Raspberry Pi is a series of small single-board computers (SBCs) originally developed in the United Kingdom by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in collaboration with Broadcom. To commercialize the product and support its growing demand, the Foundation established a commercial entity, now known as Raspberry Pi Holdings.
The Raspberry Pi was originally created to help teach computer science in schools, but gained popularity for many other uses due to its low cost, compact size, and flexibility. It is now used in areas such as industrial automation, robotics, home automation, IoT devices, and hobbyist projects.
The company's products range from simple microcontrollers to computers that the company markets as being powerful enough to be used as a general purpose PC. Computers are built around a custom designed system on a chip and offer features such as HDMI video/audio output, USB ports, wireless networking, GPIO pins, and up to 16 GB of RAM. Storage is typically provided via microSD cards.
In 2015, the Raspberry Pi surpassed the ZX Spectrum as the best-selling British computer of all time. As of March 2025, 68million units had been sold.
History
Origins and launch (2008–2012)
The Raspberry Pi Foundation was established in 2008 by a group including Eben Upton, in response to a noticeable decline in both the number and skill level of students applying to study computer science at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory. The foundation's goal was to create a low-cost computer to help rekindle interest in programming among schoolchildren.[1][2][3]
This mission was inspired by the aims of the BBC Micro computer of the early 1980s, which was developed by Acorn Computers as part of a BBC initiative to promote computer literacy in UK schools.[4]
Series and generations
There are five main series of Raspberry Pi computers, each with multiple generations. Most models feature a Broadcom system on a chip (SoC) with an integrated ARM-based central processing unit (CPU) and an on-chip graphics processing unit (GPU). The exception is the Pico series, a microcontroller which uses the RP2040, a custom-designed SoC with an ARM-compatible CPU but no GPU.
Flagship series
The flagship Raspberry Pi series, often referred to simply as "Raspberry Pi", offers high-performance hardware, a full Linux operating system, and a variety of common ports in a compact form factor roughly the size of a credit card.
- The Model B (2012) features a 700 MHz single-core 32-bit ARM11 CPU, a VideoCore IV GPU, 512 MB RAM and a 26-pin GPIO header.
- The Model A (2013) is a lower-cost version with 256 MB RAM, no Ethernet, and fewer USB ports.
- The Model B+ and Model A+ (2014) add a 40-pin GPIO header, microSD card support, and replace the RCA video connector with a combined
Hardware
Since its introduction, Raspberry Pi hardware has been designed to provide low-cost computing platforms. The founders intended it to be an affordable and accessible system by making it compatible with widely available second-hand peripherals, such as televisions for displays, USB input devices, and cellphone chargers for power.[95] Over time, the hardware has expanded to support both advanced configurations and ultra-low-cost variants.[96][97]
The company has committed to keeping its single-board computer products in production for at least ten years, longer than typical consumer electronics. It also publishes guaranteed minimum manufacturing end dates. These policies are intended to support the use of its products in industrial and OEM applications that require long-term availability. For example, the original Raspberry Pi Model 1B, introduced in 2012, remained in production as of 2025.[98][99]
Specifications
Software
Operating systems
The recommended operating system is Raspberry Pi OS, a Debian-based Linux distribution optimized for Raspberry Pi hardware and tuned to have low base memory requirements. It is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions and comes in several editions: a standard edition, a "Lite" version without a desktop environment, and a "Full" version that includes a comprehensive suite of software.
Raspberry Pi OS can be purchased pre-installed on a microSD card,[235] or downloaded and installed using Raspberry Pi Imager, a utility introduced in March 2020 to simplify the installation of operating systems onto SD cards and other media for Raspberry Pi devices. Available for macOS, Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu, and Windows, Imager allows users to download and write operating system disk images within a single application.[236] In addition to Raspberry Pi OS, the utility supports a variety of third-party operating systems, including Alpine Linux,[237]
Official accessories
Cameras
Raspberry Pi offers several official camera modules that connect via the Camera Serial Interface. These modules are used for photography, video capture, and machine vision applications.[254]
- Camera Module (2013) – A 5-megapixel (MP) camera based on the OmniVision OV5647 sensor, supporting video resolutions up to 1080p. A version without an infrared filter (NoIR) was available for night-vision applications when used with infrared lighting.[255][256] This model is no longer produced.
- Camera Module 2 (2016) – 8 MP Sony IMX219 sensor. Also available in NoIR version.[257]
Reception and use
Technology writer Glyn Moody described the project in May 2011 as a "potential BBC Micro 2.0", not by replacing PC compatible machines but by supplementing them.[274] In March 2012 Stephen Pritchard echoed the BBC Micro successor sentiment in ITPRO.[275] Alex Hope, co-author of the Next Gen report, is hopeful that the computer will engage children with the excitement of programming.[276] Co-author Ian Livingstone suggested that the BBC could be involved in building support for the device, possibly branding it as the BBC Nano.[277] The Centre for Computing History strongly supports the Raspberry Pi project, feeling that it could "usher in a new era".[278] Before release, the board was showcased by ARM's CEO Warren East
See also
- Arduino
- BBC micro:bit
- Calliope mini
- Plug computer
Further reading
- Raspberry Pi For Dummies; Sean McManus and Mike Cook; 2013; ISBN 978-1118554210.
- Getting Started with Raspberry Pi; Matt Richardson and Shawn Wallace; 2013; ISBN 978-1449344214.
- Raspberry Pi User Guide; Eben Upton and Gareth Halfacree; 2014; ISBN 978-1118921661.
- Hello Raspberry Pi!; Ryan Heitz; 2016; ISBN 978-1617292453.
- The Official Raspberry Pi Beginner's Guide; Gareth Halfacree; 2023; ISBN 978-1912047260.
External links
- Raspberry Pi, Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge
- Raspberry Pi Wiki, supported by the RPF
- The MagPi Magazine
- "Raspberry Pi pinout" – board GPIO pinout
- "Raspberry Pi component map"
- "RaspberryPi Boards: Hardware versions/revisions"
- ARM1176JZF-S (ARM11 CPU Core) Technical Reference Manual, ARM Ltd.
References
- Rory Cellan-Jones. A£15 computer to inspire young programmers BBC News, 5 May 2011, retrieved 12 February 2022^
- Peter Price. Can a £15 computer solve the programming gap? BBC Click, 3 June 2011, retrieved 2 July 2011^
- Steve Bush. Dongle computer lets kids discover programming on a TV