If you find the Raspberry Pi, with its seemingly endless programmability, a bit confining, here’s some exciting news: the Gertboard extender is now being shipped. Priced at $48, this companion board is arriving at the doorsteps of customers, serving as a converter between analog and digital for Raspberry Pi enthusiasts engaged in developing home automation, robotics, and various applications requiring a bridge between the computing realm and less sophisticated devices. However, there’s a small catch, typical of some DIY projects: assembly is required. You’ll need to solder together Gert van Loo’s Arduino-controlled invention on your own. Despite this, the DIY community likely won’t be deterred, especially if they can get their hands on the rapidly selling Gertboard in the first place.