of a 4" ILI9488 TFT screen commonly sold on AliExpress. This script configures the Raspberry Pi 4B to work seamlessly with the ILI9488 TFT display using the SPI interface.

To achieve this, the script integrates the configuration and logic provided by the fbcp-ili9341 repository, which is a game changer for setting up the framebuffer for SPI-based TFT displays. Make sure to clone and compile the fbcp-ili9341 repository as part of the process.

I bought mine at XMKJ Store
Link: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005791515997.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.5.47f91802b8PVtk

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📌 Features

• Fully automates the setup of the ILI9488 TFT screen.
• Configures necessary system files (config.txt and rc.local).
• Automatically downloads and builds the fbcp-ili9341 driver.
• Enables SPI and adjusts GPU memory for optimal performance.

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🔌 Pinout for Connecting the TFT Display

Required Connections

Connect your ILI9488 TFT screen to the Raspberry Pi 4B as follows:

TFT Pin	Description	Raspberry Pi Pin	Pin Number
VDD	Power (VCC)	5V or 3.3V	Pin 2 or Pin 1
GND	Ground	Ground	Pin 6
CS	Chip Select (SPI)	GPIO 8	Pin 24
RST	Reset	GPIO 17	Pin 11
D/C	Data/Command (SPI)	GPIO 25	Pin 22
SDI	Serial Data In (MOSI)	GPIO 10	Pin 19
SCK	Serial Clock (SPI)	GPIO 11	Pin 23
BL	Backlight	5V or GPIO 27	Pin 2 or Pin 13

Note:

• VDD: Use Pin 2 (5V) for brighter backlight or Pin 1 (3.3V) for power-saving mode.
• BL (Backlight): For always-on backlight, connect to 5V (Pin 2). For GPIO-controlled backlight, use GPIO 27 (Pin 13).

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📋 Step-by-Step Instructions

1️⃣ Install Git

Ensure git is installed on your Raspberry Pi:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y git

2️⃣ Download the Setup Script

Clone this repository to your Raspberry Pi:

git clone https://github.com/adamomd/ILI9488RPIScript.git

3️⃣ Run the Setup Script

Change to the script's directory, make it executable, and run it with root privileges:

cd ILI9488RPIScript
chmod +x setup_ili9488.sh
sudo ./setup_ili9488.sh

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🔍 What Does the Script Do?

• Updates the System: Ensures your Raspberry Pi is up-to-date.
• Installs Dependencies: Downloads essential tools (git, cmake, etc.).
• Enables SPI: Automatically enables the SPI interface via raspi-config.
• Builds fbcp-ili9341: Downloads and builds the framebuffer driver for the ILI9488.
• Modifies Configurations:
  • Updates /boot/config.txt to set up display parameters.
  • Configures /etc/rc.local to start the display driver on boot.
• Reboots: Reboots the Raspberry Pi to apply changes.

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🛠️ Troubleshooting

Display not working?

1. Ensure connections match the pinout table above.
2. Run the setup script again to verify configuration:

   sudo ./setup_ili9488.sh

3. Check /var/log/fbcp-ili9341.log for errors.
4. Confirm SPI is enabled using raspi-config.

Need to reconfigure?

Simply re-run the script:

sudo ./setup_ili9488.sh

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🖱️ Just Copy and Paste

Copy and paste the commands below sequentially to prepare your Raspberry Pi, download the setup script, and execute it:

# Update and install git
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y git

# Clone the setup script repository
git clone https://github.com/adamomd/ILI9488RPIScript.git

# Navigate to the script's directory
cd ILI9488RPIScript

# Make the script executable and run it
chmod +x setup_ili9488.sh
sudo ./setup_ili9488.sh

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🌟 Feedback and Suggestions

We value your feedback! If you encounter issues or have suggestions, feel free to open an issue or contribute to the repository.

Happy Hacking!
Script and Guide by AdamoMD