Stuart writes that Arduino's reputation collapsed after Qualcomm's acquisition introduced new terms of service requiring a "perpetual, irrevocable license" over user uploads. The maker community, led by Adafruit, initially reacted with outrage, but that anger has since morphed into simple apathy. Despite the company pushing new AI-powered boards and publishing content about agentic AI environments, the platform has become irrelevant in organic conversations.
- Adafruit's "Death of Arduino" graphic went viral on LinkedIn
- New boards include "Arduino Ventuno Q" with on-device processing power
- The author suspects Qualcomm is targeting corporate clients over individual hobbyists
- Competitors like Raspberry Pi Pico and ESP32 boards are gaining traction in the sub-$10 space
- Adafruit's "Death of Arduino" graphic went viral on LinkedIn
- New boards include "Arduino Ventuno Q" with on-device processing power
- The author suspects Qualcomm is targeting corporate clients over individual hobbyists
- Competitors like Raspberry Pi Pico and ESP32 boards are gaining traction in the sub-$10 space
Adafruit and the maker community are criticizing Qualcomm's new terms of service for Arduino, citing concerns about user data, reverse-engineering restrictions, and a departure from open-hardware principles. The article also details the history of Arduino and its origins in the Wiring project.
Jeff Geerling reviews the Arduino Uno Q, a Qualcomm-powered board that blends microcontroller and SBC functionality. He explores its hardware, performance, software (App Lab), and potential applications, finding it to be a unique but somewhat awkward offering in the SBC market.
Arduino and Qualcomm Technologies are joining forces to deliver more powerful technology for makers, entrepreneurs, educators, and professionals. This partnership will scale Arduino’s vision with Qualcomm’s silicon, AI, graphics, and processing capabilities, while maintaining Arduino’s commitment to openness and community.
