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Plaquette

Free plan Self-hosted

What Plaquette is

Plaquette is a free, open-source framework for creative physical computing and real-time signal processing. It uses an object-oriented, signal-centric design and is compatible with Arduino. Units handle digital and analog inputs and outputs, including sensors and actuators, while signal tools provide debouncing, smoothing, scaling, normalization, and peak detection. Timing units and generators support interactive processes without blocking the processing loop. Plaquette installs as an Arduino library and supplies replacements for core Arduino functionality while remaining compatible with Arduino code. Its documentation describes connecting units with the >> operator so signals can move between inputs, processing units, outputs, and parameters. A Plotter unit sends values over serial to the Arduino Serial Plotter, and the Smoother can work with an external DHT sensor library. The project is licensed under GPL version 3.0, described as experimental, and supported through documentation, examples, and GitHub issues.

Who it suits

Plaquette suits artists, makers, researchers, and developers building Arduino-compatible tangible-computing projects. It is intended for projects that process sensor and actuator signals in real time.

What it does well

Free and open source under GPL version 3.0
Compatible with Arduino code and libraries
Handles digital and analog hardware inputs and outputs
Includes signal-processing and timing units
Serial Plotter visualization support

What to know first

Experimental development status
Main loop must run continuously
Blocking delay calls should be avoided
Self-hosted platform

Verdict

Plaquette provides Arduino-compatible units for connecting hardware, processing signals, and driving outputs. Its experimental status and continuous-loop requirement matter when planning a project.

Facts from Plaquette's own pages

Arduino compatibility: Plaquette is installed as an Arduino library and is described as fully compatible with Arduino. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
Arduino integration: Plaquette installs as an Arduino library and provides replacements for core Arduino functionality while remaining compatible with Arduino code. · plaquette.org, 4 Oct 2026
Computer communication: Its Plotter unit can send values over serial for visualization with the Arduino Serial Plotter. · plaquette.org, 4 Oct 2026
Development status: The features page describes Plaquette as being at an experimental stage of development. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
External libraries: Plaquette documents using its Smoother with an external DHT sensor library. · plaquette.org, 4 Oct 2026
Inputs and outputs: Its units support digital and analog inputs and outputs for interfacing with hardware pins, sensors, and actuators. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
Integrations: Plaquette’s documentation describes compatibility with Arduino and compares its signal-flow approach with Max, Pure Data, and TouchDesigner. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
Intended users: The project is aimed at creative practitioners including media artists, interactive designers, digital luthiers, and electronic musicians. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
License: Plaquette is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.0. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
Loop requirement: Plaquette requires the main processing loop to run continuously and advises avoiding blocking calls such as delay() and delayMicroseconds(). · plaquette.org, 4 Oct 2026
Operational requirement: Plaquette requires the main processing loop to run continuously and advises avoiding blocking calls such as `delay()` and `delayMicroseconds()`. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
Purpose: Plaquette is an object-oriented, signal-centric framework for creative physical computing and real-time signal processing. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
Sensors and actuators: It provides units for working with sensor inputs and actuator outputs in real time. · plaquette.org, 4 Oct 2026
Signal flow: The `>>` operator connects units so signals can flow from inputs or generators to outputs and parameters. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
Signal processing: Built-in tools support debouncing, smoothing, scaling, normalization, and peak detection. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
Support: Users are directed to the documentation and examples, or to open a help-needed issue on the GitHub issue tracker. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
Timing and generators: Timing units and signal generators support non-blocking real-time interactions and periodic behaviors. · plaquette.org, 12 Oct 2026
What it is: Plaquette is an object-oriented, signal-centric framework for creative physical computing that is compatible with Arduino. · plaquette.org, 4 Oct 2026

Where Plaquette stands on Freedom251

Physics Simulation Software#82 of 89