<p>The knowledge gap between planning and execution when it comes to DIY computing seems to get smaller every day. The latest example of this is the plug and play Spark Core, a project made to ensure adding WiFi to a project takes no time at all.</p><p>Adding WiFi to an Arduino isn't a new trick by any means. The WiFi shield for Arduino is available everywhere, it's just not the easiest thing in the world to use. You have to use a MicroUSB cable connected to your PC if you ever need to update the firmware, which means you have to make that particular part of the board easily accessible. On top of this, the board itself is nearly as big as the Arduino board itself depending on which model you are working with.</p><p>If someone were to come along and make a more flexible WiFi board that maybe didn't take up so much space and was a little easier to maintain, it'd be pretty hard not to be a fan. Spark Devices seems to think they are the guys for the job with the Spark Core development board.</p><p>Making a thumb sized snap in WiFi development board that can be used both on its own or with an existing Arduino kit is a neat trick. Making the board easy to connect to an existing network using an app on your phone and making the firmware easy to update over WiFi means it's infinitely more useful for just about anything.</p><p><a href="http://www.geek.com/chips/arduino-compatible-spark-core-makes-adding-wifi-dead-simple-1554245/">Keep reading...</a></p>