Compact SBCs Are Shortening Embedded Development Cycles

New Tech Tuesdays

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Published February 3, 2026

Modern single-board computers (SBCs) and computer modules address one of the biggest challenges in embedded development: long design cycles. When software validation starts late in the design cycle, traditional custom board development often slows progress. When developers combine processing, memory, networking, and I/O on a single platform, they can move from a concept to a working prototype in days instead of months.

Speeding up deployment requires integrated solutions that bring together multiple features with flexible configurations. SBCs and computer modules give engineers a platform with application processors, OS support, and common I/O already in place. In this week’s New Tech Tuesdays, we explore how compact SBCs and computer modules accelerate embedded development by enabling rapid prototyping and faster time-to-market.

Custom hardware designs usually involve long lead times.^[1] Board layout and fabrication can take weeks, while software work usually cannot begin until hardware validation is complete. These delays make it harder to reach a functional prototype early. Many embedded systems now require more computing power and software support than microcontroller-based designs were originally intended to provide.^[2]

To address this bottleneck, SBCs and computer modules allow engineers to begin development and testing earlier without waiting for custom hardware.

Computer modules separate the processing hardware from the rest of the board, allowing engineers to start software development on a standard development kit before a custom carrier board is finished.

In many designs, the same module used during development is later placed onto a custom carrier board for production. This reduces the amount of rework needed once software behavior and system performance are understood.

Most compute modules run Linux, which makes it easier to use existing drivers and development tools.^[3] While this limits some low-level hardware changes, it can result in a faster and more predictable path to production.

These compact computing platforms are used more and more across a wide range of embedded applications, including industrial automation systems, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), digital signage, and edge computing devices.

Since SBCs allow for early software development and rapid iteration, teams can move from concept to deployment faster and reduce redesign cycles.

The Raspberry Pi SC1754 Compute Module 5 (CM5) development kit (Figure 1) provides a complete platform for evaluating and developing embedded systems based on the CM5 architecture.

The kit combines a compact compute module with a development carrier board that exposes key interfaces and peripherals, allowing engineers to prototype embedded designs quickly. Linux support allows software to be developed and validated before moving to a custom hardware design.

Figure 1: The Raspberry Pi CM5 development kit enables rapid prototyping for a variety of embedded applications. (Source: Mouser Electronics)

This development kit is suitable for applications such as industrial controllers, embedded gateways, and edge computing systems that require scalable performance and a clear path from prototype to production.

Compact SBCs and computer modules reduce development efforts by allowing software and hardware decisions to be made earlier in the design process. Platforms like the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, which support early software validation and scalable hardware architectures, help engineers bring embedded products to market faster and with lower risk.

Sources

[1]https://www.ignitec.com/insights/building-an-mvp-heres-why-you-need-a-custom-hardware-prototype/
[2]https://www.ezurio.com/resources/blog/the-top-trends-in-embedded-development-for-2025-beyond
[3]https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/how-linux-shapes-modern-cloud-computing