View source for Netduino

{{short description|Open-source electronics prototyping platform}}
[[File:And_the_ARM_core.jpg|thumb|alt=A netduino board]]
'''Netduino''' was an [[open-source]] electronics prototyping platform based on the [[.NET Micro Framework]]. It uses the ARM Cortex-M [[32-bit]] [[Reduced instruction set computer|RISC]] [[ARM architecture|ARM]] processor core as a [[32-bit]] [[ARM architecture|ARM]]-[[microcontroller]]. The Netduino [[Printed circuit board|boards]] (except the discontinued Mini and Go models) are designed to be pin-compatible with most [[Arduino]] shields.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://developer.wildernesslabs.co/|title=Netduino Documentation|website=Netduino Documentation}}</ref>  Applications can be built on Windows (with [[Visual Studio]]), or on Mac OS (with Xamarin Studio). The platform is similar in concept to the Arduino platform, but is generally more powerful and instead of writing applications in C/C++ or Wiring (essentially, C++ without header files), applications are written in C#, which brings powerful, high-level language constructs to the toolbox such as threading, event handling, automatic garbage collection, and more.

== Development ==
Netduino was invented by Chris Walker, founder of Secret Labs.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.wilderness-labs.com/where-is-chris-walker-of-secretlabs-now/ | title=Lost Redirection }}</ref>

The platform was actively supported by Wilderness Labs and had an active open source community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wildernesslabs.co/|title=Wilderness Labs|website=Wilderness Labs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stackoverflow.com/search?q=netduino|title=Netduino on Stackoverflow|website=stackoverflow}}</ref> Some time in 2020 Wilderness Labs discontinued Netduino and completely superseded it by Meadow, an STM32F7-based microcontroller board with .NET Standard.<ref>{{cite web |title=So long, Netduino; may you long live in our hearts. |url=https://www.wildernesslabs.co/netduino |website=Wilderness Labs |access-date=2023-10-26 |ref=solong}}</ref>

== Hardware ==
The Netduino family is based on the Cortex-M Micro Processor running the .NET Micro Framework (NETMF) v4.3.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Embedded Programming with the Microsoft® .NET Micro Framework (Developer Reference)|publisher=Microsoft Press|year=2007|isbn=978-0735623651}}</ref>  Development can be done on both Windows, with Visual Studio, or with Xamarin Studio on Mac OS X. IO includes 22 General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) ports, 6 of which support hardware Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) generation, 4 UARTs (serial communication), I2C, and SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface Bus).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wildernesslabs.co/Netduino|title=Netduino Hardware|website=Netduino Hawdware}}</ref>

The Netduino family consists of the Netduino 3, Netduino 2, and the original Netduino 1 lines. The original Netduino (1st generation) and Netduino Mini (also 1st generation), have been replaced by the much more powerful Netduino 2 and 3 lines.

=== Netduino 3 ===
The Netduino 3 is based on a Cortex-M4 microcontroller running at 168&nbsp;MHz with 384&nbsp;KB of flash storage and 164&nbsp;KB of RAM.

Netduino 3 is offered in 3 different models, the N3 base model, N3 Ethernet model, and the N3 WiFi model; which vary by their internet connectivity mode and their code/flash storage size. All N3 models support persistent storage with SD cards up to 2GB. Both the Ethernet and WiFi models have a Micro SD slot built in to the board. The base model can use SD cards via most Arduino SD Card add-on shields.

The N3 technical specifications are as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
!Model
!MCU
!Flash
!RAM
!Network
|-
|N3
|Cortex-M4 @ 168&nbsp;MHz
|384 KB
|164+ KB
|N/A
|-
|N3 Ethernet
|Cortex-M4 @ 168&nbsp;MHz
|1408 KB
|164+ KB
|10/100 Mb/s Ethernet
|-
|N3 WiFi
|Cortex-M4 @ 168&nbsp;MHz
|1408 KB
|164+ KB
|802.11b/g/n with SSL/TLS 1.2 Support
|}

=== Netduino 2 ===
Netduino 2 is offered in 2 different models, the N2 base model as well as the N2+, which adds 10Mb Ethernet.
{| class="wikitable"
!Model
!MCU
!Flash
!RAM
!Network
|-
|N2
|Cortex-M3 @ 120&nbsp;MHz
|192 KB
|60 KB
|N/A
|-
|N2+
|Cortex-M4 @ 168&nbsp;MHz
|384 KB
|100+ KB
|10 Mb/s Ethernet
|}

=== Discontinued Models ===
The original Netduino forum is archived and contains historical and technical information about the original Netduino boards and development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forums.netduino.com/|title=Archived Netduino Forum|website=Secret Labs}}</ref>

==== Netduino 1 ====
The original Netduino was based on an [[Atmel]] AT91SAM7X processor running at 48&nbsp;MHz.

==== Netduino Plus ====
The Netduino Plus added an onboard [[Ethernet]] port and a [[microSD]] card reader.<ref name="getting">{{cite book|title=Getting Started with Netduino |last=Walker|first=Chris|publisher=O'Reilly|year=2012|pages=1–6, 26|isbn=9781449302450}}</ref>

==== Netduino Mini ====
The Netduino mini was a smaller breadboard mountable Netduino in a DIP package.<ref name="getting" />

==== Netduino Go ====
With Netduino Go, all the peripherals were virtualized, with 8 gobus ports replacing the Arduino headers. Additional modules could be added through these ports, and each module had a small microchip which works together with the mainboard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forums.netduino.com/index.php?/topic/3867-introducing-netduino-go/|title=Introducing Netduino Go|website=Netduino}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://netduino.com}}
* [https://developer.wildernesslabs.co/Netduino/About/ Netduino at wildernesslabs.co]

[[Category:Open hardware electronic devices]]
[[Category:Microcontroller software]]
[[Category:Robotics hardware]]