IDE Fundamentals

The installation and usage of the Arduino IDE is extensively documented on the internet and with the instructions accompanying the Arduino hardware. So taking this as read, the most important points are that this software and its drivers are installed on your computer. Using a normal USB interface the board is powered and receives instructions on how to operate. Instructions are written in C/C++, that are compiled by the main computer and downloaded to the Arduino. There are a few specific methods used by the Arduino for interfacing with other hardware.

IDE Sketch Interface

When opening a new file standard input, setup and loop, is already given. Buttons are: verify, compile, new, open and save, on the right hand side is the serial window button, just above the new tab button.

Most of the programs written on the Arduino are necessarily small and contain no graphics. When interfacing with other electronic devices it is quite normal to use library functions, and these can be quite large. Scripts are called sketches and as you create and save them to disk they can be viewed from the IDE under File/Sketchbook. Loaded libraries will often have examples and these can be found under File/Examples/<library name>/<example>. As a file is saved it will be stored under a folder with the same name, each file can be thought as a mini-project. The default Sketchbook is found under C:\Users\<user>\Documents\Arduino (similar for Mac) or /home/Sketchbook for Linux. One of the subdirectories found there should be called Libraries.

Serial Port

You will find that it often is necessary to terminate the program by pulling out the usb connection, use an easily accessible port, or else use a male/female extension lead. Always use the same port, or else the wrong com port will show.

Every sketch follows a similar pattern - after documenting the program using comments, it starts by importing the relevant library, declare the global constants then sets up the board by declaring the interfaces, finally it loops through commands instructing what each interface should do. There is no graceful conclusion, it runs continuously until the plug is pulled.

As the programming is in C/C++ all the normal rules apply about declaring variables with their type, either ending every command line with a semicolon or curly bracket. Writing and reading is made through every active port, including the USB/serial port, see Pin Configurations.

If properly installed the IDE should look similar to the following, (allowing for changes in the operating system nomenclature and the fact that I am using a Mega 2560), your port number and Arduino type should show.

Showing Processor and Serial Port in IDE Sketch

Click on <Tools> and look for <Board> and <Port>