About the Single Board Computer Database

With over 450 active entries, Board-DB is the largest online database and comparison tool for single board computers (SBCs), computing modules (SoMs), and development boards.

It was initially launched in 2014 under the name Board-DB.org, and was later renamed to HackerBoards.com in 2018. Finally, it has been rewritten from scratch in late 2022 to accommodate several new features and a more in-depth database of technical specifications.

It is intended to be a comparison resource for people and industries who are interested in this category of embedded computing hardware.

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What is a single board computer (SBC)?

A single board computer (SBC) is a small computer that fits on a single circuit board. They are typically used in embedded applications, where a full-sized computer would be too large or too expensive, and where a microcontroller would be too limited.

SBCs are often used in robotics, industrial automation, and other applications, and became extremely popular also among makers and homebrew enthusiast since the first Raspberry Pi launched in 2012. They are also used in hobbyist projects, where they are often called "development boards".

What is a computing module (SoM)?

A computing module (SoM) is a computer meant to be embedded into an existing circuit board. They are typically used in industrial and homebrew applications, and tend to only require the design of a custom "carrier board" around them, rather than a full computing board around a processor.

What is the difference between a single board computer, a computing module, and a development board?

The main difference is in the format: a SBC typically contains full-size connectors, and can be used in a somewhat "plug and play" fashion. A SoM is meant to be embedded into a custom carrier board to be used, exposes only the pin headers for its onboard interfaces, and is usually significantly smaller than a SBC.