if not buf:
             return
         try:
-
             self._spi.open(self._port, 0)
-            self._spi.no_cs = True
+            try:
+              self._spi.no_cs = True  # this doesn't work but try anyways
+            except AttributeError:
+              pass
             self._spi.max_speed_hz = self.baudrate
             self._spi.mode = self.mode
             self._spi.bits_per_word = self.bits
         except FileNotFoundError as not_found:
             print("Could not open SPI device - check if SPI is enabled in kernel!")
             raise
+
+    def readinto(self, buf):
+        if not buf:
+            return
+        try:
+            self._spi.open(self._port, 0)
+            try:
+              self._spi.no_cs = True  # this doesn't work but try anyways
+            except AttributeError:
+              pass
+            self._spi.max_speed_hz = self.baudrate
+            self._spi.mode = self.mode
+            self._spi.bits_per_word = self.bits
+            data = self._spi.readbytes(len(buf))
+            for i in range(len(buf)):  # 'readinto' the given buffer
+              buf[i] = data[i]
+            self._spi.close()
+        except FileNotFoundError as not_found:
+            print("Could not open SPI device - check if SPI is enabled in kernel!")
+            raise
+
+    def write_readinto(self, buffer_out, buffer_in, out_start=0, out_end=None, in_start=0, in_end=None):
+        if not buffer_out or not buffer_in:
+            return
+        if out_end is None or in_end is None:
+            out_end = len(buffer_out)
+            in_end = len(buffer_in)
+        if out_end - out_start != in_end - in_start:
+            raise RuntimeError('Buffer slices must be of equal length.')
+        try:
+            self._spi.open(self._port, 0)
+            try:
+                self._spi.no_cs = True  # this doesn't work but try anyways
+            except AttributeError:
+                pass
+            self._spi.max_speed_hz = self.baudrate
+            self._spi.mode = self.mode
+            self._spi.bits_per_word = self.bits
+            data = self._spi.xfer(list(buffer_out[out_start:out_end]))
+            for i in range(len(buffer_in[in_start:in_end])): # 'readinto' the given buffer
+                buffer_in[i] = data[i]
+            self._spi.close()
+        except FileNotFoundError as not_found:
+            print("Could not open SPI device - check if SPI is enabled in kernel!")
+            raise
\ No newline at end of file