Pantry RaiderHardware
Pantry Raider is open source software that runs on open, off-the-shelf hardware. Use a server you already own, or build a dedicated kitchen appliance from parts. Nothing is proprietary and nothing phones home.
Minimum requirements
Pantry Raider runs as Docker containers, so it works on most 64-bit Linux hardware.
| Resource | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | ARM64 or x86-64 | |
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | 16 GB | 32 GB or more |
| OS | 64-bit Linux with Docker and Compose v2 | Raspberry Pi OS Lite, Debian, or Ubuntu Server |
| Network | Ethernet or Wi-Fi | Ethernet for an always-on box |
Pantry Raider plus Grocy runs comfortably in 2 GB. Adding Mealie pushes the practical floor to 4 GB. Fully local AI with Ollama wants a machine with 16 GB or more; on small boards, use a cloud AI provider instead.
Tested boards
| Board | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 (4 or 8 GB) | Supported | Recommended, with DSI touch display support |
| Raspberry Pi 4B (4 or 8 GB) | Supported | Solid for the full stack |
| Raspberry Pi 4B (2 GB) | Limited | Pantry Raider plus Grocy only; Mealie may be tight |
| x86-64 mini PC (N100 class, 8 GB+) | Supported | Runs everything, best choice for local Ollama AI |
| Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W | Satellite only | Too small for the full stack, but works as a thin kiosk remote driving a display or Stream Deck for a server elsewhere |
The DIY kitchen appliance
The one-command Raspberry Pi installer turns a stock Pi into a dedicated Pantry Raider appliance. It detects an attached touchscreen and Stream Deck and configures a kiosk automatically, or it can run as a thin kiosk remote that drives a display for a server hosted elsewhere. A typical build:
| Part | Options |
|---|---|
| Board | Raspberry Pi 5 or 4B, 4 GB or more |
| Touchscreen | Any DSI or HDMI capacitive touch panel (optional, it is a web app you can open from any browser) |
| Barcode scanner | Any USB HID "keyboard wedge" scanner works with zero configuration; a scan-engine module can run hands-free at a fixed kiosk |
| Control surface | Elgato Stream Deck (6, 15, or 32 keys) or embedded Stream Deck Module, driven over plain USB with no Elgato software |
The Stream Deck keys show live counts (items expiring soon, scans waiting to commit) and trigger actions like committing scans, starting timers, or switching scan modes. It can sit next to a touchscreen or be the only interface on a headless box.
Pre-built hardware: coming soon
Do not want to assemble it yourself? A pre-built Pantry Raider kitchen appliance (board, touchscreen, scanner, and case, flashed and ready to go) is in the works. Watch theGitHub repositoryfor the announcement.
Full details
The wiki has the complete, maintained hardware documentation:Supported Hardware,Building the SD Image, andBarcode Scanner Setup.