Embedded Computing
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    • Which Platform?
    • Controller Platforms >
      • Adafruit Platform
      • Arduino Plaform
      • BBC micro:bit
      • Espressif Platform
      • LaunchPad Plaform
      • Raspberry Pi Platform (MCU)
      • Seeeduino Platform
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    • Computer Platforms >
      • BeagleBone Platform
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    • Peripherals >
      • BoosterPacks for LaunchPads
      • Shields
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      • Sensors
      • Actuators
    • Displays >
      • E-Paper Displays
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    • Legacy Platforms
  • Software
    • Exploring RTOS with Galaxia >
      • Event Library
      • Semaphore Library
      • Mailbox Library
      • Timer Library
      • Clock Library
      • SWI Library
      • Task Library
    • Ultra-Low Power with EnergyTrace >
      • Ultra-Low Power with MSP430
      • Ultra-Low Power with Energia MT and Galaxia
    • Using Integers Instead of Reals
  • IoT
    • IoT Platforms: Which Hardware?
    • IoT Services: Which Solution? >
      • Recommended IoT Solutions
      • Platform-Specific IoT Solutions
      • Other IoT Solutions
      • Not tested IoT Solutions
      • Notification Solutions
    • Get Date and Time from Internet with NTP
    • Fast and Easy WiFi Connection with QR-Code
  • Tools
    • How to Start?
    • Reference >
      • Asking for Help
      • Boards Pins Maps
      • Ruler
      • Boards and Plugs
      • I²C Logic Level Converter
      • Standards for Connectors
    • Training >
      • Texas Instruments Workshops
      • Embedded Systems: Shape The World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.02x
      • Embedded Systems - Shape The World: Microcontroller Input/Output — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.10x
      • Embedded Systems - Shape The World: Multi-Threaded Interfacing — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.6.20x
      • Real-Time Bluetooth Networks: Shape the World — MOOC edX UTAustinX UT.RTBN.12.01x
      • Systems Thinking with Texas Instruments Robotics System Learning Kit
    • Books >
      • Getting Started with the MSP430 LaunchPad
      • Getting Started with Arduino
      • Arduino Cookbook
    • IDE >
      • The Battle of IDEs >
        • Arduino IDE 2.0
      • More Options
      • Assessing the Next Generation of IDEs
      • Tools for Documentation
    • Equipment >
      • Saleae Logic Analyser
      • Rigol DS1102E Oscilloscope
      • XDS110 Debug Probe with EnergyTrace​
      • Segger J-Link Programmer-Debugger
      • Nordic Power Profiler Kit II
  • Projects
    • Libraries >
      • Master I²C Software Library
      • Date and Time Library
      • highView Library Suite
      • Others Libraries
    • smartDevices >
      • I²C smartColours Smart Sensor
      • I²C smartRFID Smart Sensor
      • I²C smartLED Display
      • I²C smartControls Smart Device
      • I²C smartWiFi Smart Device
      • I²C smartBLE Smart Device
      • I²C smartNode Smart Device
    • IoT Projects >
      • Remote e-Paper Pictures Panel
      • Remote e-Paper Messages Panel
      • Industrial IoT Project
      • Remote Contactless Temperature Monitor
      • Using Node-RED for IIoT
      • Low Power Home Network Weather Monitoring
      • Updated Low Power Home Network Weather Monitoring
      • Weather and Security Station with Blynk
      • SensorTag to Blynk Using Node-RED
      • Pervasive Reporting
    • AI Projects >
      • Colour Recognition with Neural Network
    • Other Projects >
      • Driving a Large E-Paper Display with a Compact Xiao RP2040
      • Low-Power E-Paper Weather Station
      • Portable Particulate​ Matter Monitor
      • FRAM-based E-Paper Screen Controller
      • General Purpose 3.5" Screen
      • Colour Recognition with Neural Network
      • A Low Power Weather Station
      • Digital Volt-Amp-Watt Meter
      • Mobile Measurement with LCD Display
      • Screen with SRAM for GUI
      • Volt-Amp-Watt-Meter for Grove
      • Multi-Touch Project with CapTIvate

Which Platform?

Which board to consider when there are so many available?

To put things into perspective, today's boards are 4~16 times more powerful than the original IBM PC, and 16~64 times more powerful than the Apollo 11 computer!

The board itself is only part of a larger system, the platform, which includes the extensions boards and the associated software, but other elements as the users' community, the support and the services.

Since the first release in October 2012, many things has happened. The market has matured; manufacturers have consolidated.
Photo
​Looking for...
the reference with a wide choice of add-ons and libraries
a cost effective 
introduction to micro-controllers
an IoT-capable
micro-controller
​
more power with a programmer-debugger
​

Go for...
  • 8-bit Arduino Uno​​​
  • 8-bit ​Grove Beginner Kit for Arduino​​​
  • IoT-capable Adafruit Feather boards
  • 32-bit Raspberry Pi Pico at USD4​​​​
Or try...
  • 8-bit Arduino Mega2560
    ​
    • WiFi and Bluetooth-capable ESP32-DevKitC​​​
    • 32-bit Teensy 3 and 4​​ with external debugger 
    Comment
    Albeit based on antiquated 8-bit MCUs and slightly over-priced, those boards remain extremely popular.​
    The Grove system offers a large assortment of sensors and actuators with a fool-proof plug.
    The Feather boards are very versatile, while ESP32 has become the low-cost reference for IoT.
    The Raspberry Pi Pico  brings unrivalled value at USD4. Add a second board for a full-fledged debugger.

    Extensions

    Depending on the platform, the extensions boards are called shields, BoosterPacks, capes, of Wings. They plug in directly on the main board, making installation easy.
    • Shields for Arduino Uno
    • ​BoosterPacks for LaunchPad
    • Grove system​

    Software

    All the boards mentioned below run on the Wiring / Arduino framework. A new generation of IDEs brings advanced features like debugging.
    ​
    • Arduino IDE
    • Visual Studio Code with Arduino extension

    Posted: 23 Nov 2021

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