Just a few decades back, the average computer was the size of an entire city block and could barely store 5 MB of data. Today, this amount of data is consumed by an average image upload, and the dimensions of the modern computer have reached a stage where we can hold one on the palm of our hands. Alongside the reduction in size, computers have also undergone a tremendous reduction in cost. Raspberry Pi is the flag bearer of portable and affordable computing, barely costing $30 and being small enough to be held in your hand.
The introduction of Raspberry Pi has opened the doors for applications that would not have been feasible otherwise, and that is precisely what you will learn from this book.
In the chapters to follow, you will learn how Raspberry Pi can be utilized to its full potential and act as a sensor interface, a web server, and a database and host all the components of a fully functioning web application. You will also learn how to utilize cloud-based APIs and data storage and combine this with the existing components developed on Raspberry Pi to make an application that can accessed by anyone with an internet connection.