KB028: Arduino IDE Basic Knowledge

KEY TAKE AWAY POINTS:

"Arduino IDE" is a software APPLICATION tool installed in the PC/laptop, it's the main tool in the development flow with Arduino
Arduino "Sketch" is a FILE where the C/C++ source CODES are stored
Arduino usually uses a variant of C++ to program, also supports MicroPython for some boards

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What is "Arduino"?

What is "Target Environment", "Target Board"?

What is "Arduino UNO"?

What are "Arduino IDE", "Arduino Cloud", "Arduino Web Editor"?

What is "Sketch"

Is Arduino Using C++ or Python?

What is "Arduino"?

The name of an Italian company providing popular development boards and toolchains for education and hobby on embedded computer development
Since it's so popular and well-known, the term "Arduino" also refers to anything that is in the context of Arduino ecosystem

www.arduino.cc

What is "Target Environment", "Target Board"?

The final target "real device" where our program is intent to run. Also known as "development boards"
In the development work flow, the steps 1-3 are in PC/laptop, the 4th step happens on the real target board.
1. CODE
2. COMPILE
3. LOAD
4. RUN

There are various target boards

Micro:bit
Arduino UNO R3
Arduino UNO WiFi Rev2
Arduino Mega 2560
Raspberry Pi 5
...

What is "Arduino UNO"?

Is just the name of one type of Arduino target boards, the very basic and classic educational development board.
Is the physical real device to run our program, just like Micro:bit
We have mainly 2 variants of "Arduino UNO" boards: KB027: Arduino UNO Boards

Arduino UNO R3

Arduino UNO WiFi Rev2

What are "Arduino IDE", "Arduino Cloud", "Arduino Web Editor"?

Arduino IDE

Official doc: https://docs.arduino.cc/software/ide/
IDE = Integrated Development Environment
"Arduino IDE" is a software APPLICATION tool installed in the PC/laptop
It's the main tool in the development flow with Arduino
It supports
- Code editing
- Verify/Compile
- Up/Down-load to target board
- Debugging
- Serial communication
- ...

Arduino Cloud

Go to "Arduino Cloud": https://app.arduino.cc/
Official doc: https://docs.arduino.cc/arduino-cloud/
"Arduino Cloud" is a web-based software APPLICATION tool online, installation-free
It supports major part of the "Arduino IDE" features, and additionally supports IoT projects, connect the target board to the internet and trigger the programmed actions

Arduino Cloud Agent

"Arduino Cloud" needs a light-weight local application "Arduino Cloud Agent" to be installed locally, so to be able to bridge the connection/communication between "Arduino Cloud" and the Arduino target board.

Normally, you don't need to care much, the toolchain will detect the missing installation and pop up a hint with the link to install.

Arduino Web Editor

Nothing new, it just refers to the Code editor in the "Arduino Cloud" tool.

What is "Sketch"

"Sketch"

Some references:

https://docs.arduino.cc/learn/programming/sketches/: A sketch is the name that Arduino uses for a program. It's the unit of code that is uploaded to and run on an Arduino board.
https://docs.arduino.cc/arduino-cloud/cloud-interface/sketches/: A sketch is a file where we write programs to run on our Arduino boards. Sketches have a .ino extension, which supports the Arduino programming language (a variant of C++).

Arduino Sketch is a just a FILE where the C/C++ source CODES are stored.

The file is stored in PC/laptop locally, or in the Cloud server.

Is mainly used in Arduino development environment, not a generic term elsewhere.

Is a FILE, with .ino extension

"Sketch" <----> PAPER prepared for sketching

"CODES" <----> Real SKETCH on the paper

Is the FILE where I write my program in C/C++ source CODES

Is Arduino Using C++ or Python?

A well-defined variant of C/C++ developed by Arduino, to fit the restricted resources on target boards
The core knowledge of standard C/C++ applies for Arduino programming
C++ standard libraries are not well supported in Arduino IDE, but there are lots of useful libraries available by Arduino official source and community
Official doc: https://docs.arduino.cc/language-reference/

MicroPython also available for some Arduino boards
Official doc: https://docs.arduino.cc/micropython/