The popularity and usage of mini boards, like the Raspberry Pi, has grown exponentially across the world over time. People are finding diverse applications for these small devices, including programming.
The Raspberry Pi, and similar devices, offer us great versatility and operational modes that can yield spectacular results with minimal knowledge. Despite being low-cost motherboards, which have risen in price recently, we can give them numerous uses, many of which are quite impressive.
These boards allow us to install various operating systems and a huge selection of open-source software. As such, we can transform a Raspberry Pi into a retro console, a multimedia center, a storage server, and much more. Furthermore, many users worldwide use these devices for software programming.
Operating systems for the Raspberry
It’s worth noting the vast array of hardware components and software elements available for use with these mini boards. This is the key to their versatility. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, we have the option to install multiple operating systems, which allows us to choose the one that best suits our needs, such as for programming.
The most widely used operating system for the Raspberry Pi is Raspberry Pi OS, which was previously known as Raspbian. This OS is specifically designed and optimized for the Raspberry Pi, allowing users to fully utilize all its features and functionalities. However, there are also other alternatives available, such as Lakka, RISC OS Pi, MX Linux, and many more.
Programming languages on Raspberry Pi
It is important to consider the programming languages that are compatible with the Raspberry Pi depending on the development projects we want to undertake. Fortunately, many commonly used programming languages are available for use on these devices.
- C++ and C are still in high demand and widely used, despite being around for many years. As such, it’s no surprise that these programming languages are available and commonly used on devices like the Raspberry Pi.
- Python: Currently, this programming language is widely used in large-scale software development projects as well as in creating customized applications, making it one of the most prevalent languages. Its application is not limited to just mini boards, but extends to various other platforms as well.
- Scratch: This programming language is well-suited for beginners in the field and is likely to become the preferred choice. Its structures are tailored to the needs of novice programmers, making it an ideal choice for use on a Raspberry Pi.
Applications to program on the mini board
To develop projects on a Raspberry Pi, we can utilize a vast array of open-source software depending on the nature of our project. For instance, we can leverage Thonny software to develop in Python, which is a beginner-friendly programming language that offers an extensive range of libraries and frameworks for development.
In addition to Thonny and BlueJ, the Scratch program is also an excellent option for users with little experience in programming projects. With the help of these tools, we can fully utilize the potential of Raspberry Pi for our development projects.