The State of Embedded Development 2025
How are embedded developers building, testing, and deploying their systems in 2025? Drawing on insights from nearly 2,3000 professionals and hobbyists in 28 countries, this report, based on the JetBrains Developer Ecosystem Survey 2025, highlights the most popular hardware platforms, operating systems, and development tools.
From FreeRTOS and Raspberry Pi OS to cloud-connected systems and simulation workflows, The State of Embedded Development 2025 shows how the embedded community is evolving and what technologies are driving its future.
Which kinds of software, products, or services do you develop?
Embedded developers primarily focus on hardware (33%), IoT (27%), and home automation (13%). C++ (27%) and C (23%) are the languages of preference in IoT and hardware projects, while Python leads in home automation with 40%. Professionals tend to favor C++ (37%) and C (33%), whereas enthusiasts lean toward Python (29%), which just edges out C++ (28%) and C (26%).
Which ready-made microcontroller kits or single-board computers do you use for any purpose in your main projects?
Single-board computers (52%), ESP32-based series (42%), and Arduino (37%) remain the most popular kits for respondents’ main project. Among more advanced users, STM32 Nucleo/Discovery boards (23%) and custom hardware (16%) emerge as the leading professional choices.
Which vendors’ microcontrollers or microprocessors does it run on?
Embedded developers most often write code for Broadcom (25%), Espressif (22%), Intel (16%), and STMicroelectronics (16%) devices.
Which microcontroller models do you use the most?
38%
38%
ESP32
30%
28%
Atmega328
17%
17%
STM32F103
13%
9%
Other STM32
12%
12%
RP2040
9%
12%
BCM
8%
11%
STM32F4
ESP32 (38%) and ATmega328 (30%) remain the most widely used microcontrollers, maintaining their strong lead from last year. STM32 families are steady overall, with the STM32F103 (17%) leading within the series. Usage patterns diverge by audience: Professionals tend to choose STM32 boards and higher-end controllers (STM32U5, STM32F7, etc.), while enthusiasts concentrate on ESP32 (43%) and ATmega328 (35%).
Which types of embedded systems do you work with?
Linux-based operating systems remain the primary foundation for embedded development (58%), while Windows (22%) and bare-metal systems (21%) also hold substantial shares. Real-time options such as FreeRTOS (18%) and other RTOS platforms continue to serve important niches.
Which embedded Linux-based OS do you work with?
Raspberry Pi OS (42%), Ubuntu variants (32%), and Debian (28%) are the most widely used embedded Linux environments. Niche distributions like Armbian, OpenWRT, and Automotive Grade Linux see limited but targeted use.
Which real-time operating systems do you work with?
FreeRTOS dominates the RTOS landscape at 82%, followed by Zephyr (14%), with all other platforms in the low single digits. Professionals tend to diversify with options like VxWorks and ThreadX, while enthusiasts largely focus on FreeRTOS and Zephyr.
Which of the following embedded development processes do you regularly perform in addition to software development?
Over half (54%) of embedded developers regularly engage in software testing. Other common practices include simulation (27%), emulation (22%), and cloud integration (20%), while small segments focus on graphical design (13%) or model-based development (10%).