pigpio
Fast GPIO control for Raspberry Pi with PWM and interrupt handling.
Pricing
Free tier
Flat rate
Adoption
↘CoolingLicense
Open Source
Data freshness
Aging · Jun 8, 2026Overview
What is pigpio?
Pigpio is a library that provides fast GPIO control on the Raspberry Pi, including PWM, servo control, state change notifications, and interrupt handling. It's essential for developers working on hardware projects requiring precise timing and control.
Key differentiator
“Pigpio stands out for its speed and precision in handling GPIO operations, making it ideal for real-time and performance-critical projects on the Raspberry Pi.”
Capability profile
Capability Radar
Honest assessment
Strengths & Weaknesses
↑ Strengths
↓ Weaknesses
API requires Python-specific patterns, TypeScript SDK is community-maintained
pigpio is specifically designed for the Raspberry Pi and does not support other single-board computers or microcontrollers without significant modifications.
v0.1 to v0.2 migration required rewriting chain definitions, causing compatibility issues for existing projects.
Requires manual installation of daemon services and dependencies, which can be error-prone and time-consuming.
Fit analysis
Who is it for?
✓ Best for
Raspberry Pi developers needing fast GPIO control for real-time applications
Projects requiring precise PWM signal generation, such as LED dimming or motor speed control
IoT projects that need to handle state changes and interrupts efficiently
✕ Not a fit for
Developers working on platforms other than Raspberry Pi
Projects where the hardware does not require GPIO control (e.g., pure software applications)
Cost structure
Pricing
Free Tier
Available
Open source — free to use
Starts at
$0
Model
Flat rate
Enterprise
None
Performance benchmarks
How Fast Is It?
Ecosystem
Relationships
Works well with
Integrations
Next step
Get Started with pigpio
Step-by-step setup guide with code examples and common gotchas.