ev3dev is a Debian Linux-based operating system that runs on several LEGO® MINDSTORMS compatible platforms including the LEGO® MINDSTORMS EV3 and Raspberry Pi-powered BrickPi.
Just like you can take apart your LEGO® models and build something completely different, we have reverse-engineered the EV3 and created a new software platform for programming your robots.
ev3dev gives you the power to program how you want to. We have created a low-level driver framework for controlling sensors, motors and pretty much everything else. It’s as easy as reading from and writing to a file.
ev3dev supports many popular scripting languages out-of-the-box, so you can get started right away with your favorite language and libraries.
Since ev3dev is built on Debian Linux, there are over 43,000 free software packages available for you to install.
And with the Linux kernel at its core, many USB and Bluetooth devices, like Wi-Fi dongles, keyboards, keypads, joysticks and cameras work too.
It’s more like dual-boot. ev3dev runs from a microSD card and doesn’t ever touch the firmware installed on the EV3. To switch back, you just shut down and remove the microSD card - no flashing required.