Getting Started

This Arduino Course is designed around extremely quick and simple-to-set-up circuits using an Arduino^TM board.

The first thing you should do in each lesson is set up the circuit!

Creating the circuit should take you all of one to four minutes depending on the lesson. Each lesson begins with “Step-by-Step Instructions” to build the circuit. The written description is accompanied by a breadboard rendition of the circuit that will be useful as well.

At the beginning of each section, there is a list of all the parts required for the circuit in that section.

Once the circuit is created, load the code!

The circuit won’t do much until you have the brains of the Arduino programmed to execute the sketch (a sketch is simply the instructions written for the microcontroller).

There are two versions of the code file. One is for loading into the Arduino (the file extension is .ino) and the other is for printing a hard copy to refer to while you read the section (the file extension is .pdf).

Taking the extra step of printing the code for each section will be of great benefit to you while studying the programming in this book. It allows you to directly refer to the sketch while reading, saving time and providing you the code within the context of the entire program.

Mark up the paper with notes and thoughts, and use it as a reference to your studies.

Like I mentioned, all the code files are available downloading, however, almost every sketch example has been pulled directly from preloaded code that comes installed on the Arduino IDE, under File > Examples.

You may notice a few changes between the code in this module and the code preinstalled on the IDE, but, generally speaking, they are duplicates.

Most of these programs were crafted by the founders of Arduino and are great examples of specific concepts of code.

Once the sketch is running, read the code!

The code is included in each lesson. Do your best to understand the program before you read about the new functions being presented. If you are lost, no sweat, it is time to start reading.

If you think you understand the sketch from reading the code – then skip the text and start hacking! There is no better way to learn how something ticks than to work with it.

This is how I generally approach a new sketch after I have read it and think I get the gist –

1. Make some changes.
2. Make a prediction about the outcome of my changes.
3. Validate my predictions by running the sketch and observing the circuit’s behavior.

If it works as planned – I am a genius! Usually, my predictions are off – but the actual behavior of the circuit serves to clarify my understanding. Rinse and repeat.

If you are the kind of person who likes to read through the full lesson before you get your hands dirty, that is fine too. I have tried to make the description of each program as user-friendly as possible – but the fact remains – it can be slightly technical. Don’t let the fact that you might not understand something 100% stop you from experimenting with the sketch. The more you code, the better you will code – real understanding takes time to sink in.

Each example will focus on a single aspect of the Arduino platform – which makes them great tools for learning. Many lessons will build on previous examples and circuits – in multiple cases you will use the same circuits but for different sketches.

You might even think some of the examples are too basic. If this is how you start to feel, then it is time for you to make changes to the code and push the envelope of your understanding.

At the end of each lesson, there is a “Try On Your Own” section, where you are presented with a challenge. Take on each challenge and make sure you save them for future use – they might come in handy some day.