foxpotatoOct 7
Martin Seeger

Everyone with an Arduino project has, starting as of NOW, six months to look for a replacement.

If you don't start right away, I can point out someone who will be in a lot of pain in a few months.

Believe me...

https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2025/10/qualcomm-to-acquire-arduino-accelerating-developers--access-to-i

I know this will play merry hell with the 3d printer and mechanical keyboard scene. Innumerable hardware will die from this takeover.

#arduino #qualcomm

Qualcomm to Acquire Arduino—Accelerating Developers’ Access to its Leading Edge Computing and AI

Oct 7 at 4:10pmWeb
Show threadurmelOct 7
@masek Maybe I miss something, but what has Broadcom todo with this change?
Show threadMartin SeegerOct 7
@urmel Qualcoomm is a company that is extremely happy to sue everyone. Wherever they suspect the IP (they just bought) is in use will get an invoice.
Show threadurmelOct 7
@masek Broadcom is not the same company as Qualcomm. You tagged Broadcom in your initial post. So I was expecting something connected to them.
Show threadMartin SeegerOct 7
@urmel Sorry, my bad. I changed the tag. Thank you for pointing that out.
Show threadF4GRX SébastienOct 7
@masek avrdude, avr-gcc toolchain and a myriad of chinese clones make this deal completely worthless.
Show threadlambtorOct 7
@masek @f4grx you think the community is going to jump onto one of those manufacturers?
Show threadF4GRX SébastienOct 7
@lambtor @masek I wish.
Show threadtkOct 7
@lambtor @masek @f4grx I can highly recommend the lgt8f328p clones, double the speed at a fraction of the costs and from my experience most libs work great without modifications
Show threadEmpterdoseOct 7
@masek “Linux Debian” 🤔
Show threadcoldclimateOct 7
@masek sad times
Show threadFrejaOct 7
@masek One of the identical clones that are not under the control of qualcomm
Show threadacbOct 7
@masek Who owns Teensy? (It’s a US company, IIRC?) Beyond that, there’s the Raspberry Pi Pico, and possibly some Chinese boards (which may or may not be an issue)
Show threadMariusOct 7

@acb @masek

Teensy is very small, I think its basically one couple with some employees to help out.

Their website (pjrc.com ) is glorious, a complete throwback to the old web. It's their personal website with holiday pictures from the 1990s or so on it, mixed with the company info.

Show threadF4GRX SébastienOct 7
@Zamfr @acb @masek pjrc did 8051 stuff way before arduino was conceived.
Show threadPaul StoffregenOct 8
@f4grx @Zamfr @acb @masek Yup. In other words, I'm old.
Show threadBredrollOct 7
@Zamfr @acb @masek https://www.pjrc.com/ love it! tempted to buy a thing just because of the html
PJRC: Electronic Projects

Show threadPete Prodoehl 🍕Oct 7

@acb I think @PaulStoffregen is still the person behind PJRC (Well, half of PJRC!)

The Teensy boards are great, but often overkill in terms of features and price for what I need. They used to have an LC (Low Cost) board but all their boards now are easily double the price those were.

Show threadPaul StoffregenOct 8

@rasterweb @acb SparkFun is now pretty involved in Teensy since we've partnered with them for manufacturing.

Before March 2025 Robin & I used 2 contract manufacturers, who soldered everything on consignment (we purchased all parts). With hourly workers we hired every Teensy was tested, packaged and shipped from Oregon, USA.

As Teensy grew that became unsustainable for us.

On paper, Robin & I still own Teensy. We still control the tech decisions. But reality is SparkFun deeply involved now.

Show threadnotthatkindofdoctorOct 7
@masek
Why would Arduino do that? Who fucked up?
Show threadChrisOct 7
@masek Oh fucking hell.
Show threadJames MorrisOct 7
@masek 👀
Show threadAri "Two Sheds" JacksonOct 7
@masek Gross. 😞
Show threadLichoOct 7
@masek Arduino is open source. There are tones of "Arduino compatible" things available on the internet. The brand of Arduino will die, the hardware will not. The know-how, the designs, the idea is out there. Everyone will just be using generics. There will be "mega 2560" not "Arduino mega 2560"
Show threadMartin SeegerOct 8
@licho Yeah, but you do have to do the change. And for some projects that will be the straw to break the camels back. Some will delay and will have to do it in a hurry or fold. That's why I am saying: start thinking about it now.
Show threadWulfy—Speaker to the machinesOct 7

@masek

#qualcomm is notable for backdooring every single phone their shit goes into. Including surveillance in unpowered phone mode.

I can see how #openhardware was gnawing at the dark heart of fascist #broligarchy

#arduino

Show threadKerplunkOct 7

@masek

Qualcomm, engineering human pain while leeching to the max, is not progress.

Absolutely shitty company...

Show threadRootWyrm 🇺🇦Oct 7

@masek 6 months is being optimistic.

As I said in another toot; the only kiss of death worse than Broadcom, is Qualcomm.

And yes I know I'm underselling it.

Show threadEldeberenOct 7
@masek I think Raspberry products (like Pico) can replace some Arduino use-cases. Still, that's not a good sign for the Arduino's ecosystem
Show threadFurbland's Very Cool Mastodon™Oct 7
@masek thank goodness for random Chinese factories cloning Arduinos!
Show threadAlexander 😷Oct 7

@masek

Raspberry Pi: Come to us, we have a surveillance cop!

🫠

Show threadderekOct 7
@masek And if you think that a merger with Qualcomm won't be a big deal, just ask any VMware user.
Show threadKevin RussellOct 7

@masek

We need a new non corporate maker of mini board computers.

Bye bye arduino

Show threadytscorpOct 8
@masek
Jesus wept.
Show threadBen ZaninOct 8

@masek @mos_8502 I believe the broad strokes of your warning are accurate and reasonable, but even if Qualcomm goes completely feral after the Arduino acquisition closes, it won't have much effect on the mechanical keyboard community.

The two most common keeb firmware options are QMK and ZMK and they are not linked to the Arduino software stack. QMK can indeed run on Atmega MCUs, but these days ARM MCUs are far preferred for both QMK and ZMK: https://docs.qmk.fm/compatible_microcontrollers , https://zmk.dev/docs/hardware

Compatible Microcontrollers | QMK Firmware

Documentation for QMK Firmware

Show threadgimOct 8
@masek given the number of clones there are, do you really think this is a problem?
Show threadMartin SeegerOct 8
@gim You have to decide to switch to clone. Then there will be some problems. Those will be solvable, but need time. Time you won't have if you have to do it in a hurry. That's why I recommend to start now.
Show threadChrisOct 8
@masek
As someone who is very close to this: Martin, this is BS.
Show threadChrisOct 8

@masek

To all those "Arduino Fans" that bought "clones" for one dollar from China because it's cheaper: This is a great moment to reflect 😃

Show threadMartin SeegerOct 8

@ChrisF Please explain...

What motivated my message:

  • Qualcomm is a big company, with no strategic interest in the small DIY/maker scene.
  • Qualcomm has a history of very aggressively enforcing IP issues.
  • Qualcomm is not a company known for caring about fairness but only about their revenue.
Show threadChrisOct 8

@masek

Let's break it down:

Qualcomm is a big company ✅, with no strategic interest in the small DIY/maker scene❌

"Broadening their ecosystem access", like an MBA guy would call it, is one of the main reasons behind this acquisition.

Qualcomm has a history of very aggressively enforcing IP issues.

Like every chip company. Semi is fundamentally about IP.

Qualcomm is not a company known for caring about fairness but only about their revenue.

Unlike which publicly listed company?

Show threadMartin SeegerNov 20

@ChrisF Qualcomm has just changed the T&S and has validated all points I mentioned: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/adafruit_opensource-privacy-techpolicy-activity-7396903362237054976-r14H/

Sorry for linking to LinkedIn. I quote the most important parts:

The new documents introduce an irrevocable, perpetual license over anything users upload, broad surveillance-style monitoring of AI features, a clause preventing users from identifying potential patent infringement, years-long retention of usernames even after account deletion, and the integration of all user data (including minors) into Qualcomm’s global data ecosystem. Military weird things and more.

Several sections effectively reshape Arduino from an open community platform into a tightly controlled corporate service with deep data extraction built in. The most striking addition:

users are now explicitly forbidden from reverse-engineering or even attempting to understand how the platform works unless Arduino gives permission. That’s a profound shift for a brand long embraced by educators, makers, researchers, and open-source advocates.

Arduino's new Terms of Service and Privacy Policy: A shift from open to controlled | Adafruit Industries posted on the topic | LinkedIn

Qualcomm-owned Arduino quietly pushed a sweeping rewrite of its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and the changes mark a clear break from the open-hardware ethos that built the platform. The new documents introduce an irrevocable, perpetual license over anything users upload, broad surveillance-style monitoring of AI features, a clause preventing users from identifying potential patent infringement, years-long retention of usernames even after account deletion, and the integration of all user data (including minors) into Qualcomm’s global data ecosystem. Military weird things and more. Several sections effectively reshape Arduino from an open community platform into a tightly controlled corporate service with deep data extraction built in. The most striking addition: users are now explicitly forbidden from reverse-engineering or even attempting to understand how the platform works unless Arduino gives permission. That’s a profound shift for a brand long embraced by educators, makers, researchers, and open-source advocates. With the cloud having a rough day and many systems offline, yesterday... Anyone invested in transparency, community governance, or data rights should read these documents closely. Links: https://lnkd.in/efKSip3e https://lnkd.in/eKDWCZT4 Somewhere an old Uno is whispering “this is not my beautiful life"... Forbes did a couple press-release style "features" with incorrect information that Qualcomm or Arduino supplied, obviously Qualcomm has severe issues with fraud, acquisitions, et. this was 3 DAYS AGO - Former Qualcomm executive sentenced to prison for $180M fraud scheme. @Bill Curtis & Steve McDowell please consider a revisit... Nakul Duggal seems to be the one that will end up taking the fall for this, the CEO of Qualcomm is not in the press release for the sale (and the press release seems like it was made by ChatGPT when you put it through those AI detectors?).. ANY WAY - Naukul and the Ardunio better get a ride in the over 10 Gulfstreams, which are a puzzle to investors, why so many? And why get a G800 now that's over $75m ...? That's how much Arduino has in funding... US's Qualcomm adds G800 to corporate jet fleet... https://lnkd.in/ddiCikpf LIKE, SHARE, AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE DIY ELECTRONICS AND OPEN SOURCE NEWS @ Adafruit Industries Qualcomm Arduino Cristiano R. Amon Massimo Banzi Fabio Violante Pietro D. Marcello Majonchi Federico Musto (龍獵人) <-- #opensource #privacy #techpolicy #hardware #iot #surveillance #qualcomm #arduino #makers #infosec #datarights #termsandconditions #cloudcomputing | 280 comments on LinkedIn

Show threadChrisNov 20

@masek Yes, I've seen that wall of text. The bottom part is ...bizarre... Anyone bothered to Fact-Check the upper part? Or has the keys to my Gulfstream?

Side note: Whenever I read such a post, I'm a bit sad how little "the community" knows about venture capital. Stupid & false analogy: I can decide that I don't like to ride trains - but if I use them every day and want to walk on the tracks, I should at least understand *something* ...

Show threadMartin SeegerNov 20

@ChrisF See https://www.arduino.cc/en/terms-conditions/#13-privacy-and-protection-of-personal-data

The upper part:

  • perpetual license: 7.1
  • patent infringement: 3.2 (last bullet point)
  • artificial intelligence monitoring: 9.4
  • years long retention: 10.5

This complete agreement should never be agreed to by any person.

Show threadChrisNov 21

@masek
Out of curiosity, I started with your last point, and invested too much time in this.

10.5. TLDR: If user is not active for 2y, account may become inactive. The link of public forum posts to that account will remain in place for 5y.
(This is the default if user does nothing. Of course, users can always request to delete anything, GDPR).

This doesn't appear to be way out of the ordinary? Wikipedia keeps your username -> content forever. Reddit?

Not sure if this is worth the buzz.

Show threadChrisNov 21
@masek
On 3.2, IANL, especially not on this area, so I asked ChatGPT for a comparison. Seems to be in line with Apache, Google, etc. (Don't use our work to sue us). ChatGPT also mentioned that this clause might be to broad to be enforced.
But would be happy if someone who knows about that stuff could check this.
Show threadChrisNov 21

@masek
7.2 Statement: "The new documents introduce an irrevocable, perpetual license over anything users upload,"

I don't get the point, but happy to be educated: Once I contribute to any open source project, I sign a CLA, containing typically a perpetual license. What's the issue?

Show threadChrisNov 21

@masek
AI monitoring: Oh my, did they let the intern write this?

They are developing new stuff and want to understand what is actually used by their users. And they need to comply with the law.

If they wouldn't be so elaborated on this, this would be fairly in line with the market standards, no?

Show threadChrisNov 21

@masek And because I really have time today, I used the way back machine. Guess what, in the old-everything-is-fine area, the section on the undeletable-account-BS is NOT keeping the username for 5 years, but forever.

Fact check failed.

Show threadErik Play2LearnOct 8
@masek Makes me wonder how the community could engage more in standardizing over alternatives like Arduino, Raspberry Pi Pico, Adafruit, and maybe even ESP, and what the biggest challenges are in forking the project.
Show threadRalph AngenendtOct 8
@masek https://mastodon.cloud/@designthinkingcomic/115326282244798347 seems to be relevant.
Design Thinking! Comic (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image Nothing will change.

mastodon.cloud
Show threadRob Connolly 🇳🇿 🇬🇧Oct 10

@masek I mean, the libraries are all LGPL and there are a million clones, so probably not. This is just one reason why we have copyleft.

#arduino #qualcomm #copyleft #lgpl

Show threadJ LouOct 10
@rob @masek This is why Copyfarleft is necessary to prevent companies from selling out to proprietary software vendors that enshittify the software for profit.
Show threadJulia ClementOct 10
@masek Plenty of hardware clones. I hope someone is going to fork the software (IDEs, Libraries and whatever) before Qualcomm enshitify it into dreck.