Unable to get NeoPixel working

[Mike Lempriere]

Hi folks - sorry for such a noobie question, but I have looked around and have not found a clear answer.

I have an rPi4b, that I have set up to run an array of WP2811 RGB LEDs.  It uses GPIO 18 and GPIO 21 directly.  I have built an extensive program to control this screen, but I was forced to write it in Python, as that was the only language I was able to find a NeoPixel library for.  I find Python to be, at  best, lame, and I would really like to convert to Perl.

I got through the install instructions on this website to get HiPI installed.  When I run the sample NeoPixel program from this website, I get error:

    "i2c_write failed with return value -1 at [...]"

Does that mean that "SeeSaw" is an i2c hardware board I'd have to buy?

Is there a way to use the capabilities already built in to the rPi?

Thank you!