This page catalogues __operating systems__ used for personal robots.

!! Linux-Based Operating Systems

"Raspian", a ''portmanteau'' of "Raspberry" and "Debian", was the original Linux-based OS for the Raspberry Pi. The current version is still Debian-based, but has been renamed as "__Raspberry Pi OS__".  

To install the Raspberry Pi OS, it is copied onto an SD card using an application like the [balenaEtcher|https://www.balena.io/etcher/] or the preferred method, a cross-platform desktop application called the __Raspberry Pi Imager__, a free download from the [Raspberry Pi OS home page|https://www.raspberrypi.org/software/]. You basically select an image file, select a drive to copy to, then push a button. Done. Then the first time you boot with the SD card you go through an interactive configuration process.

See: 
* [Installing operating system images|https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/installation/installing-images/] from the Raspberry Pi Foundation
* [How to Backup an SD Card|HowToBackupAnSdCard]


!! Alternatives to Raspberry Pi OS

Many Debian-based Linux distributions like Ubuntu can be used on a Raspberry Pi. Most of the differences between these
are in the desktop environment, not the Linux kernel, so if your Pi is being used as a server, or command line only, there's little benefit in an alternative to the "standard".

* [20 Best Operating Systems You Can Run on Raspberry Pi in 2021|https://www.fossmint.com/operating-systems-for-raspberry-pi/]
* [Top 10 Best Alternatives to Raspberry Pi OS for Your Raspberry Pi Computer|https://9to5linux.com/top-10-best-alternatives-to-raspberry-pi-os-for-your-raspberry-pi-computer]


!! 32 or 64 bit?

The default Raspberry Pi OS (including all historical versions of Raspbian) has been 32 bit but in late 2020 the beta version of the 64 bit OS became available.

To determine which is running on a Pi type:
{{{
  % uname -m
}}}
If it responds with "aarch64" then it is 64 bit. If it responds with "armv7l" then it is 32 bit.


!! Other Operating Systems

* [Armbian] is a Debian-based OS used for ARM architecture, non-Raspberry Pi boards (it has not been and is not likely to be ported to the Raspberry Pi)
* [CircuitPython] or [MicroPython], a programming language, not an operating system but effectively used as such on [microcontrollers] (when powered on they run a single program)
* [JavaScript] (as used on the [Espruino])


!!! Pages Tagged "Operating System"

[{HasTagOf OperatingSystem}]

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[{Tag OperatingSystem}]