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What is Bootstrap?

HZ Bootstrap is a library that simplifies Raspberry Pi development. It was created for developers who want to focus on building their projects, not wrestling with Raspberry Pi OS setup and maintenance.

Instead of treating the Pi like a traditional computer, Bootstrap lets you treat it like an advanced microcontroller while keeping all the advantages of a full OS — just write your code and go.

Bootstrap is built on four core principles that make it simple to set up, develop, and deploy your Raspberry Pi projects:

  1. Headless — Never requires a monitor or keyboard.
  2. Automated — Deployment brings the Pi from fresh install to ready to go, the same way every time.
  3. Configurable — A single .ini file defines the entire system, including hardware and software.
  4. Extensible — A plugin system allows custom configuration, automation, and integration.

Bootstrap Components

Bootstrap is structured into three core components, each designed to support a specific stage in the product lifecycle:

Simple visual of the bootstrap lifecycle

  • Foundation Layer: At the core is the config system. This handles the full setup and configuration of the Pi. This is the core value of bootstrap and the primary reason to use it.

  • Developer Layer: Designed to facilitate development is the sync system. This allows you to write code on your dev machine, and automatically sychronize it to the Pi for an interactive development experience. This is a convenient solution, though experienced developers may prefer other more integrated tools. e.g.: Visual Studio Code: Remote Development.

  • User Layer: Once deployed, the access system provides non-differentiated extensible capabilities to handle common headless challenges. This solves specific problems, but you may prefer to take the code as a base or otherwise implement it yourself.


Compatibility

OS Version Zero 2W Pi 5
Bookworm
OS Lite (64-bit) ✅ Jan 2025
OS Lite (32-bit)
OS (64-bit)
OS (32-bit)
OS Full (64-bit)
OS Full (32-bit)
Bullseye
Legacy OS Lite (64-bit)
Legacy OS Lite (32-bit)
Legacy OS (64-bit)
Legacy OS (32-bit)
Legacy OS Full (64-bit)
Legacy OS Full (32-bit)