The native language of Arduino is known as the Arduino Language or Arduino Programming Language. The Arduino Programming Language is essentially written on a C++ base. You could say that it isn’t an actual programming language in the traditional sense, but we think this is advantageous for new programmers because it eliminates some misunderstandings.
The software for the Arduino programming language is called Sketch. A sketch is generally stored with the.ino extension (from Arduino). Your whole code is constricted to 2 core functions, which is the main difference between this and “normal” C or C++. However, every Arduino program must have those two. Of course, you can have more than that.
Language Support:
You are not required to use this language and IDE to program an Arduino. There are projects that allow you to use Node.js code with the Johnny-Five project, Python code with pyserial, Go code with Gobot, etc. However, since the Arduino Programming Language is native and includes an easy process of communicating with these devices, you’ll definitely see most tutorials based on this language.
Arduino Coding Environment and basic tools:
- Arduino IDE: The Arduino Integrated Development Environment is the primary text editor used for programming Arduino (IDE). You will type your code (sketches) there first before submitting it to the programming board. The IDE gathers and converts your designs into code that Arduino can read. After being compiled, your Arduino code is then uploaded to the board’s memory. If there are any mistakes in the Arduino code, a warning message will be shown and the user will be asked to make corrections.
- Debugging Arduino: Contrary to other software development contexts, Arduino lacks a built-in debugger. Users are given the choice of using either third-party software or the serial monitor to print the Arduino’s current state for monitoring and troubleshooting. Using the Serial class, you can print independent variables. On most Arduino boards, serial pins 0 and 1 are connected to the USB port.
- Serial Monitor: You can open the Arduino serial monitor by clicking the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner of the IDE or by selecting it from the tools menu. The serial monitor, which is primarily used for computer-based interaction with the Arduino board, is an extremely useful tool for real-time monitoring and troubleshooting. To use the monitor, you must utilize the Serial class.
The Arduino Programming Language Built-in constants
Arduino has two different constants we can use.
HIGH equates to a high level of voltage, which can be different depending on which hardware it is used for. LOW generally equates o a low level of voltage. The exact value depends on the type of board.
Next, there are 3 constants that are used in combination with the pinMode() function:
INPUT positions the pin as an input pin
OUTPUT positions the pin as an output pin
INPUT_PULLUP positions the pin as an internal pull-up resistor
The other constant is LED_BUILTIN, which indicates the number of the onboard pin, generally, it equates to the number 13.
In addition to this, we have the C/C++ constants false or true.
Code Structure:
Libraries: Just like other programming languages, Arduino comes with built-in libraries that provide the basics. You can increase the capabilities by importing from new libraries.
Variables: Every time you use Arduino, you must define global variables and instances so that you can use them later when required. Essentially, a variable lets you give a name or a value for later use.
Pin: To use the Arduino pins, you must specify which pin you want to use and for what. The functionality, which may be output or input, is described in the setup section using the pinMode () method.
Wrapping Up:
Arduino is much more than a powerful microcontroller, It is a very versatile platform, including a large IDE and a wide range of hardware combinations. If you want to learn more about Arduino Programming Language, we recommend you learn from YouTube. Why? Because YouTube is free and it has all the knowledge you need. The only issue with YouTube is that it is not organized as an online course. Yes, it helps when each video is arranged like chapters in a book. You can use Career Ninja‘s LearnTube to arrange those videos into a course-like format. If you want to learn “Arduino Programming Language tutorial” search that term on YouTube using the LearnTube chrome add-on or website, and LearnTube will show you a bunch of videos like an online course. As a beginner, you’ll click through the videos from the first to the last, as if you were taking an online course tailored specifically for you on YouTube.
