No matter who you are, the chances that you’ve heard of a Raspberry Pi are pretty high.

Obviously, we’re talking about the single-board computers that first burst onto the scene back in 2012, not the delicious dessert. Constantly changing and developing, with touch screens on the horizon, these mini computers are perfect for those looking to develop their computer science skills.

If you’re looking to develop your computer skills, and you’re currently wondering about the world of Raspberry Pi, and you’re considering getting one, we’ve made a little beginner guide to help get you started.

What is Raspberry Pi?

If you’ve heard of the Raspberry Pi then you’ll probably already know that it’s a small computer. But the genius bit of it is, it can fit perfectly into your hand. However, just because it’s small, doesn’t mean it isn’t powerful.

Inside the latest models you’ll find a Quad-Core CPU, super-fast wireless, Bluetooth and a large RAM (News - Alert) spec, which means you can do just about anything (within reason), with this computer.

There are other versions available, which can be differentiated by the connectors and size of the main board – so you can choose one based on your needs. But, the key selling point is the small size, which allows it to fit into more spaces, which is ideal for building things.

What Software Does It Run?

Raspberry Pi devices run a whole host of different types of software, which doesn’t include Mac OS X or Windows, unfortunately. But don’t let this deter you.

Instead, it primarily runs a version of Linux called Raspbian. You can install this yourself with a micro SD card with the help of NOOBS installer, or you could purchase a pre-loaded micro SD card.

The desktop available from this looks pretty much the same as a regular PC, and while you’ll have lots of default features such as a web browser, calculator and image viewer, Raspbian will allow you to install loads of open source software at no extra cost.

What Can I do with It?

Now that you’ve got a fully functioning minicomputer filled with an abundance of software in your hand – what can you do with it?

Well, the answer to that is pretty much anything as it can do anything a low powered computer can do. This means you could write something, play games, watch a film or even listen to music.

There are a whole host of projects that you can do with a Raspberry Pi, so the best thing to do is find out ones that you’d like to try and get stuck in. Before you know it, you’ll be a bit of a computer whizz.