- Get the Arduino IDE. Ask a grown-up to download Arduino IDE 2 from arduino.cc/en/software and install it. It's free. Open it once it is installed.
- Plug in the board. Plug the board into the computer with the USB lead from the box. Use that lead: some phone cables only charge and carry no data.
- Choose the board. Open Tools, Board and pick Arduino Uno. If it isn't listed, open Boards Manager (the second icon on the left), search for Arduino AVR Boards and install it.
- Find the port. Open Tools, Port. A name like COM3 (Windows) or usbserial or wchusbserial (Mac) is your board. If nothing new appears when you plug it in, the computer needs the driver for the board's USB chip, called CH340. Install it from the chip maker, WCH, then unplug and plug the board back in.
- Install the MakerNest Origins library. Open Library Manager (the books icon on the left). Search for MakerNest Origins and install it. When it asks to install other libraries too, say yes. If it isn't listed yet, download the library below and add it with Sketch, Include Library, Add .ZIP Library. Then install U8g2, Adafruit NeoPixel and DHT sensor library from Library Manager by name.
- Test it. Open File, Examples, MakerNest Origins, 01_FirstLight and press Upload, the round arrow. When the IDE says Done uploading, your computer can talk to every part in this kit. You only do this page once.
Every chapter after this: plug in, get the sketch, check Board and Port, press Upload, wait for Done uploading. The display shows the chapter's name. Then unplug the USB lead and switch on the battery pack.
Your settings survive. A new sketch never clears the numbers you chose in earlier chapters.
Ask Milo
Stuck, curious, or something looks wrong? Tell me what you see.
You can paste your code or an error message here too.