Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Visual Micro VS ESPRESSObin

Compare Visual Micro VS ESPRESSObin and see what are their differences

Visual Micro logo Visual Micro

Arduino IDE for Visual Studio and Atmel Studio

ESPRESSObin logo ESPRESSObin

Electronics, Single Board Computer, and x86
  • Visual Micro Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-30
  • ESPRESSObin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-01-30

Visual Micro features and specs

  • Integration with Microsoft Visual Studio
    Visual Micro integrates with Microsoft Visual Studio, allowing users to leverage the powerful features and familiar interface of a professional development environment while working on Arduino projects.
  • Advanced Debugging Features
    It offers advanced debugging capabilities beyond what traditional Arduino IDE provides, such as breakpoints, variable watches, and real-time data tracking, which can greatly enhance the development process.
  • Support for Multiple Boards
    Visual Micro supports a wide range of Arduino boards and compatible devices, making it versatile for various project requirements and allowing developers to work seamlessly across different hardware.
  • Extensive Library Management
    The tool provides comprehensive library management features, making it easier to find, install, and update libraries directly within the development environment.

Possible disadvantages of Visual Micro

  • Complexity for Beginners
    Due to its integration with Visual Studio, the interface may be overwhelming for beginners who are not familiar with complex IDEs, possibly steepening the learning curve.
  • Requires Visual Studio Installation
    Using Visual Micro necessitates having Microsoft Visual Studio installed, which could be a downside for users looking for lightweight or standalone Arduino development solutions.
  • Paid Features
    Some advanced features of Visual Micro are only available in the paid version, which may not be ideal for hobbyists or those looking for completely free tools.
  • Platform Limitations
    As a Windows-based solution requiring Visual Studio, it limits users who work on other operating systems like macOS or Linux from utilizing its features.

ESPRESSObin features and specs

  • Cost-Effective
    The ESPRESSObin is relatively affordable compared to other development boards with similar capabilities, making it an accessible option for hobbyists and developers.
  • High Performance
    Equipped with a Marvell Armada 3700 Dual-Core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, the ESPRESSObin offers good processing power for networking and storage applications.
  • Versatile Connectivity
    The board includes multiple connectivity options such as Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB 3.0, SATA interfaces, and PCIe, enabling a variety of use cases including NAS and routing applications.
  • Open Source Support
    The ESPRESSObin supports a variety of open-source operating systems, including Linux distributions, which allows for flexibility and customization.
  • Power Efficiency
    The board is designed to be power-efficient, which is beneficial for continuous operation, especially in network-attached storage and server roles.

Possible disadvantages of ESPRESSObin

  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to more popular boards like Raspberry Pi, the ESPRESSObin has a smaller community, which can result in limited support and fewer shared resources or projects.
  • Complex Setup
    Setting up the ESPRESSObin can be more complex and may require technical knowledge, particularly for users who are new to development boards.
  • Firmware and Software Updates
    Users might experience less frequent firmware and software updates, which can impact long-term usability and security.
  • Limited Documentation
    Although documentation exists, it may not be as comprehensive as that for more mainstream boards, potentially making troubleshooting more difficult.
  • Size and Form Factor
    The ESPRESSObin might be larger than other development boards, limiting its use in projects requiring compact or portable solutions.

Visual Micro videos

Visual Micro Tutorials #1: Setup

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Visual Micro Tutorials #5: Advanced Arduino Debugging

ESPRESSObin videos

EspressoBin Ultra First Look Review

More videos:

  • Review - EspressoBin Review!
  • Review - #168 The EspressoBin: Something completely different? // Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Visual Micro and ESPRESSObin)
IDE
100 100%
0% 0
Electronics
31 31%
69% 69
Single Board Computer
0 0%
100% 100
Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Visual Micro and ESPRESSObin. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ESPRESSObin seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. 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.

Visual Micro mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Visual Micro yet. Tracking of Visual Micro recommendations started around Mar 2021.

ESPRESSObin mentions (3)

  • A good low power ARM SBC for running an (S)FTP server?
    You should definitly check Odroid SBCs their sbcs are super power efficient also. also look into http://espressobin.net/ its a cpu designed for nas uses so will be good for ftp server. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Who OEMs the lower-end "White Box" appliances?
    The SG-2100, SG-3100 and SG-6100 come from Silicom. The SG-1100 is a variation of a Marvell ESPRESSObin. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Building a 2tb wireless hdd
    Question is how much do you want to spend on extra hardware. For example BPI-M2 Ultra has additional SATA port and you'll only need cable or sth like Marvell ESPRESSObin. Source: about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Visual Micro and ESPRESSObin, you can also consider the following products

Arduino IDE - Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware...

Intel NUC - Intel NUCs are available as Kits(Barebones), Boards(Mainbaord only) and as perconfigured Mini-PCs.

PlatformIO - Next-generation IDE for IoT

Intel NUC boards - Four-by-four inch Intel NUC boards come with a soldered-on processor.

Visuino - Visuino is a visual programming environment that lets you write programs from Arduino circuit boards.

esp32 - A very cheap small chip, compatible with Arduino.