Tell us what you have and we'll take you from the box to your first working project. No experience needed.
Already set up? Jump to your first project
Both are great first boards. They're just good at different things.
A small computer
Plug in a screen and keyboard and you have a desktop. Write code, make games, and build things that live on your network.
A microcontroller
It runs one program the moment it has power. Wire up a button or a sensor and it reacts right away.
Our suggestion
Start with Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi is a small computer with a desktop, so you can code in Scratch or Python, play games and build connected gadgets.
Both boards can control electronics. This is a starting point, not a rule.
A kit puts the board and its essentials in one box. Check each kit's parts list to see exactly what's included.
Get the parts connected and the operating system ready, then follow the guide to your first boot.
About 30 minutes
Your Pi, a microSD card, a power supply made for your model, a display cable, keyboard and mouse. Most Vilros kits include all of these.
In Raspberry Pi Imager, choose your board and Raspberry Pi OS, then write the card. If your card came preloaded, skip this step.
Plug in the display, keyboard and mouse first, and power last. The first boot walks you through language, Wi-Fi and a password.
Make one thing work. Then change it and make it yours.
Two paddles, a ball and a scoreboard. You build it one block at a time, then change the rules. Runs on a Raspberry Pi or any computer.
Your first sketch: a few lines of code and a light that answers. Then change the timing and make the pattern your own.
You don't need it all figured out before you begin. If you get stuck, we're here.
No. Pick a beginner guide and go one step at a time. Scratch uses visual blocks, so you can make a working game before you write any text code.
Raspberry Pi is a full computer, good for apps, games and connected projects. Arduino is the direct route to buttons, lights and sensors. Both can control electronics, so pick the one closest to your first idea.
Compare the boardsFind the board in your kit, then follow its setup steps. Check the kit's parts list before buying anything else: most Vilros kits include everything for the first boot.
Go to setupNot quite. Pico is a microcontroller, like Arduino, not a desktop computer. It doesn't run Raspberry Pi OS, so skip the Imager steps and follow the Pico documentation instead.
Raspberry Pi Pico documentation(opens in a new tab)Contact Vilros Support with your order number and a photo of the part. We'll sort it out.
Contact Vilros Support(opens in a new tab)
