Arduino IDE on Raspberry Pi Zero W

[spaceman5]

Hi all


I ordered RPi Zero W and Zero v1.3, and they are on their way.


I am curious to ask:
Does the Arduino IDE come preinstalled on the Raspbian image that we download from this URL?:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/


If it's not preinstalled already, can the Arduino IDE be installed and run well on Raspbian?
(does it matter if it's RPi Zero, or RPi 4, etc? or if it runs well on one it runs well on all RPi boards?)


I found this on Arduino's Download page:


https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software


I hope there are people here who tried it and can say if it works well..


Thank you all

[fruitoftheloom]

Hi all


I ordered RPi Zero W and Zero v1.3, and they are on their way.


I am curious to ask:
Does the Arduino IDE come preinstalled on the Raspbian image that we download from this URL?:
https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/


If it's not preinstalled already, can the Arduino IDE be installed and run well on Raspbian?
(does it matter if it's RPi Zero, or RPi 4, etc? or if it runs well on one it runs well on all RPi boards?)


I found this on Arduino's Download page:


I hope there are people here who tried it and can say if it works well..


Thank you all

Raspbian Buster

Code: Select all

sudo apt update
sudo apt install arduino

[davidcoton]

What fotl said.

If that fails (it should not), remember the Zero is 32 bits, not 64.

[spaceman5]

Thank you very much fruitoftheloom.


You wrote Raspbian Buster,
only Buster? or Raspbian in general - all versions before it?

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sudo apt update
sudo apt install arduino

Thank you for that

If that fails (it should not), remember the Zero is 32 bits, not 64.

Oh..
Didn't know that the Zero and Zero W are 32bit SoCs..
Thanks

[rpdom]

Thank you very much fruitoftheloom.


You wrote Raspbian Buster,
only Buster? or Raspbian in general - all versions before it?

Earlier versions of Raspbian will have the arduino package too, but older versions of it.

Generally it is recommended that you run Buster to use the most recent code available.

[spaceman5]

I see.

BTW, this will be a GUI IDE right?
And not just a Command Line compiler..

[Gavinmc42]

Arduino IDE ARM 64bit runs well on Gentoo64 and Arduino ARM 32 on Buster 32 on Pi4's.

Is there a reason you want it to run on Zero's?
I ran it years ago on a B+, that's slower than a Zero.
Raspbian Wheezy I think back then.
Used it on Stretch and 3B's.

And yep that 64bit version won't run on Zero's or another BCM2835 SoC Pi's.

[hippy]

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sudo apt update
sudo apt install arduino

As I keep saying every time you post that - don't do that; it will install an ancient version of the Arduino IDE.

Instead -

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cd ~
wget https://downloads.arduino.cc/arduino-1.8.9-linuxarm.tar.xz
tar -xvf arduino-1.8.9-linuxarm.tar.xz
cd arduino-1.8.9
sudo ./install.sh

From the Pi desktop; select the Start Menu, Programming, and click on the Arduino IDE option.

[neilgl]

It might be tricky on a pizero as it only has one microUSB port. So you may need an additional USB powered hub. And a miniHDMI to HDMI adapter.

[SueGeo]

I see.

BTW, this will be a GUI IDE right?
And not just a Command Line compiler..

Yes, GUI. It's working fine on my 3b+.

[spaceman5]

Don't do that; it will install an ancient version of the Arduino IDE.

Instead -

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cd ~
wget https://downloads.arduino.cc/arduino-1.8.9-linuxarm.tar.xz
tar -xvf arduino-1.8.9-linuxarm.tar.xz
cd arduino-1.8.9
sudo ./install.sh

From the Pi desktop; select the Start Menu, Programming, and click on the Arduino IDE option.

Oh, Ok then..
Thank you

Yes, GUI. It's working fine on my 3b+.

Great

It might be tricky on a pi zero, as it only has one microUSB port.
So you may need an additional USB powered hub. And a miniHDMI to HDMI adapter.

Actually If you connect to your Pi Zero from another computer (e.g. your Desktop computer) using VNC, then you don't need the HDMI cable..

Regarding Powered Hub, I think it depends on what you do with the Arduino..
If the Arduino board and surrounding components that you connect to it consume little current (e.g. less than 100mA),
I believe the RPi Zero's USB should handle it well..
(probably upto 500mA, like the USB Standard, I assume)

Is there a reason you want it to run on Zero's?
I ran it years ago on a B+, that's slower than a Zero.

Well, I don't know how slow it will be yet,
the Zero (and Zero W) have an advantage of being small, and not require any fan on the SoC..
(I will put a heatsink of course),
that's why I will try with the Zero W..


If it's slow then I'll move to another board.. (and probably buy a big heatsink and a fan)

[hippy]

I see.

BTW, this will be a GUI IDE right?
And not just a Command Line compiler..

Yes, GUI. It's working fine on my 3b+.

I have just tested the 'download and install' 1.8.9 version on a Pi Zero W running Buster, using the instructions provided earlier.

It is quite slow, rather laggy, but does seem to work.

[spaceman5]

Thank you hippy..

The slowness is only when doing compilation,
or even in light CPU work such as text editing?


In that case should I go for the RPi 4B?

I was hoping I can do it with the Zero W,
since the Zero W is much cooler, and a fan is not required on it..

[PeterO]

Do you also turn water into wine and walk on water ?

Do not tell me what to do, you are not a moderator !

Calm down.
The version in the Raspbian repo is indeed still 1.0.5 which qualifies as ancient compared with the current version 1.8.9
PeterO

[hippy]

The slowness is only when doing compilation,
or even in light CPU work such as text editing?

Text editing seemed reasonable. It is mostly compiling, particularly if board type is changed when it has to rebuild everything.

The Zeroes are quite slow relatively speaking so it comes with the territory.

Good news as a passing note, though slightly off-topic, the Aduino IDE configured to use the PiDuino framework for Pi B+/2 compiles native executables for the Zero but I haven't exhaustively tested that.

In that case should I go for the RPi 4B?

A Pi 3B, 3B+ or 4B should be satisfactory, and I guess a Pi 2 1.2 version.

[spaceman5]

The version in the Raspbian repo is indeed still 1.0.5 which qualifies as ancient compared with the current version 1.8.9

Does the repo contain the old verion for some good reason, or someone just did not update it for a long time?

There is one advantage with old versions of the IDE, and it is that they are lighter.
I myself still use Arduino IDE v1.0.3 on my Windows
The reason I do it is becuase I never switched to the newer boards by the Arduino Foundation.
I only use Nano, Pro Mini, Mega 2560...
And the IDE is really light..
The newer IDE versions that support the new boards became bloated, and I don't like it.

Whenever you have an application that when you load it you get a "Splash screen" that stays too much,
it means that this application got ruined.
(that's my opinion)

Text editing seemed reasonable. It is mostly compiling, particularly if board type is changed when it has to rebuild everything.

If you change board type from B1 to B2, compile something, and then change back from B2 to B1,
will it rebuild everything again? or it keeps what was already built, for board types that were used before?

The Aduino IDE configured to use the PiDuino framework for Pi B+/2 compiles native executables for the Zero but I haven't exhaustively tested that.

Terrific

A Pi 3B, 3B+ or 4B should be satisfactory

Those have quite hot SoCs..
So a fan will be required..

[neilgl]

Ah, for me it is slow running it via VNCviewer on a PC (i7) - even with encryption turned off - for typing, moving mouse etc.
If you have a PC, why not just run the Arduino IDE on that (1.8.9)? Or a pi3 - no fan needed.

[PeterO]

Whenever you have an application that when you load it you get a "Splash screen" that stays too much,
it means that this application got ruined.
(that's my opinion)

What a strange criteria to use as a basis for your choice of software.
PeterO

[spaceman5]

Ah, for me it is slow running it via VNCviewer on a PC - even with encryption turned off - for typing, moving mouse etc.

Wow..
OK I guess I am going to find out soon, once the boards I ordered will arrive.

What a strange criteria to use as a basis for your choice of software.

[scruss]

Do not tell me what to do, you are not a moderator !

Yes, but please don't jump in with a first recommending the Raspbian arduino package. It's many years out of date and almost useless. I know you're just trying to help, but if you were actively developing on Arduino you wouldn't wish that Raspbian package on anyone. The download from the arduino.cc website actually works with current Arduino hardware, unlike the other one.

[PhatFil]

I find vnc fine when needed to access my headless pi-0-w systems and a gui interface.

the arduino ide should work fine via vnc, its not as if many folk speed type when coding, (tv hackers excluded of course..) its either cut n paste or ponderous typing usually But if you do type at speed typist rates you may have some keyboard lag to contend with..

Compiling will take a longer but unless your working with huge multi file projects I doubt it will be a major pita.

Only thing that may be an issue is iirc? some folk have reported that hot plugging usb devices in a running pi-0 can cause a system restart. If so work with it, just ensure you save things power off plug in the arduino etc....

have fun,

[spaceman5]

Thanks for that info..

some folk have reported that hot plugging usb devices in a running pi-0 can cause a system restart.
If so work with it, just ensure you save things power off plug in the arduino etc....

Oh no..
That only happens with the Pi Zero (and Pi Zero W)?
If it doesnt' happen with other RPi boards, I wonder why it happens ont he Zero (and cannot be fixed..)

Also, do you know if it happens when you connect a USB Device, or disconnect it?

[hippy]

Does the repo contain the old verion for some good reason, or someone just did not update it for a long time?

I would guess; that's what Debian provides, so that's what Raspbian provides. Raspbian mostly follows Debian's policy of going for stable apps over cutting-edge which may be reason. Or maybe not. I don't know.

There is one advantage with old versions of the IDE, and it is that they are lighter.

Not always, or significantly, and the disadvantages are that bugs won't have been fixed, new capabilities won't have been added, and anyone on the later versions won't always be able to help someone using an earlier version.

The Arduino IDE is based around Java and it seems a hefty weight anyway. I am surprised no one has rewritten that so it really is lightweight. But it is what it is and it works, and it's not really a problem on fast enough computers.

I myself still use Arduino IDE v1.0.3 on my Windows
The reason I do it is becuase I never switched to the newer boards by the Arduino Foundation.

I was going to say you may be absolutely fine with the installable version then, try that and the latest version, see which you prefer. But when I tried to install the apt-get version that failed on my Zero W -

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Processing triggers for man-db (2.8.5-2) ...
Processing triggers for ca-certificates (20190110) ...
Updating certificates in /etc/ssl/certs...
0 added, 0 removed; done.
Running hooks in /etc/ca-certificates/update.d...

Error occurred during initialization of VM                        <===
Server VM is only supported on ARMv7+ VFP                         <===
E: /etc/ca-certificates/update.d/jks-keystore exited with code 1. <===
done.
Processing triggers for shared-mime-info (1.10-1) ...
Processing triggers for fontconfig (2.13.1-2) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 ca-certificates-java
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)
[email protected]:~ $ 

I have previously installed that on my 3B so it seems if you want to use that you will have to go to something other than a Zero.

Whenever you have an application that when you load it you get a "Splash screen" that stays too much, it means that this application got ruined.
(that's my opinion)

I wouldn't say "ruined", and IMO it's better to have a splash screen than have nothing happen for 'an eternity' after the application has been launched.

The 1.8.9 splash screen lasts about 18 seconds on my 3B before the editor itself appears, 75 seconds on my Zero W.

If you change board type from B1 to B2, compile something, and then change back from B2 to B1, will it rebuild everything again? or it keeps what was already built, for board types that were used before?

From my limited experience it rebuilds every time. Not sure what it rebuilds. I don't really use the IDE much myself.

A Pi 3B, 3B+ or 4B should be satisfactory

Those have quite hot SoCs..
So a fan will be required..

I have never required a fan on my 3B or 3B+. It is true they idle hotter than a Zero but that's the price one has to pay; faster means hotter.

[spaceman5]

The 1.8.9 splash screen lasts about 18 seconds on my 3B before the editor itself appears, 75 seconds on my Zero W.

Oh no..
75secs.. definitely not usable..
(actually 18secs is also not usable..)
Maybe I should abandon the idea..

I have never required a fan on my 3B or 3B+. It is true they idle hotter than a Zero but that's the price one has to pay; faster means hotter.

I see.
Maybe my next board will be 3B/3B+

[PeterO]

(actually 18secs is also not usable..)
Maybe I should abandon the idea..

Sell your PI because your expectation are unrealistic. Go out and spend a lot more money otherwise you are never going to be happy.
PeterO