Paralax^SDNov 23
Leo Herzog
As expected, the Qualcomm enshittification of @arduino has begun. Expressif's ESP32 stuff has already been a better platform for some time... I guess I'll have to learn the ESP-IDF ecosystem now instead of the Arduino IDE.
Nov 20 at 1:43pmopenvibe
Show threadLeo HerzogNov 24
The @arduino response, fwiw
https://blog.arduino.cc/2025/11/21/the-arduino-terms-of-service-and-privacy-policy-update-setting-the-record-straight/
The Arduino Terms of Service and Privacy Policy update: setting the record straight | Arduino Blog

We’ve heard some questions and concerns following our recent Terms of Service and Privacy Policy updates. We are thankful our community cares enough to engage with us and we believe transparency and open dialogue are foundational to Arduino. Let us be absolutely clear: we have been open-source long before it was fashionable.  We’re not going […]

Arduino Blog
Show threadSriram "sri" Ramkrishna - 😼Nov 20
@herzog @arduino damn.. that sucks. This stuff was all about learning.
Show threadClub de TéléMatique Nov 20

@herzog @arduino

Yes, switching to ESP32 is not difficult. A lot of code almost works as-is or with very little rewrite.
Too bad, I used to like arduino.
Ho well. Luckily they are not the only ones on the market.

Show threadLeo HerzogNov 20
@ClubTeleMatique As long as they are maximizing shareholder value
Show threadClub de TéléMatique Nov 20

@herzog
Problem is, this is totally short-sighted.
The market today is not at all what it was when arduino came out.
Back then it was alone and a revolution. Since then, Arduino's been living on its goodwill.
Which they have just squandered hopelessly. And today, there are enough viable alternative so they can disappear completely, nobody will care.

This is GIF all over again...

Show threadjeancfNov 20
@herzog
I concur. I want to add that #rustlang support on ESP32 is top notch, supported by a dedicated team at Espressif.
https://github.com/esp-rs
@arduino
esp-rs

Libraries, crates and examples for using Rust on Espressif SoC's - esp-rs

GitHub
Show threadÖlbaumNov 24
@jeancf That might just get me to learn Rust.
@herzog @arduino
Show threadmmu_manNov 22
@herzog @arduino @adafruit IIRC EEVblog showed the anti-RE clause was already there (probably because of the chips they used?), but still, they just destroyed the very value they bought the company for 🤷
Show threadadlerweb // BitBasteleiNov 22
@herzog @arduino Be advised the reverse engineering section @adafruit is talking about was already part of the TOS *before* Qualcomm acquired them…
Show threadNick PooleNov 22
@herzog @arduino the circle of life, baby
Show threadMercutioNov 22
@herzog @arduino
Time for a Freeduino fork!
Show threadShutterBuggedNov 22
@herzog The open source wifi stack that's being developed for the ESP32 is pretty neat, though I'm also looking at dipping my toe into the rust stuff for targeting AVR chips. They're independent from Arduino proper and have very arduino-like APIs. Been on my to-do list since forever to learn rust, and this seems like an excellent application.
Show threadLeo HerzogNov 22
@developing_agent First I've heard of it! Sounds interesting.
Show threadShutterBuggedNov 22

@herzog There's some info on the open source wifi stack at https://esp32-open-mac.be/posts/ This stack is pretty cool, because it would allow the complete elimination of all closed-source code from software built for the ESP32. Already they can avoid calling into closed source binaries after the point where the radio has gone through one-time init.

As for resources on getting started with rust on arduinos, I'm not quite there yet. :P

Posts

Building an open-source Wi-Fi MAC for the ESP32

ESP32 open MAC
Show threadMvRiederbergNov 23
@herzog @arduino Arduino is death.
Show threadDaveNov 23

@herzog Here is Arduino's response:
https://blog.arduino.cc/2025/11/21/the-arduino-terms-of-service-and-privacy-policy-update-setting-the-record-straight/

I don't know if the situation is as cut-and-dried as it is claimed. I did a half-assed search through their Terms and Conditions and what is in the Adafruit post doesn't jump out at me. For instance, the only military thing I saw was a prohibition on its use by the military, a prohibition of its use if the end product will be used by the military (such as building UAVs), and calls out specific countries where one has to certify they are not a "military end user" as defined in the terms. These things all sound like good things, I would argue, if one is concerned about the building of cheap autonomous drones used in battle.

It would be helpful if Adafruit provided a bit more specificity. I didn't bother looking at the Arduino Privacy Policy. It would really be helpful when these things are updated if one could compare the new with the old side-by-side.

One thing that certainly jumps out and hits you in the face, and I don't know if this was there before, but right off the start they say you have to agree to arbitration for disputes. It is a big section before the terms even are laid out, then repeated in the arbitration section. That, clearly, is very important to them.

The Arduino Terms of Service and Privacy Policy update: setting the record straight | Arduino Blog

We’ve heard some questions and concerns following our recent Terms of Service and Privacy Policy updates. We are thankful our community cares enough to engage with us and we believe transparency and open dialogue are foundational to Arduino. Let us be absolutely clear: we have been open-source long before it was fashionable.  We’re not going […]

Arduino Blog
Show threadDani (she/her)Nov 23
@herzog @arduino Nothing gold can stay, huh?
Show threadfedithomNov 23
@herzog @arduino
Waitwait ... Isn't Arduino just a (range of) one-board PC, so RaspberryPi minus the surveillance tech bro in the leadership team? How did they manage to enshittify a piece of hardware?
What am I not getting here?
Show threadLeo HerzogNov 23
@fedithom Much more low-level embedded system than a full on Pi running Linux.
Show threadfedithomNov 23
@herzog oh ... Didn't know
Show thread🇳🇿   💉*9 RogerNov 24

@herzog @arduino I've been using an Eclipse plugin for ESP development for a while now. Eclipse handles bigger projects (more files, really, and git integration) better than Arduino IDE ever did. Arduino was good to learn on though I've never used an actual Arduino hardware. ATTiny, Teensy, ESP* have always been a better fit for me.

The point is: we have options. Lots of them.

Show threadÖlbaumNov 24

@herzog Maybe give PlatformIO a try. https://platformio.org/

You can have it in VS Code as an IDE, which I believe the latest Arduino IDE is based on (though I haven’t tried it, I use PlatformIO in the command line because I’m a Huge Nerd With Habits.)

It supports Arduino and ESP32 boards, among others, and for the ESP32 you can choose either the ESP-IDF or the Arduino framework.

Also, buy Arduino clones by Joy-It or from AliExpress. That’s what everyone does anyway, Arduinos are overpriced.

PlatformIO: Your Gateway to Embedded Software Development Excellence

Unlock the true potential of embedded software development with PlatformIO's collaborative ecosystem, embracing declarative principles, test-driven methodologies, and modern toolchains for unrivaled success.

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