B4R

What B4R is

B4R is a Windows development tool for building native programs for Arduino-compatible boards, ESP8266 and ESP32. Its free plan covers those targets and can be used for commercial purposes. The product page describes a modern IDE and connectivity options, with an example showing an Arduino–Android connection over Bluetooth Low Energy. Integrated flashing is available, while integrated debugging is not.

Getting the environment ready requires Arduino IDE v2, Arduino CLI and Java; OpenJDK 14 is listed as an option if Java is not already installed. After installation, configure the paths to `arduino-cli.exe` and `javac`, then choose a board type and serial port in the Board Selector. The C source and generated compiled objects are kept in the Objects folder. B4R libraries are open source under the MIT license. Learning resources, sample projects, tutorials and a forum are linked from the product page. Anywhere Software directs technical questions to its forum and says it answers email inquiries within 24 hours. The company develops rapid application development tools for various platforms; its founder and CEO is Erel Uziel.

Who it suits

B4R suits developers building native software for Arduino-compatible boards, ESP8266 or ESP32 on Windows. Its free commercial-use plan and available source and compiled objects may suit projects where cost and access to generated code matter.

Getting started

1. Open the B4R product page.
2. Install Arduino IDE v2, Arduino CLI and Java; OpenJDK 14 is listed if Java is not installed.
3. Configure the paths to `arduino-cli.exe` and `javac`.
4. Select a board type and serial port in the Board Selector.

Verdict

Choose B4R if you need a free Windows tool for native Arduino, ESP8266 or ESP32 programs, including commercial work. Look elsewhere if integrated debugging is essential or you need a desktop platform other than Windows.