Arduino programming language
The Arduino basically uses the industry-standard C++ language, implemented by the Gnu g++ compiler.
For information on basic things like loops, strings, functions, data types, and so on try consulting one of the many online C++ references. Hint: Google "C++ tutorial".
Version 1.0 of the IDE
A few things were changed in the 1.0 release version of the IDE*. In particular some older examples and libraries may have this at the start:
If you get errors try locating such places and changing that line to:
* IDE = Integrated Development Environment
Libraries
Many useful features are implemented by libraries. These are basically xxx.cpp and xxx.h files collected together into a library folder. Some come with the IDE. See here for how to add additional libraries:
http://arduino.cc/it/Reference/Libraries
(It is easy enough to write your own, they are basically just C++ source code).
Reference page
Many functions specific to the Arduino (like activating pins, reading analog input etc.) are documented on the reference page:
http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/HomePage
Examples
Before rushing on to the forum saying you don't understand how to make something work, try working your way through the examples (File Menu -> Examples in the IDE). A few examples under the belt make everything else much easier.
Getting help on the forum
There are quite a few experienced people on the forum anxious to help you, and help you get as much as you can out of your Arduino. You can help them do that by making helpful posts:
- Make an informative subject description, not "help me, I'm a noob", nor something in all capitals. Try to avoid saying "urgent". That's your problem, not ours.
- Describe your problem in detail.
- If it relates to an electronics part (chip or board), give the exact part number and preferably a link to the data sheet.
- Describe how you have connected things like switches. Are they wired to ground? Or +5V? Are there pull-up or pull-down resistors? Post a circuit if there is doubt.
- Post your code! If you don't you waste time while people ask you to do that.
- When you post your code put it between [code] ... [/code] tags. You can do that by hitting the # button above the posting area.
- If you get an error, post the error (copy and paste). Not just "I got an error".
- If you have debugging information in your sketch, post what you get.
- Describe what you expected to happen, and what actually happened. Not just "it doesn't work".
- If possible, describe what you are really trying to do, not what you think might work. For example "I am trying to turn on an aquarium heater and pump at the same time", not "how do I break out of an interrupt?".
Debugging
If you have puzzling behaviour, it is frequently helpful to put "debugging prints" inside your code. For example, initialize the serial port inside the setup function:
void setup ()
{
Serial.begin (115200); // initialize serial comms at 115200 baud
// ... other setup here
} // end of setup
Later on you can print things of interest, eg.
Serial.println ("Button 5 pressed.");
(Check you have set your Serial Monitor to 115200 baud, or you may see gibberish characters).
Some other ways of doing debugging described here:
http://www.gammon.com.au/forum/?id=11329
Memory usage
Microcontrollers like the Arduino have much less memory than you would be used to on a Mac, Windows or Linux. For example the Atmega328 processor (used on the Uno, Fio, Nano, Duemilanove boards, and others) has 32 Kb of Program Memory (for your code), 2 Kb of SRAM* (for your variables), and 1 Kb of EEPROM (for saving data when powered off).
Typically programs that reset unexpectedly, or hang, have run out of SRAM. Note that the number reported by the compiler when you compile your program is program memory, not SRAM.
Even a simple array like the one below uses 2000 bytes of memory. This line alone would almost certainly make your program crash:
Hint: The String class tends to gobble up memory. Try to avoid using that, especially in larger programs.
* SRAM = Static Random Access Memory
Reading serial data
Serial data arrives asynchronously, that is, a byte at a time at no particular rate between bytes. To read things longer than a byte it is helpful to collect incoming data into a suitable size buffer, and when all has arrived, process that. Typically you know it has all arrived when a special character, such a newline character, is received.
Some examples here:
http://gammon.com.au/serial
Try things!
Read this:
http://mattgemmell.com/2008/12/08/what-have-you-tried/
You will get more help if you try something and describe what happened, rather than posting "I wonder if X will work".
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