# Single-board computer for new projects with scalability potential

**URL:** <https://hub.mender.io/t/single-board-computer-for-new-projects-with-scalability-potential/2480>\
**Category:** General Discussions\
**Created:** [September 23, 2020, 1:46pm UTC](https://hub.mender.io/t/single-board-computer-for-new-projects-with-scalability-potential/2480 "2020-09-23T13:46:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 5

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mirzak](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/hub.mender.io/mirzak/32/2056_2.png) [@mirzak](https://hub.mender.io/u/mirzak)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2020, 12:57pm UTC](https://hub.mender.io/t/single-board-computer-for-new-projects-with-scalability-potential/2480/5 "2020-10-06T12:57:18Z")

</div>

Very interesting topic to discuss and thank you @Valeria for initiating the discussion.

My 2cents 🙂

These type of discussions can come of as negative, so I wanted to take a step back and go back to the origins.

From [Raspberry Pi Foundation – About us](https://www.raspberrypi.org/about/)

> The Raspberry Pi Foundation is a UK-based charity that works to put the power of computing and digital making into the hands of people all over the world. We do this so that more people are able to harness the power of computing and digital technologies for work, to solve problems that matter to them, and to express themselves creatively.

One has to keep in mind that Raspberry Pi devices are designed to support above statement, and imo they are doing a good job at here. A driving factor is “cheap”, and this does not normally translate to high quality when you choose components etc.

But if you start looking at using Pi devices for use-cases that are outside of the designated purpose, it will of course have limitations, because it simply was not designed for that use-case.

The Compute Module is a spinoff product from Raspberry Pi SBC’s, an attempt to support a “more professional” use-case. I guess because they saw that there was a demand as I do not see how it supports their “mission”, beside maybe that it will make money so they can focus on the “true mission”.

Since CM is largely based on the Pi SBC’s, it also inherits many of the issues that are outlined in the linked article, and that have been brought up by other people in this thread. Making it something “in between”.

A couple of things that I would like to highlight:

- comment from @thesillywhat:

- comment from @robert.berger:

- Regarding software support

- Security anyone?

- Updateability

In the end the question is should you use Raspberry Pi SBC’s or CM in a commercial product? **It depends**. You need to be aware of the limitations and match them against your short/long-term requirements and make a informed decision.

I personally would probably never use any of them, but I also have been doing this for a long time and I am able to navigate the landscape, which is scary (so many options!) once you start looking beyond Raspberry Pi’s.

---

_[View the full topic](https://hub.mender.io/t/single-board-computer-for-new-projects-with-scalability-potential/2480)._