Introduction

Since its launch in 2012, Raspberry Pi has become one of the most popular micro single-board computers in the world. Originally, the goal of Raspberry Pi was to provide an affordable computing platform for students in schools and developing countries to promote computer science education. However, with its low cost, compact size, and powerful functionality, Raspberry Pi quickly surpassed the educational field and is widely used in various areas such as electronic projects, the Internet of Things, robotics, and industrial automation.

This article will provide a comprehensive introduction to the development of Raspberry Pi, delve into the latest Raspberry Pi 5, and detail the various operating systems that can run on it.

1. What is Raspberry Pi?

Raspberry Pi is a credit card-sized microcomputer developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the UK. It has full computer functionality, including:

·Processor (CPU)

·Memory (RAM)

·Graphics Processor (GPU)

·USB Ports

·Network Interfaces (Ethernet and Wi-Fi)

·Video Output (HDMI)

·Audio Output

Users only need to add power, a storage card, a display, and input devices (keyboard, mouse) to use it as a fully functional computer.

Main Features:

·Low Cost: Affordable price, suitable for education and personal projects.

·Compact and Portable: Small size, easy to carry and deploy.

·Powerful Functionality: Supports multiple programming languages and operating systems, with capabilities comparable to traditional computers.

2. Development History of Raspberry Pi

1. Raspberry Pi 1 (2012)

·Processor: 700MHz Single-Core ARM1176JZF-S

·Memory: 256MB or 512MB

·Features: As the first-generation product, it was mainly used for educational purposes, meeting the needs of basic programming learning and simple projects.

2. Raspberry Pi 2 (2015)

·Processor: 900MHz Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A7

·Memory: 1GB

·Features: Significant performance improvement, supporting more complex applications and multitasking, expanding the application range of Raspberry Pi.

3. Raspberry Pi 3 (2016)

·Processor: 1.2GHz Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A53

·Built-in Features: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1

·Features: First-time integration of wireless connectivity, convenient for developing IoT and wireless communication projects.

4. Raspberry Pi 4 (2019)

·Processor: 1.5GHz Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A72

·Memory Options: 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB

·Features::

o Supports Dual 4K@60Hz HDMI Display Output

o Provides USB 3.0 Ports for faster data transfer

o Gigabit Ethernet, improving network speed

o USB-C Power Port, improves power management and stability

3. Latest Raspberry Pi 5

1. Overview

Raspberry Pi 5 was released in September 2023 and is the most powerful Raspberry Pi to date. It brings significant hardware upgrades and new features, further broadening its application areas, giving it greater potential in high-performance computing and professional applications.

2. Main Features

·More Powerful Processor:

o 2.4GHz Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A76 (Broadcom BCM2712 SoC)

o Performance improved by about 2-3 times

·Faster Storage:

o Supports eMMC flash storage modules (optional), providing higher storage speed and reliability

o PCIe 2.0 x1 interface: Expandable high-speed storage devices (like NVMe SSD) via external connectors

·Enhanced Connectivity:

o USB Ports: Retains two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 Ports

o Network Connections:

§ Gigabit Ethernet Port, independent bandwidth, enhancing network performance

§ Integrated 2.4GHz/5GHz Dual-Band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)

§ Bluetooth 5.0, improving wireless connection speed and range

·Dual Screen Support:

o Supports Dual 4K@60Hz HDMI Display Output

o Suitable for multimedia playback, digital signage, and multi-screen display applications

·Improved Power Management:

o Adopts a more efficient USB-C PD power management system

o Supports higher power supply, meeting the needs of external devices

·Other Improvements:

o Improved GPIO: Retains 40-pin GPIO interface, adds new features, and offers better compatibility

o RTC Real-Time Clock: Adds support for real-time clock (requires external battery)

o Case and Cooling: Officially provides a newly designed case, improving cooling performance to ensure stable operation

3. Application Areas

The performance enhancement and new features of Raspberry Pi 5 make it suitable for more professional and high-performance demand areas:

· Desktop Replacement: A smoother desktop experience, can be used as a daily computer

· Edge Computing and AI: Stronger processing power, suitable for running machine learning, data analysis, and artificial intelligence tasks

· Industrial Automation: Improved stability and scalability, suitable for industrial control, monitoring, and data collection

· Media Center: Supports high-resolution video output, suitable for home theater, digital signage, and multimedia playback

4. Detailed Explanation of Operating Systems Installable on Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi supports various operating systems to meet the needs of different users. Below is a detailed introduction to commonly used operating systems:

1. Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian)

· Overview: Officially recommended operating system, based on Debian

· Features:

o Optimized Performance: Specifically optimized for Raspberry Pi hardware, providing the best performance and stability

o User-Friendly Interface: Features a lightweight PIXEL desktop environment

o Pre-installed Software: Includes educational and programming tools such as Python, Scratch, as well as office and multimedia applications

· Target Audience: Beginners, educators, and general users

2. Ubuntu

· Overview: A popular Linux distribution provided by Canonical, supporting Raspberry Pi desktop and server versions

· Features:

o Wide Software Support: Has a large number of packages and an active community

o Latest Technologies: Timely updates, providing the latest software and features

o Long-Term Support Versions: Provides up to five years of security updates

· Target Audience: Developers, server administrators, and advanced users

3. Manjaro ARM

· Overview: User-friendly distribution based on Arch Linux

· Features:

o Rolling Updates: Continuously receives the latest software and features

o Diverse Desktop Environments: Offers choices like KDE, XFCE, MATE, etc.

· Target Audience: Advanced users who enjoy trying new technologies

4. Kali Linux

· Overview: An operating system designed for network security and penetration testing

· Features::

o Pre-installed Security Tools: Includes Nmap, Wireshark, Metasploit, etc.

o Highly Customizable: Can add or remove tools as needed

· Target Audience: Network security professionals and students

5. LibreELEC and OSMC

· Overview: Media center operating systems based on Kodi

· LibreELEC:

o Features: Lightweight, focused on running Kodi

· OSMC:

o Features: Based on Debian, supports more external programs

· Target Audience: Users who want to use Raspberry Pi as a media center

6. RetroPie, Recalbox, and Lakka

· Overview: Operating systems for retro gaming, integrating multiple emulators

· RetroPie:

o Features: Highly customizable, supports a large number of gaming systems

· Recalbox:

o Features: Plug and play, user-friendly interface

· Lakka:

o Features: Game console-like interface, optimized performance

· Target Audience: Retro gaming enthusiasts

7. Windows 10 IoT Core

· Overview: A streamlined version of Windows developed by Microsoft for IoT devices

· Features::

o UWP App Support: Can develop and run Universal Windows Platform applications

o Development Tools: Integrated with Visual Studio

· Target Audience: IoT developers who need to use the Microsoft tech stack

8. DietPi

· Overview: A lightweight operating system based on Debian

· Features::

o Low Resource Usage: Optimizes memory and storage usage

o Easy to Deploy: Provides software installation scripts for easy server and service deployment

· Target Audience: Users who need to run specific services efficiently

9. Arch Linux ARM

· Overview: Arch Linux distribution for ARM architecture

· Features::

o Minimalism: Users install and configure software themselves

o Latest Software Packages: Rolling updates provide the latest stable software

· Target Audience: Experienced Linux users

10. Gentoo

· Overview: Highly configurable source-based distribution

· Features::

o Optimized Performance: Maximizes performance through compilation options

o Highly Customizable: Complete control over the system build process

· Target Audience: Advanced users with high demands for performance and customization

11. Fedora IoT

· Overview: IoT version provided by the Fedora project

· Features::

o High Security: Uses security technologies like SELinux

o Container Support: Good support for containerization

· Target Audience: IoT developers needing high security and containerized applications

12. BalenaOS

· Overview: Operating system designed for containerized applications

· Features::

o Containerization: Based on Docker, facilitates deployment and management of containers

o Remote Management: Integrates with BalenaCloud, supports remote updates and monitoring

· Target Audience: Enterprises and developers needing to manage IoT devices at scale

13. OpenWrt

· Overview: Highly customizable Linux distribution for embedded devices

· Features::

o Powerful Networking Capabilities: Supports advanced routing and network protocols

o Customizability: Install needed functionalities through the package manager

· Target Audience: Users needing to run routers or network services

14. Alpine Linux

· Overview: Lightweight Linux distribution based on musl libc and BusyBox

· Features::

o High Security: Multiple security features enabled by default

o Small Size: Suitable for containers and embedded systems

· Target Audience: Users needing high security and lightweight systems

15. Tiny Core Linux

· Overview: Extremely small Linux distribution, core system only a few MB

· Features::

o Extremely Lightweight: Minimal system resource usage

o Modular: Users can add needed components

· Target Audience: Users with extremely low system resource requirements

5. Conclusion

Raspberry Pi has evolved from an initial educational tool into a powerful multi-purpose platform. The latest Raspberry Pi 5 offers significant performance improvements and a wealth of new features, supporting a wider range of application areas. Whether you are a beginner, developer, educator, or a professional engineer and network security personnel, you will find an operating system and application scenario that suits you.

Thank you for reading! If you have any questions or thoughts about Raspberry Pi, feel free to leave a comment.