There is an alternative to PBP, Proton Basic.

As for the lib's comparing to Arduino platform, Richard hit the point well. You have to accept using ONLY one or two chips, with a lot of peripherals to support as many as possible features.

But this takes away from you the choice. You cannot select a cheaper chip for mass production of a product, tailored to the project needs.

Can you accept that? I am not as this reduces my range of selection. Then I have to pay the price of doing myself the rest of programming and if I am lucky have some good friends here to help overcome any, usually, silly mistake.

So, you have to select the right tool for the job.

Go to Arduino and just download the library for the GPS, Fingerprint reader, RF communication module or Graphic LCD and just power up. Minimal effort on programming but very narrow hardware selection range. And also a strange lanquage.

++i? Not for me.

Ioannis