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Python

Difference between Arduino and Raspberry PI

Hello Guys,

I would need some advice from you. I had this idea, to automate my home, so i can turn the lights on from the phone and sth like that. I thought about, if i should do it with arduino or raspberry pi. I thought of raspberry pi, cause it's using python and how we know, python it's easier to code and Treehouse teach us python. But i want to know, what cand i do with Raspberry pi and what can I do with Arduino and which is better to begin with,

Thank you.

6 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,084 Points

The Arduino is a much simpler device than a PI. It's programmed in C/C++, with a much smaller program capacity. The advantages are primarily low price and size. There are some variations that are button-sized. Also, I believe the standard Arduino has a bit more I/O capacity (without adding any expanders), and the "mega" has even more.

You might also consider going the other way to a "Beagle Bone". It is about the same size as a PI, but has an even more powerful computer. And it has more I/O capacity than an Arduino and a PI put together.

I found this comparison chart that you might find helpful:

comparison chart

And this is the Make Magazine Article that compares all 3 where the chart came from.

It sounds interesting. But let’s say we have an arduino and a raspberry pi, which one would you choose? I heard rasperry pi is used for the networking stuff, like a media, print, mail server etc. Arduino is used for building circuits, like turning lights on, home automation and stuff like that. What do you say. Which one of these two?

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,084 Points

Your intentions are what would make the choice. If you want to program in Python, that rules out the Arduino. But otherwise, the Arduino is a device controller and better at that job when the program is simple. But the PI is more of a tiny computer with networking capability and multiple languages.

So what do you plan to do with it?

I read some stuff about arduino, that you can implement python code into arduino, like scripts. I mean, i like python, but i think arduino sounds interesting, because i can find a lot of information about the code, than the raspberry pi. There are a lot of projects explained step by step with arduino, than raspberry pi. And the next question, why is actually python used for..?

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,084 Points

Even if someone has a way to put Python in an Arduino, it's really not a good choice for it because of the tiny memory and slower processor. But yes, it has lots of support otherwise, and I can say from personal experience they are just fun to play with. And darn cheap, if you buy a Chinese clone instead of an original.

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking in that last question, but it seems like a change of topic and probably deserves to be started as a new question.

Hi, I’m sorry for my bad english. My question is, could you explain me, what python is used for. Something interesting python is used nowadays. I heard you can build interfaces, but what things can i do with python too? Thank you

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,084 Points

erik Jones Oniga β€” That's definitely a new topic, please start a fresh question for it.