Modularo

Modularo is a modular hardware and software platform designed to enable rapid prototyping and deployment of configurable electronic systems. It organizes functionality into plug-in bricks that snap together on a shared mechanical grid and communicate through a standardized electrical bus and software interface. Bricks perform distinct roles such as central processing, sensing, actuation, data storage, and connectivity, while a baseboard supplies power, timing, and system-level services. A brick can be hot-swapped without losing the rest of the system, and software components are designed to be updated independently.

The platform ships with a minimal operating system, a library of reusable components, and a development kit that lets users program bricks with a common API. Developers can build applications by combining bricks in different configurations and writing glue code that coordinates blocks via event-driven messaging. The ecosystem also supports simulation and offline testing, enabling prototyping before hardware assembly.

Modularo originated from a collaboration among hardware hackers, educators, and open-source enthusiasts. Public releases began in the late 2010s, with later revisions expanding the brick catalog and improving interoperability and power efficiency. The project emphasizes openness, modularity, and affordability, seeking to lower barriers to entry for students, researchers, and product teams.

Applications include education, robotics, prototyping of Internet of Things devices, and research instrumentation. Users value the ability to reconfigure systems without redesigning hardware, while critics point to limitations in performance density and the cost of the brick ecosystem compared with single-board alternatives.

Reception has been mixed. Proponents highlight modularity, rapid iteration, and educational value, while some reviewers note limited high-end processing density and a relatively small developer ecosystem compared to more established platforms.