We don't serve pies, but we do like a Pi

An old IT adage suggests the best advice is to power down and restart. This sage guidance may not have been what patrons of a London pub anticipated. A recent addition to technology in the realm of embedded malfunctions originates from a tipping machine inside the establishment, discovered by a vigilant Register reader.

Tipping customs have yet to permeate the UK with the same fervor as in the United States, yet they are gaining traction. Instead of tossing a few coins into a container or making a discreet remark, customers can now utilize a card to tip the server directly. The pub, however, did not serve pies, but it did showcase a Raspbian GNU/Linux operating system logged in under the username "pi."

The borked device revealed a Raspberry Pi, with an automatic login and the generic hostname "raspberrypi." It's likely that the password has been fortified. The hardware appears to be a TiPJAR system, described as a groundbreaking solution that eases the challenge of tipping and enables staff to manage tips more effectively. The device has certainly fulfilled its purpose, as the only tip staff will be receiving is from those who jest about the age-old advice of power cycling the machine.

The presence of "rc.local" on the screen is a nod to the local hostelry rather than a mundane startup script. Despite the technological marvels, the reader expressed delight in these machines, provided they don't replace employees with a fair wage. It's a significant improvement over scribbling on a credit card receipt, grasping for change, or dodging awkward eye contact.