Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Microbit VS DIY.org

Compare Microbit VS DIY.org and see what are their differences

Microbit logo Microbit

BBC's handheld, programmable computer given free to UK kids

DIY.org logo DIY.org

Any kid anywhere can learn any skill.
  • Microbit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04
  • DIY.org Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-20

Microbit features and specs

  • Educational Tool
    Micro:bit is designed as an educational tool to teach coding and basic electronics, making it accessible for students, educators, and beginners.
  • Ease of Use
    The Micro:bit platform offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop coding environment with support for block-based languages like Microsoft MakeCode and text-based languages such as Python and JavaScript.
  • Affordability
    Micro:bit is relatively inexpensive compared to other microcontroller platforms, making it accessible for schools and hobbyists with limited budgets.
  • Wide Range of Features
    It includes sensors, LEDs, buttons, and communication capabilities such as Bluetooth, enabling a variety of creative projects without needing additional hardware.
  • Community Support
    Micro:bit has a large and active community, offering extensive resources, tutorials, and support for new users.

Possible disadvantages of Microbit

  • Limited Processing Power
    Micro:bit has limited processing capabilities compared to more advanced microcontrollers, which can restrict complex computations and multitasking abilities.
  • Limited Memory
    The device has a small amount of RAM and storage, which can limit the size and complexity of programs that can be run on it.
  • Peripheral Expansion
    While it includes several inbuilt features, additional interfacing and peripheral expansion require extra hardware and can be more complex than with other platforms.
  • Small Display
    Micro:bit's small 5x5 LED matrix, while useful for basic output, is limited in its display capabilities and unsuitable for detailed visual information.
  • Limited Power Supply Options
    The power supply options for Micro:bit are somewhat limited, which can affect its use in mobile or long-term battery-powered projects without enhancements.

DIY.org features and specs

  • Creative Skills Development
    DIY.org offers a platform where kids can engage in creative projects that span various interests such as arts, science, and technology, encouraging the development of a wide range of skills.
  • Safe Online Community
    The platform provides a safe environment for kids with strong community guidelines and privacy measures ensuring child safety online.
  • Encourages Independence
    By completing activities and projects on their own, children learn to be self-governing and develop a sense of accomplishment.
  • Variety of Content
    DIY.org has an extensive catalog of varied content and challenges that cater to different interests and skill levels, keeping the experience fresh and engaging.
  • User-Generated Content
    Kids can contribute their own project ideas and share them with their peers, fostering creativity and peer learning.

Possible disadvantages of DIY.org

  • Subscription Cost
    Access to some features and content on DIY.org requires a subscription fee, which may not be affordable for all families.
  • Parental Oversight Needed
    Despite safety measures, parents may need to actively oversee the platform use to ensure their children are engaging appropriately.
  • Requires Internet Access
    The platform's reliance on an internet connection can be a limitation for users with limited or no access to reliable online connectivity.
  • Screen Time Concerns
    Encouraging kids to engage with the platform might increase their screen time, which some parents might find concerning.
  • Potential for Overwhelming Content
    The variety of content might be overwhelming for some users, making it difficult to choose activities that are most suited to their interests or abilities.

Microbit videos

No Microbit videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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DIY.org videos

Introduction to diy.org

More videos:

  • Review - DIY.org Presentation - Why this is great in a classroom
  • Review - DIY.org first impressions - Day 599 | ActOutGames

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microbit and DIY.org)
Kids Education
100 100%
0% 0
Education
65 65%
35% 35
Kids
0 0%
100% 100
Software Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Microbit and DIY.org

Microbit Reviews

16 Scratch Alternatives
Founded in 2016, Microbit Portal is an online education-based organization in the UK that can help numerous users gain knowledge of the This platform can let its users have the education of creating software and hardware so they can have the excitement of seeking technology. It can even permit clients to access the easy-to-use educational resources, as it can support...

DIY.org Reviews

We have no reviews of DIY.org yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Microbit seems to be a lot more popular than DIY.org. While we know about 21 links to Microbit, we've tracked only 1 mention of DIY.org. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Microbit mentions (21)

  • Impl Snake For Micro:bit - Embedded async Rust on BBC Micro:bit with Embassy
    The BBC Micro:bit is a small educational board. It is equipped with an ARM Cortex-M4F nRF52833 microcontroller, a 5โจ‰5 LED matrix, 3 buttons (one of which is touch-sensitive), a microphone, a speaker, Bluetooth capabilities, and much more. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • A 15 pound computer to inspire young programmers (2011)
    [Disclaimer: I work at the BBC.] ...later on, the BBC made[0] the micro:bit[1], another ยฃ15 (well, around ยฃ15 back then for the V1) computer to inspire young programmers. Funny to think that little did the BBC know that they'd be creating their own cheap computer. [0]: Well, the BBC didn't _make_ it exactly โ€” rather, the development and manufacturing was subcontracted to third-party companies (though some people... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • And DigTech teachers willing to share?
    Https://microbit.org/ are really good in my experience too, maybe a little bit dated now and they seem to have lost momentum, but they're super cheap and providing something physical that you can actually code is pretty exciting to a lot of kids. Source: about 3 years ago
  • google developed course on Rust
    Comprehensive Rust ๐Ÿฆ€: Bare-Metal: a 1-day class on how to use Rust for bare-metal development. You will learn what no_std is and see how you can write firmware for microcontrollers (a micro:bit) and well as how to write drivers for a more powerful application processor (using Qemu). Source: about 3 years ago
  • Sony backs Raspberry Pi with fresh funding, access to A.I. chips
    Kids in the UK (and elsewhere?) can access the Micro:bit computer[0], while not the same and powerful/extendable as R Pi - it is cheap, good and plenty available. It includes a LED display and motion sensor. Kids can program it using "block coding", or write Python code that runs with the help of MicroPython[1]. [0] https://microbit.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
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DIY.org mentions (1)

  • [TOMT][VIDEO][2010s] 3D Animation with a group of children(?) who are scouts or an outdoorsy troupe, taking place in the woods on a big tree
    And the organization in question (it changed a lot since 2018): Https://diy.org/. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microbit and DIY.org, you can also consider the following products

Scratch - Scratch is the programming language & online community where young people create stories, games, & animations.

Traverse - Barcoding solution for small to midsize businesses

CodeCombat - Learn programming with a multiplayer live coding strategy game.

Primer Rooms - Live, interactive experiences with kids around the world

Raspberry Pi - The Raspberry Pi is a tiny and affordable computer that you can use to learn programming through fun, practical projects. Join the global Raspberry Pi community.

Prisma LIVE - A live learning platform purpose-built for kids