What should I start with (Raspberry Pi or Arduino)?

Shahar Zeevi wrote:

 

I’m a father for 11 years old carious boy and I would like to introduce him to some “electronic” based projects and code writing (he’s taking java coding at school). What is the recommendation to start with, Raspberry Pi micro-computer or Arduino micro-controller? Also are there any good projects to start with to gain experience and keep an 11 year old engaged? I’m looking to get help and ideas on how to jump start our journey.

Thanks.

Hello,

It depends on what you're wanting to teach him.

Your son is already learning, what is considered to be a high-level programming language. He doesn't have to worry too much about how much memory he is using, how to allocate it, what the limits are (since he's using a computer) and he isn't doing anything time-critical. Java is also mainly object-oriented with methods and classes, depending on how he has been programming it.

Using a Raspberry Pi would be very familiar to him, it is basically a computer, with limited connectivity to connect low voltage electronics. So he can flash an LED, turn something on or off and with add-ons expand it into audio recording, motor control, have its own screen, etc. He could use Java to do this, or transition to Python, which is another high level and potentially object oriented programming language, or he could use C/C++ or lower level languages. The Pi is also very much a standalone computer with connectivity to a screen.

If you're wanting to teach him about electronics, specifically, then an Arduino or equivalent micro-controller would be more appropriate. While the Raspberry Pi uses an operating system, the Arduino does not. It has tight memory constraints and mainly uses the C++ programming language, which is object oriented but it is lower level and more sensitive to memory handling and timings. That isn't to say that there aren't ways of talking to an Arduino using Java. It's just the Arduino IDE by default doesn't use it.

The advantage of using an Arduino is that it is your bare-bones electronics prototyping platform and acts in real-time, rather than with a Raspberry Pi having to wait for the operating system. It also has greater electronics features, such as Pulse Width Modulation for analogue output (if you wanted to have fun with audio or analogue signals for gradients/dimming/fan control/etc) along with a protocol called i2c (which the Pi does have) and SPI (which the Pi also has) you have more general purpose input/output pins than the Pi has (most of the 40 pin block on the Pi 2 / B+ are not connected to the ARM processor).

The arduino can also be complementary to the Raspberry Pi, it's entirely possible to connect it to one via the serial pins and whatever the Arduino is doing, to communicate back to the Pi and then the Pi act on it. This means in early stages you could just load sketches someone else had made onto the Arduino and then code in Java on the Pi. However, while the Arduino can be programmed and then autonomously perform the code it is encoded with, it is not a single board computer, it is more of a development kit and it does not have connectivity for a screen, (though people have managed to make it output NTSC format graphics).

Which would I advise?

If you're wanting to slow transition to electronics, go for the Pi, however you will be limited in what it can connect to depending on what you want to do. If you're prepared to push through the learning curve of another language and start early with C++ then go for the Arduino, especially if you want him to learn more about electronics. It depends what projects you're/he's wanting to work on.

Best case scenario, you get both, because they're complementary and they aren't designed to perform the exact same functions at all.

Shahar Zeevi wrote:

 

I’m a father for 11 years old carious boy and I would like to introduce him to some “electronic” based projects and code writing (he’s taking java coding at school). What is the recommendation to start with, Raspberry Pi micro-computer or Arduino micro-controller? Also are there any good projects to start with to gain experience and keep an 11 year old engaged? I’m looking to get help and ideas on how to jump start our journey.

Thanks.

Hello,

It depends on what you're wanting to teach him.

Your son is already learning, what is considered to be a high-level programming language. He doesn't have to worry too much about how much memory he is using, how to allocate it, what the limits are (since he's using a computer) and he isn't doing anything time-critical. Java is also mainly object-oriented with methods and classes, depending on how he has been programming it.

Using a Raspberry Pi would be very familiar to him, it is basically a computer, with limited connectivity to connect low voltage electronics. So he can flash an LED, turn something on or off and with add-ons expand it into audio recording, motor control, have its own screen, etc. He could use Java to do this, or transition to Python, which is another high level and potentially object oriented programming language, or he could use C/C++ or lower level languages. The Pi is also very much a standalone computer with connectivity to a screen.

If you're wanting to teach him about electronics, specifically, then an Arduino or equivalent micro-controller would be more appropriate. While the Raspberry Pi uses an operating system, the Arduino does not. It has tight memory constraints and mainly uses the C++ programming language, which is object oriented but it is lower level and more sensitive to memory handling and timings. That isn't to say that there aren't ways of talking to an Arduino using Java. It's just the Arduino IDE by default doesn't use it.

The advantage of using an Arduino is that it is your bare-bones electronics prototyping platform and acts in real-time, rather than with a Raspberry Pi having to wait for the operating system. It also has greater electronics features, such as Pulse Width Modulation for analogue output (if you wanted to have fun with audio or analogue signals for gradients/dimming/fan control/etc) along with a protocol called i2c (which the Pi does have) and SPI (which the Pi also has) you have more general purpose input/output pins than the Pi has (most of the 40 pin block on the Pi 2 / B+ are not connected to the ARM processor).

The arduino can also be complementary to the Raspberry Pi, it's entirely possible to connect it to one via the serial pins and whatever the Arduino is doing, to communicate back to the Pi and then the Pi act on it. This means in early stages you could just load sketches someone else had made onto the Arduino and then code in Java on the Pi. However, while the Arduino can be programmed and then autonomously perform the code it is encoded with, it is not a single board computer, it is more of a development kit and it does not have connectivity for a screen, (though people have managed to make it output NTSC format graphics).

Which would I advise?

If you're wanting to slow transition to electronics, go for the Pi, however you will be limited in what it can connect to depending on what you want to do. If you're prepared to push through the learning curve of another language and start early with C++ then go for the Arduino, especially if you want him to learn more about electronics. It depends what projects you're/he's wanting to work on.

Best case scenario, you get both, because they're complementary and they aren't designed to perform the exact same functions at all.