What Are Your Most Popular Dev Kits or Reference Design Kits?

kmikemoo said:

I don't apply for RoadTests that require me to learn a new IDE

Same!

I used to love trying out all the new things but quickly learned that I would end up spending more time just to get to "blink" than I would on any actual project.

The Pi Pico is an exception, but Python was already on my list... and they do make it easy with Thonny and Python.

No. I really don't like Arduino.

I'm doing this as a hobby, so my dev boards need to be easy so it doesn't feel like work!

Summary:

Currently:
* Wemos (Lolin) D1 Mini (ESP8266) on Arduino IDE
* Raspberry Pi - as a server
* Arduino Uno

Next:
* Raspberry Pi Pico and Pico-W (with Thonny and Python)
* Arduino Uno R4

The presence of plenty of libraries, tutorials and examples is important, as it makes it much easier and quicker for me to build something in the limited time I have for projects.

Most of my projects have been Wemos (Lolin) D1 Mini (ESP8266) based, because they are small and support WiFi, and are very affordable, and can easily be powered with a basic USB phone charger. Many of my recent projects have been smart home sensor type projects, so this fits well. I use the Arduino IDE to program them.

On the receiving end of the WiFi sensors is a Raspberry Pi server. This doesn't technically require a Pi, but the size and low power consumption make it nice for this purpose. I did have a Raspberry Pi as a sprinkler controller for about 7 years, and it was solid and reliable for that, but most of my projects that require wires and external components are better suited to smaller boards.

For proof of concept type builds I still prefer the Arduino Uno - good, solid, reliable, and easy to use.

And I like the Pi Pico a lot - Thonny and Python are easy and fun to use, and those boards have more than enough power, memory, and pins to handle most of my projects. And they can also be easily powered with a little USB charger.
There's a good chance my future projects will be built on Pi Pico and Pi Pico W.

That said, with AI, ML, and machine vision... I might need to pivot to whatever is required to have the most fun

For versatility coupled with power, I believe the STM32 family takes the cake. Although it is a bit more fiddly to setup. For this same reason I have come to abhor the wanton use of Arduino for everything; especially applications for which it is severely underpowered or a pi where a microcontroller would do. I feel we could gain so much more by taking the time to become familiar with the bare metal side of things. That said both the pi and anrduino are so simple to use and so well used that almost anything, too, is possible and for that reason they cannot be denied. I am a bit behind on all things ESP32, but have come to enjoy their versatility as well. 

I used to develop using PIC 16, PIC18 and PIC32. after that, Arduino Nano, then ESP32.

used some STM and DSPIC afew times. 

with OS, I definitely use RPI, mostly RPI3 and ZERO W

Luca

The Uno is my go-to for testing as that is typically one of the best supported. Then my choice is typically dependent on features and I/o.

ESP32 if I need WiFi

Pi Pico for I/O

Seeeduino Xiao for small form factor or audio

Pi if I need Linux support

ATTiny for turning a Uno project into a stand-alone PCB.