The Death of Arduino?

Overview of the TOS/Privacy Changes

• Summary of alleged changes (from linked docs and Adafruit’s writeup):
  • Perpetual, irrevocable license for Arduino to use, modify, and commercially exploit all user-uploaded content (code, designs, photos, comments).
  • Extensive telemetry and “AI monitoring” of usage, logs, and behavior, including for compliance and government requests.
  • Clauses limiting use of the platform for asserting patent claims against Arduino/affiliates.
  • Data retention even after “deletion,” with usernames visible for years.
  • Explicit “sale/sharing” of identifiers, IPs, geolocation, and analytics with partners.
  • Integration of minors’ data into Qualcomm’s global infrastructure, plus military carve‑outs (notably a DARPA exception).
  • Ban on reverse‑engineering/decompiling the “Platform.”

Debate Over Scope, Interpretation, and Legality

• Some commenters assume this applies broadly to Arduino as a whole and see it as the end of the open-source, hackable ethos.
• Others argue the language clearly targets hosted services (site, cloud, forums, project hub) and not the open-source IDE, cores, or hardware; they criticize Adafruit’s post as misleading by omission.
• Multiple people question:
  • How Arduino can “own” or relicense community libraries already under MIT/GPL/etc.
  • How a no‑reverse‑engineering clause can coexist with GPL/AGPL code and open board designs.
  • How far a CLA introduced years after initial contributions actually reaches.

Impact on Arduino’s Role and Ecosystem

• Many say Arduino hardware has long been eclipsed by cheaper, more capable boards; the real value now is the API, libraries, docs, and educational brand.
• Some predict:
  • A fork of the IDE/tools and a new “Arduino‑compatible” ecosystem.
  • Or Arduino slowly fading while its API lives on atop other chips.
• Others think continued use of clones and the open IDE can largely bypass Qualcomm’s cloud/services.

Alternatives and Migration Paths

• Widespread recommendations:
  • Hardware: ESP32/ESP8266, RP2040/RP2350 (Pico, Xiao), STM32, nRF52, Teensy, various Adafruit/Seeed boards.
  • Software: VS Code + PlatformIO, Arduino CLI, ESP-IDF, CircuitPython/MicroPython, Rust HALs.
• Several note that the Arduino API already runs on many of these platforms, easing migration.

Reflections on Maker Culture

• Mixed views on whether the “maker movement” has declined:
  • Some feel most consumer needs are met by cheap Amazon products and their own interests have shifted.
  • Others counter that tinkering, customization, art, and scientific instrumentation remain strong, and Arduino’s educational impact was huge even if the brand now stumbles.