Installing software on a Raspberry Pi or writing special code for Arduino is very interesting. However, the true potential of both modules lies in controlling other accessories through their GPIO pins. Lights, switches, sensors, robots... there are almost no limits to what you can manage with this hardware. As always, the programming side can be intimidating, but Blynk is a mobile app that greatly simplifies the process.
One of the first questions every user who recently bought a Raspberry Pi or an Arduino variant asks is: "What do I do with this now?" That doubt is natural, given the huge number of online tutorials, but what starts with turning on simple LEDs eventually leads to adding accessories, fine control of motors and sensors, remote management of other devices, and much more. Of course, the more complex the project, the greater the pressure on the programming side. Learning to code is very useful, but not necessarily easy for most people. That's where Blynk steps in.
What Is Blynk?
Blynk took its first steps as a Kickstarter project in 2014 and has since gained considerable ground to become one of the best apps for remote control of Arduino or Raspberry Pi. Basically, the user picks a widget from Blynk's list, assigns a name and function type, specifies the pin to send the command, and adds the security "token". In the video above, Blynk controls turning on a light bulb. Depending on the connection and other external factors, there may be a little latency in commands, but nothing too serious.
Compatibility and Availability
The best part is that Blynk is not limited to Arduino and Raspberry Pi. ESP8266, ESP-12, NodeMCU, and Particle Photon are also part of the compatible list. Its online community is quite large, and YouTube hosts a healthy amount of guides and suggestions. The main Blynk client is available for Android from version 4.0.3, and for iOS build 8.0.
