What is Raspberry Pi?
The Raspberry Pi is a series of small, affordable, single-board computers developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Originally designed to promote computer science education, Raspberry Pi devices have gained popularity for a wide range of applications, including DIY electronics, IoT, home automation, media centers, and even professional embedded systems.
Since its launch in 2012, Raspberry Pi has gone through multiple iterations, improving performance, power efficiency, and connectivity.
Evolution of Raspberry Pi
The Raspberry Pi was first launched in 2012 with the goal of making computing accessible and affordable for students and hobbyists. Over the years, it has transformed into a powerful, multi-purpose computer used in education, IoT, robotics, media centers, and even professional industrial applications.
Each new version brought improved performance, better connectivity, and expanded functionality. The latest Raspberry Pi 5 (2023) introduced a PCIe interface, a faster Broadcom BCM2712 SoC, and better GPU performance, making it ideal for advanced projects.
Raspberry Pi Models and Their Specifications by Year
1. Raspberry Pi 1 Series (2012-2014)
- Raspberry Pi 1 Model B (2012)
- SoC: Broadcom BCM2835 (ARM11, 700 MHz)
- RAM: 256MB (later upgraded to 512MB)
- Ports: HDMI, RCA video, 2× USB 2.0, Ethernet
- Storage: SD card
- Raspberry Pi 1 Model A (2013)
- Similar to Model B but without an Ethernet port and only one USB port
- Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+ (2014)
- Improved GPIO, more USB ports (4×), and better power consumption
- Raspberry Pi 1 Model A+ (2014)
- Lower power usage, smaller form factor
2. Raspberry Pi 2 Series (2015)
- Raspberry Pi 2 Model B
- SoC: Broadcom BCM2836 (Quad-core ARM Cortex-A7, 900 MHz)
- RAM: 1GB
- Ports: 4× USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet
- Improved performance over the Pi 1
3. Raspberry Pi 3 Series (2016-2018)
- Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (2016)
- SoC: Broadcom BCM2837 (Quad-core Cortex-A53, 1.2 GHz)
- RAM: 1GB
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1
- Faster CPU than Pi 2
- Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ (2018)
- Improved Wi-Fi (dual-band), Gigabit Ethernet (via USB 2.0)
- Slightly faster CPU (1.4 GHz)
- Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ (2018)
- Smaller and cheaper variant of the B+
4. Raspberry Pi 4 Series (2019-2022)
- Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (2019)
- SoC: Broadcom BCM2711 (Quad-core Cortex-A72, 1.5 GHz)
- RAM: 2GB, 4GB, and later 8GB versions
- USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet
- Dual micro-HDMI ports supporting 4K
- Improved thermals
- Raspberry Pi 400 (2020)
- A Raspberry Pi built into a compact keyboard
- Similar specs to Pi 4 but with better cooling
5. Raspberry Pi 5 Series (2023-Present)
- Raspberry Pi 5 Model B (2023)
- SoC: Broadcom BCM2712 (Quad-core Cortex-A76, 2.4 GHz)
- RAM: 4GB and 8GB variants
- PCIe interface for high-speed peripherals
- Faster GPU (VideoCore VII)
Other Variants
- Raspberry Pi Zero Series (2015-2021): Smaller, cheaper versions for embedded applications
- Raspberry Pi Compute Module Series: For industrial and embedded use
Raspberry Pi OS (formerly Raspbian)
Originally, the official OS for Raspberry Pi was called Raspbian, based on Debian Linux and optimized for the Raspberry Pi’s hardware. In 2020, it was rebranded as Raspberry Pi OS and continues to be the most recommended and widely used operating system for Raspberry Pi devices.
Features of Raspberry Pi OS
- Lightweight and Optimized: Tailored for Raspberry Pi’s hardware
- LXDE Desktop Environment: A lightweight UI for efficient performance
- Preinstalled Software: Includes Python, Scratch, and other educational tools
- Hardware Acceleration: Optimized for Pi’s GPU for smoother graphics and video playback
- Long-Term Support: Based on Debian, ensuring stability and security
History & Versions of Raspbian / Raspberry Pi OS
Raspbian was first introduced in 2012 as a Debian-based OS optimized for the Raspberry Pi. Over time, it has received multiple updates to improve performance, security, and compatibility with newer Raspberry Pi models.
Major Versions of Raspbian / Raspberry Pi OS
1. Raspbian (2012 – 2015)
- Initial release based on Debian 7 (Wheezy)
- Designed specifically for the ARMv6 architecture of the Raspberry Pi 1
- Included LXDE desktop environment
- Featured tools like Scratch, Python, and Wolfram Mathematica
- Support for software floating point, later replaced by hardware floating point for better performance
2. Raspbian Jessie (2015 – 2017)
- Based on Debian 8 (Jessie)
- Updated user interface (modern look, better font rendering)
- Introduced built-in Bluetooth support (for Raspberry Pi 3)
- Improved OpenGL driver for better graphics acceleration
- Switched from SysVinit to systemd (faster boot times and better process management)
3. Raspbian Stretch (2017 – 2019)
- Based on Debian 9 (Stretch)
- Improved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth stability
- More security updates (HTTPS added for repositories)
- Chromium browser added as the default web browser
- Added Pixel desktop environment (based on LXDE but with a polished UI)
4. Raspbian Buster (2019 – 2021)
- Based on Debian 10 (Buster)
- Better hardware support for Raspberry Pi 4
- Updated Thonny IDE (Python programming environment)
- Wayland and OpenGL support improved for better GUI performance
- More efficient memory management (important for 2GB and 4GB models)
5. Raspberry Pi OS (Bullseye) (2021 – 2023)
- Renamed from Raspbian to Raspberry Pi OS
- Based on Debian 11 (Bullseye)
- Major updates to camera stack, supporting newer camera modules
- Kernel and driver optimizations for better Raspberry Pi 4 performance
- Default window manager changed from Openbox to Mutter for smoother UI transitions
6. Raspberry Pi OS (Bookworm) (2023 – Present)
- Based on Debian 12 (Bookworm)
- Major UI improvements with Wayland as the default display server
- PipeWire replaces PulseAudio for better audio management
- Hardware-accelerated video playback improvements
- Improved power management for Raspberry Pi 5
Differences Between Versions
| Version | Base Debian Version | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Wheezy (2012-2015) | Debian 7 | First version, basic UI, ARMv6 support |
| Jessie (2015-2017) | Debian 8 | Bluetooth support, OpenGL improvements |
| Stretch (2017-2019) | Debian 9 | Pixel desktop, HTTPS repos, better Wi-Fi |
| Buster (2019-2021) | Debian 10 | Raspberry Pi 4 support, OpenGL & Wayland |
| Bullseye (2021-2023) | Debian 11 | Camera improvements, new kernel optimizations |
| Bookworm (2023-Present) | Debian 12 | Wayland by default, PipeWire, better power management |
Other Popular Operating Systems for Raspberry Pi
- Ubuntu Server & Ubuntu Desktop
- A full Linux distribution with broader package support
- Used for development, server hosting, and AI projects
- Raspberry Pi OS Lite
- A minimal, command-line-only version for headless setups
- Ideal for IoT, automation, and server applications
- Kali Linux
- Used for cybersecurity and penetration testing
- Includes hacking and network security tools
- LibreELEC & OSMC
- Specially designed for media centers and home theater setups
- Runs Kodi for streaming and playing media files
- Home Assistant OS
- Built for smart home automation
- Runs Home Assistant, a popular open-source home automation platform
- DietPi
- An ultra-lightweight OS for low-power applications
- Suitable for servers, IoT devices, and energy-efficient computing
- RetroPie & Lakka
- Turn the Raspberry Pi into a retro gaming console
- Supports emulation for classic game systems (NES, SNES, PS1, etc.)
Use Cases of Raspberry Pi Operating Systems
- Education & Programming → Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu
- IoT & Home Automation → Raspberry Pi OS Lite, Home Assistant OS
- Media Centers → LibreELEC, OSMC
- Game Emulation → RetroPie, Lakka
- Cybersecurity → Kali Linux
- Server Hosting → Ubuntu Server, DietPi
Updating Raspberry Pi
OS is Debian-based Raspberry Pi OS (formerly known as Raspbian). To update your Raspberry Pi, you will need to know two commands: sudo apt update and sudo apt full-upgrade.
- First you need to update the package lists for upgrades and new packages:
sudo apt update- Upgrade Installed Packages:
- Now you can upgrade all installed packages to their latest versions:
sudo apt full-upgrade
The full-upgrade command is more thorough than sudo apt upgrade so it is preffered. It will intelligently handle dependencies, removing obsolete packages and installing additional ones if necessary.
