In Russia, a compact alternative to the Raspberry Pi microcomputer was developed, designed to fit in the palm of a hand. Reported to socialbites.ca by project makers based in Skolkovo, the IT company RainbovSoft confirmed collaboration with the partner nonprofit organization Intellect. The team planned to begin manufacturing the new device, named Repka Pi, in October 2022. They claimed the small single board computer delivers 15 to 20 percent higher performance than the Raspberry Pi 3.
The Russian project includes its own operating system equipped with a full suite of essential programs. Repka Pi aims to function as part of an educational platform for teaching programming while also serving as a tool for industrial device interaction and as an embedded data collection system across various applications.
Developers note that Repka Pi centers on an ARM 64 processor with four Cortex-A53 cores and, unlike its competitor, provides more RAM. RainbovSoft stresses that the design and production will be handled entirely within a Russian enterprise, with some components sourced from China. The specifications and overall form factor remain aligned with the Raspberry Pi 3, including dimensions and primary interfaces.
Anatoly Ryabov, head of RainbovSoft, explained that the project responded to sanctions imposed on Russia. He described the platform as a catalyst for elevating IT education and training opportunities for students and professionals alike. The ambition is to build a robust ecosystem that supports hands-on learning and practical experimentation in programming and hardware development.
Raspberry Pi was recognized in 2019 by Time magazine as one of the top three most important and influential devices of the decade, underscoring the global impact of affordable, versatile microcomputers on education and technology development. This context helps position Repka Pi as Russia pursues a capable, locally produced alternative aligned with national technology goals and independence. [citation: socialbites.ca]