Espruino

Espruino

Espruino is an open-source JavaScript interpreter designed for microcontrollers and embedded devices. It allows writing code in JavaScript to program and control hardware instead of lower-level languages like C or Assembly.
Espruino image
javascript microcontrollers iot

Espruino: Open-Source JavaScript Microcontroller Development Platform

Espruino is an open-source JavaScript interpreter designed for microcontrollers and embedded devices. It allows writing code in JavaScript to program and control hardware instead of lower-level languages like C or Assembly.

What is Espruino?

Espruino is an open-source JavaScript interpreter and development platform designed specifically for microcontrollers and embedded devices. It allows developers to leverage the flexibility and features of high-level JavaScript to program microcontrollers and hardware instead of using lower-level languages like C or Assembly.

Some key features and benefits of Espruino include:

  • Full implementation of JavaScript (ECMAScript 5.1 and modules) optimized for microcontrollers
  • Very small memory and CPU footprint, fitting even on low-cost microcontrollers
  • Built-in peripherals access, I/O handlers, and common protocols
  • Interactive command-line and REPL for rapid testing and debugging
  • Easy to get started with but also supports advanced features like modules
  • Thriving open-source community with libraries and plugins
  • Supports popular boards like ESP8266, ESP32, STM32, Nordic NRF, Pico, etc.
  • Integrated IDEs available as well as support for VS Code extensions

With Espruino, developers can leverage their existing JavaScript skills to program embedded projects rather than learn niche proprietary languages. It brings the flexibility and ecosystem of JavaScript to resource-constrained devices.

Espruino Features

Features

  1. Runs JavaScript directly on microcontrollers
  2. Supports common hardware peripherals like GPIO, I2C, SPI
  3. Interactive REPL for testing
  4. Web-based IDE
  5. Module system for code organization
  6. Event-driven programming model
  7. Asynchronous I/O support
  8. Built-in graphics, storage, and crypto libraries

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Use a high-level language instead of C/C++

Fast prototyping and development

Large ecosystem of JavaScript packages

Cross-platform support

Open source with permissive license

Cons

Performance overhead compared to native code

Limited debugging capabilities

Not optimized for very low-memory devices

Lacks features of full JavaScript implementations


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