hello! this question intersects with Pd even if it is not about Pd specifically...
I currently have several (installation) pieces in which the sound is run from Pd and then I have motors or sensors being run off other things.
This means that in one case I am using a raspberry pi for the Pd part and an Arduino mega for the motor part
In another case I have Pd running on a Bela/BBB and then an Arduino doing the motor stuff.

The reason for this inefficiency is that my knowledge is fairly limited on these platforms. However, it is annoying to have to use the extra gear when I don't have to. Especially because I know that both the raspberry and the Bela have pins that could be used in place of the arduino for this purpose. Since the Bela is a simpler case and the pins can be addressed directly from Pure Data, I will ask about that and leave the Raspberry behind for now (as I think I would end up running Pd AND Arduino on that board anyway, whereas with Bela, one can easily address the pins from inside Pd without any other programs or libraries).

My question is this: does anyone know how the standard mappings of pins Analog/Digital/and PWM pins on the Arduino lines up on the Bela? Does the Bela have have PWM pins like, for example pins 8,9, 10,11 on Arduino Mega or Dueminanove? And if so, what is the best way to address them from Pure Data? Basically, I'd like to convert my already very simple Arduino sketches over to Pd, so that both motors and Audio can run from the same patch.

I know this isn't specifically a Pd issue but I have asked a related question on the Bela forum but didn't get an answer so I hoped someone might know or be able to suggest a resource over here...
I have traversed the Bela documentation already of course....and will continue with that meanwhile.

Jorge

@Coalman
To give you even more options:

If you want to patch everything in PD but no hardware change, you could connect an old laptop, or Bela (Beagle Board) or Pi and Arduino via USB (as virtual serial port) and use Firmata or PDuino (available in Deken) to access Arduino's GPIOs from PD.
Not sure if this is the case for the async PWM. (But you could add that function as exception on the Arduino side with input from serial.)

What speed is the PWM? Higher than audio Niquist (probably yes)?
Else you could just do PWM in PD.

Most, if not all popular (micro)controllers provide asynchronous PWM-pins today. Read the datasheets.

Did you already search your answers?
https://forum.bela.io/d/1009-basic-pwm-question/
https://forum.pdpatchrepo.info/topic/12112/raspberry-pi-gpio-and-puredata-does-it-work/
https://github.com/owenosborn/rpi_gpio

There should be many examples for, PD <-> GPIOs on Bela, as this is what it's all about.

reason for this inefficiency is that my knowledge is fairly limited on these platforms.

Maybe decide for one board (or an old laptop with comport) for all projects, and grow with it.

Hi @Lacuna thanks so much for these suggestions and the links.
Certainly, I am reading the data sheets and documentation.
However, I had missed the forum topic you posted and I will check this github.

I have been also using an old laptop with comport for a lot of projects in fact, comport is an old friend. I guess what I am trying to do, is get the most from these bits of technology rather than multiply them, and especially in a single project. I find myself using both raspberry pi AND arduino because I can manage the audio well on the pi (or well enough) and other stuff on arduino, but really I know the pins on the Pi can do that stuff too, so I just thought I would start to look for perspectives on how other people are doing these things.

I am going to explore your suggestion of doing the PWM in Pd and then sending this across the pins on the Bela to control things, I think this is the sort of very direct approach I was finding myself hazy about.
All the best,
Jorge