There are a bunch of boards you can use to program your project, ranging from an Attiny85, Arduino uno, to a Raspberry Pi Pico. Which one is best suited for your project depends entirely on what you are trying to do. For a simple project containing a repetitive program, you could use the Attiny85 (which does not have a built-in) programmer, while for a more complicated project, you could use anything more advanced.
Think of them as mini brains.
The first step in choosing the perfect board for your project is to identify the amount of pins you want to use, and use a corresponding board
Think of these programmer boards as mini brains, the dumbest like the Attiny85 could compare to a “ant-brain”, while something like the the Raspberry Pi would be a “octopus-brain”
Dumb-Boards
ATtiny85: The Ant Brain. This is the simplest brain in the bunch, best for tiny, repetitive tasks like blinking an LED or reading a single button. It has only 8 pins (with 5-6 usable for your project), making it perfect for “set it and forget it” hardware. However, it lacks a built-in programmer, so you’ll need an external device such as an UNO do program it.
Arduino Nano: The Goldfish Brain. A step up in memory and capability, the Nano is great for small-scale automation like a digital thermometer. It features about 22 usable pins and includes a built-in USB programmer, so you can plug it straight into your laptop. It’s small, reliable, but strictly for simple, linear logic.
Arduino UNO: The Larger Goldfish. This brain has the exact same processing power as the Nano but lives in a much larger body. It’s the standard choice for beginners because its 20 pins are easy to plug wires into without soldering. Like the Nano, it has a built-in programmer and is meant for projects like basic robotics or home security alarms.
Smarter-Boards
D1 Mini (ESP8266): The Crow Brain. Now we’re getting into “smart” territory. This board is clever because it has built-in Wi-Fi, allowing your project to talk to the internet. While it has fewer pins (~11 GPIO) than an Arduino, it’s much faster. It includes a built-in programmer and is the go-to for simple IoT projects like a smart light switch.
Raspberry Pi Pico: The Squirrel Brain. This board is quick, agile, and great at multitasking thanks to its dual-core processor. With 26 multipurpose pins, it’s perfect for complex logic like controlling a 3D printer or a drone. It has a built-in programmer (via USB) and offers a massive jump in speed compared to the Arduino family.
Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 Zero: The Miniature Squirrel. This brain has the exact same high-speed “intelligence” as the standard Pico but is shrunk down to the size of a postage stamp. It’s meant for high-performance projects where space is extremely limited. It has a built-in programmer but exposes fewer pins (about 20) due to its tiny size.
ESP-WROOM-32 (ESP32): The Border Collie Brain. This is one of the most capable microcontrollers available. It’s a dual-core powerhouse with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and about 30+ pins. It has a built-in programmer and can handle very complex tasks like audio processing, hosting a small web server, or managing a complex mesh of sensors simultaneously.
Raspberry Pi Zero W: The Octopus Brain. This is the smartest brain on the list because it isn’t just a microcontroller—it’s a full computer that runs Linux. Like an octopus, it can handle many complex “limbs” at once using its 40 pins. It has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and is used for heavy-duty projects like retro gaming consoles, media servers, or AI-based security cameras.