Components
Arduino IDE vs PlatformIO: Which Should You Use?
Comparing the two most popular ways to program microcontrollers.
· 3 min read
Key takeaways
- Arduino IDE is easiest for beginners.
- PlatformIO adds project management and libraries per project.
- Both support ESP32 and STM32.
Arduino IDE
Simple install, huge example library and a gentle learning curve.
PlatformIO
Runs inside VS Code with per-project dependencies, debugging and multiple board targets.
Our recommendation
Start in Arduino, move to PlatformIO when your projects grow.
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