{"slug": "raspberry-pi-os", "name": "Raspberry Pi OS", "category": "os", "category_name": "Operating systems and desktop", "description": "", "recommenders": 3, "commenters": 5, "warners": 0, "score": 3.139, "rising": -0.98, "first": "2025-11-09", "latest": "2026-07-19", "why": "even the latest version of the official Raspberry Pi OS supports every Raspberry Pi model", "why_is_quote": true, "has_verdict": false, "sentiment": {"recommend": 3, "neutral": 2, "compare": 0, "warn": 0}, "spark": [1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0], "listed": true, "loved": [], "caveat": "", "short_quote": "even the latest version of the official Raspberry Pi OS supports every Raspberry Pi model", "kind": "", "icon": true, "domain": "raspberrypi.com", "github_repo": null, "official_url": "https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/", "pricing": "", "aliases": ["Raspberry Pi OS"], "verdict": null, "praise": [{"label": "", "summary": "", "quotes": [{"id": 773070032, "item_id": 48316877, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48316877", "by": "teaearlgraycold", "date": "2026-05-28", "version": null, "stance": "recommend", "quote": "They have great software support and Google-ability", "excerpt": "They have great software support and Google-ability, which also means LLMs understand how to work them. I use them in scenarios where I want both Linux and GPIO. Specifically, right now I have 4 Pi 5s running kiosk displays with RGB LEDs around the outside of each. The displays show a web page, requiring something powerful enough for modern Firefox, and the LEDs are synchronized to the state of the web pages. You cou", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "News about Raspberry Pi 6 and Microcontroller Development \u2013 Jeff Geerling"}, {"id": 764388048, "item_id": 47774253, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47774253", "by": "QuantumNomad_", "date": "2026-04-14", "version": null, "stance": "recommend", "quote": "even the latest version of the official Raspberry Pi OS supports every Raspberry Pi model", "excerpt": "Also, unlike a lot of other manufacturers who only provide builds of Linux for their own hardware for a couple of years, it seems that even the latest version of the official Raspberry Pi OS supports every Raspberry Pi model all the way back to the first one with the 32-bit version of the OS. Likewise, the 64-bit version of the OS looks like it supports every Raspberry Pi model that has a 64-bit CPU. https://www.rasp", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "The Orange Pi 6 Plus"}, {"id": 733881888, "item_id": 45867618, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45867618", "by": "m01", "date": "2025-11-09", "version": null, "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Just use the Raspberry Pi OS.", "excerpt": "Get the Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB (or more if you care). Get the RasPiKey [1] for faster storage (compared to SD cards), without needing to get an SSD. Just use the Raspberry Pi OS. Re: software setup, curriculum etc.. there are so many resources that target the Raspberry Pi that you can choose something that the child finds interesting. You can do a desktop computer build if/when they outgrow the Raspberry Pi. [1] htt", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: How would you set up a child\u2019s first Linux computer?"}]}], "caveats": [], "who": [], "tags": [], "use_cases": ["appliance images"], "compared": [], "makers": [], "threads": [{"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48948800", "title": "Building an Arch Linux Aarch64 Port for Holo Core", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48400588", "title": "Retro-Tech Parenting", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48276598", "title": "News about Raspberry Pi 6 and Microcontroller Development \u2013 Jeff Geerling", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47732535", "title": "The Orange Pi 6 Plus", "mentions": 1}, {"url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45864732", "title": "Ask HN: How would you set up a child\u2019s first Linux computer?", "mentions": 1}], "sentiment_by_month": {"2025-11": {"recommend": 1}, "2025-12": {}, "2026-01": {}, "2026-02": {}, "2026-03": {}, "2026-04": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-05": {"recommend": 1}, "2026-06": {"neutral": 1}, "2026-07": {"neutral": 1}, "2026-08": {}, "2026-09": {}, "2026-10": {}}, "versions": [], "version_unnamed": 0, "family_ref": null, "runs_on": null, "lines": [], "quotes": [{"id": 783576289, "item_id": 48973518, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48973518", "by": "sastraxi", "date": "2026-07-19", "version": null, "stance": "neutral", "quote": "we ended up going back to the base rpi os (Debian) due to the rolling release schedule making reproducible builds more difficult", "excerpt": "Cool! More digging to do. I used ALARM to build some rpi images, it worked really well but alas we ended up going back to the base rpi os (Debian) due to the rolling release schedule making reproducible builds more difficult. I\u2019m still thinking through the conceptual correct solution for an appliance\u2026", "context": "", "use_case": "appliance images", "switched_from": "Arch Linux ARM", "story": "Building an Arch Linux Aarch64 Port for Holo Core"}, {"id": 774512016, "item_id": 48407001, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48407001", "by": "protocolture", "date": "2026-06-04", "version": null, "stance": "neutral", "quote": "I am looking to set up a raspi with Debian and running Gizmos and Gadgets", "excerpt": "Interesting timing. I am looking to set up a raspi with Debian and running Gizmos and Gadgets, and some other old educational games. Probably going to use my Callisto 2 case in the short term. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4846997 Considering putting a small launcher together with some images of different games in doxbox for him to play. Maybe some old mac ones too.", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "Retro-Tech Parenting"}, {"id": 773070032, "item_id": 48316877, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48316877", "by": "teaearlgraycold", "date": "2026-05-28", "version": null, "stance": "recommend", "quote": "They have great software support and Google-ability", "excerpt": "They have great software support and Google-ability, which also means LLMs understand how to work them. I use them in scenarios where I want both Linux and GPIO. Specifically, right now I have 4 Pi 5s running kiosk displays with RGB LEDs around the outside of each. The displays show a web page, requiring something powerful enough for modern Firefox, and the LEDs are synchronized to the state of the web pages. You cou", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "News about Raspberry Pi 6 and Microcontroller Development \u2013 Jeff Geerling"}, {"id": 764388048, "item_id": 47774253, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47774253", "by": "QuantumNomad_", "date": "2026-04-14", "version": null, "stance": "recommend", "quote": "even the latest version of the official Raspberry Pi OS supports every Raspberry Pi model", "excerpt": "Also, unlike a lot of other manufacturers who only provide builds of Linux for their own hardware for a couple of years, it seems that even the latest version of the official Raspberry Pi OS supports every Raspberry Pi model all the way back to the first one with the 32-bit version of the OS. Likewise, the 64-bit version of the OS looks like it supports every Raspberry Pi model that has a 64-bit CPU. https://www.rasp", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "The Orange Pi 6 Plus"}, {"id": 733881888, "item_id": 45867618, "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45867618", "by": "m01", "date": "2025-11-09", "version": null, "stance": "recommend", "quote": "Just use the Raspberry Pi OS.", "excerpt": "Get the Raspberry Pi 5 with 8GB (or more if you care). Get the RasPiKey [1] for faster storage (compared to SD cards), without needing to get an SSD. Just use the Raspberry Pi OS. Re: software setup, curriculum etc.. there are so many resources that target the Raspberry Pi that you can choose something that the child finds interesting. You can do a desktop computer build if/when they outgrow the Raspberry Pi. [1] htt", "context": "", "use_case": "", "switched_from": "", "story": "Ask HN: How would you set up a child\u2019s first Linux computer?"}]}