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The Pico is a microcontroller, typically programmed directly "to the metal" using either your own code or RPi's SDKs. It is very different from the regular Pi boards, which are single-board computers that run a full Linux using gigabytes of RAM. The Pico has 264 KB (original) of RAM, or a massive 520 KB on the Pico 2.

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singularity2001 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

So it’s basically like one of those Arduino boards that you can get clones from China for a few cents?

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keiferski 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Sounds like the types of projects I can make with a Pico will be rather limited if I am a beginner. Thanks!

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JohnVideogames 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

The Pi Pico W 2 can run micropython, which is a reasonably limited and fun version of python that is accessible for beginners. If the types of projects you have in mind will involve reading simple sensors, turning on lights / speakers / beepers, or responding to buttons then you'll have a good time!

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sokoloff 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

That's not necessarily a bad thing. If you want to build a blinking LED thing, a USB controller, or similar small IoT thing, I find microcontrollers to be easier and more natural than running an entire Linux single-board-computer to do it.

I might break it down as: if you know C/C++, I'd start with a microcontroller [Arduino, ESP32, RP2040/2350, etc]; if you know Python, there are still micros that run it, but a full Pi might be an easier starting point for you. (Either way, if you end up doing this for more than a year, you're going to eventually do both...)

Don't think of the microcontroller storage specs in relation to a modern PC. I use an EV CAN diagnostics tool that runs on an ATmega328 (32K of program storage and 2K of RAM).

	▲	sowbug 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		For perspective, the original Apple II computer typically had 48KB RAM, a 140KB floppy disk, and a 1MHz CPU. Yet it ran VisiCalc (the first popular spreadsheet program), Bank Street Writer (a marvelously easy-to-use word processor), and plenty of now-classic video games. Few (except maybe dmitrygr!) would recommend a microcontroller today if your goal were to build a spreadsheet or word processor app. But you'd be amazed how much business logic you can stuff into such a small space, as long as your requirements are focused.

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hasbot 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Your knowledge will be the limiting factor. For the same price though you can get an Adafruit Trinket (https://www.adafruit.com/product/1501) which has a lot of potential.