Check out BBC micro:bit. It uses an ARM based MCU and is really easy to use. Don't even need a programmer, just plug it in with USB and drop in a hex file. The

Check out BBC micro:bit. It uses an ARM based MCU and is really easy to use. Don't even need a programmer, just plug it in with USB and drop in a hex file. The nRF51 (used by micro:bit) and nRF52 chips are in general very nice to use. I'm really looking forward to more breakout and development boards coming out for nRF52840 which is just a great chip that can do just about everything (Bluetooth and Thread, at the same time even! Also USB! And PDM microphone input!) Incidentally, these are also designed in Norway, by Nordic Semiconductors. A lot of the engineers from Atmel has jumped over to Nordic recently. Disclaimer: I'm in a position where I'm obviously extremely biased (without being specific), but I'm also a hobbyist and I sincerely enjoy using these chips for smaller projects. Even if I don't use the radio.. they're just good microcontrollers.