‹ BackHN Continuity

Thread

The newest ESP32 can run Linux and it's getting close to a Raspberry Pi

237 points · 123 comments · adunk

  1. jameshart · · focus · HN ↗
    The range of difference in capabilities of different boards branded ESP32 is getting larger. Makes it tricky to figure out when someone says ‘you can run this on an ESP32’ what level of hardware investment is required.
    1. philipallstar · · focus · HN ↗
      I am really struggling to understand what ESP32 is. I've got into adjacent things a bit recently, but haven't figured that one out yet.
      1. nkozyra · · focus · HN ↗
        They're all just single board computers, generally low-powered (literally and in the sense of capability, particularly memory)

        They're generally intended to run flashed firmware and be single-purpose. They usually come bundled with peripheral components and typically have breakouts to add more (pots, sensors, etc).

        They're great for doing one thing (though some support firmware switching), and you can build the 'software' for them pretty easily using Python or C-like variants.

        So for hobbyists they're perfect. You want a quick LED christmas display you can toggle between Rudolph and Santa from a quick network call? You want a humidity sensor in your bedroom? You want to create a networked security camera? These are the types of use cases for MCUs.

        1. ckocagil · · focus · HN ↗
          They're not single board computers. They're microcontrollers. Or rather they were until this new chip was introduced.
          1. serf · · focus · HN ↗
            >they're not single board computers.

            what's the meaningful distinction now? It isn't all SoC anymore and it has had a linux capable MMU since S3, even if it required a lot of work.

            The only real difference at this point is pure numbers, and i'm not that keen on defining microcontrollers as "those things with less ram than an SBC.", and if it's a microcontroller because it requires bare-metal flashes; well then I point to the older S3 MMU boards running busybox.

            1. ckocagil · · focus · HN ↗
              The tangible hardware difference is the MMU. S3 didn't have a proper one. This new chip does. But the biggest difference is the intent. Microcontrollers focus on peripherals and are used for interfacing, data conversion and signal processing. They're meant to run either bare metal firmware or small RTOS. OTOH microprocessors have in addition to an MMU big caches, high IPC numbers, wide bus lanes, everything you need to run different workloads as fast as possible.

              Technically a chip can excel at both.

Open on Hacker News to reply ↗

Unofficial Hacker News client; not affiliated with Y Combinator.