An Introduction to Beagles

Getting started with Linux

Most Beagles have on-board flash preconfigured to run Linux. These resources will get you started quickly.

Getting started with Zephyr

Our Zephyr-enabled boards ship with a build of Micropython and, in the future, will also ship with a BeagleConnect Greybus node service for quick, transparent access from any BeagleConnect Greybus host enabled system.

Getting started with embedded systems

An embedded system is a computer designed not to look like a computer. That is, it is designed to work like an applicance, doing what you need when you need it, rather than sitting around trying to get your attention and begging to be told what to do.

An embedded system is built around a computer, but adds additional sensors and actuators to do a task, like make toast or get you to work on time along using the freeway. We don’t typically call these things computers. Instead, we call them “toasters” or “cars”. At the heart of these machines is often a programmable computer, though it might not be programmable by you.

At BeagleBoard.org, we seek to enable you to make embedded systems of your own, rather than relying on other people to make them for you. You could call it DIY, or do-it-yourself, but the reality is more DIT, or do-it-together. The skills and tools to build an embedded system are very complicated and the fundamental manufacturing tools are very expensive, so we need to work together to build even the simplest of embedded systems.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with building a dumb toaster, it might even be preferred. However, if you are building a smart toaster, you might want it to obey you, rather than someone 50,000 km away.