# Your First Arduino Program: Blinking LED ## **Welcome to Your First Arduino Project!** In this guide, you'll learn how to: 1. **Install Arduino IDE 2.x** (the latest version) 2. **Connect your Lonely Binary UNO R3** to your computer 3. **Select the correct board** in Arduino IDE 4. **Write your first program** to blink the built-in LED 5. **Upload and test** your code This is the perfect starting point for anyone new to Arduino programming! ## **Step 1: Install Arduino IDE 2.x**  ### **Download Arduino IDE 2.x** 1. **Go to the official Arduino website**: [arduino.cc](https://arduino.cc) 2. **Click "Software"** in the top menu 3. **Click "Arduino IDE"** 4. **Click "Download Arduino IDE"** 5. **Choose your operating system**: - **Windows**: Download the Windows installer (.exe file) - **macOS**: Download the macOS version (.dmg file) - **Linux**: Download the Linux version (.tar.xz file) ### **Install Arduino IDE** **For Windows:** 1. **Run the downloaded .exe file** 2. **Follow the installation wizard** 3. **Accept the default settings** 4. **Click "Install"** 5. **Wait for installation to complete** **For macOS:** 1. **Open the downloaded .dmg file** 2. **Drag Arduino IDE to your Applications folder** 3. **Open Arduino IDE from Applications** **For Linux:** 1. **Extract the .tar.xz file** 2. **Run the install.sh script** 3. **Follow the terminal instructions** ### **First Launch** 1. **Open Arduino IDE 2.x** 2. **You'll see a welcome screen** 3. **Click "Get Started"** or close the welcome screen 4. **You'll see the main Arduino IDE window** ## **Step 2: Connect Your Lonely Binary UNO R3** ### **What You Need** - **Lonely Binary UNO R3 board** - **USB Type-C cable** - **Computer with USB port** ### **Connection Steps** 1. **Take your USB Type-C cable** 2. **Connect one end to your Lonely Binary UNO R3** (the USB Type-C port) 3. **Connect the other end to your computer** 4. **The board should power on** - you'll see a small green LED light up ### **What Happens When Connected** - **Power LED**: Small green light on the board (indicates power) - **Built-in LED**: Pin 13 LED (this is what we'll control) - **Computer Recognition**: Your computer should detect the board ### **Troubleshooting Connection** - **No power LED**: Check USB cable connection - **Computer doesn't recognize board**: Try a different USB port - **Driver issues**: Arduino IDE will help install drivers if needed ## **Step 3: Select Your Board in Arduino IDE** ### **Open Board Manager** 1. **In Arduino IDE, go to Tools - Board - Arduino AVR Boards** 2. **Look for "Arduino Uno"** in the list 3. **Click on "Arduino Uno"** to select it  ### **Alternative Method** 1. **Go to Tools - Board** 2. **Scroll down to "Arduino AVR Boards"** 3. **Select "Arduino Uno"** ### **Verify Board Selection** - **Look at the bottom of Arduino IDE** - **You should see "Arduino Uno"** in the board selection area - **If you see "Arduino Uno", you're ready to program!** ### **Select Serial Port**  ## **Step 4: Write Your First Program** ### **Open a New Sketch** 1. **In Arduino IDE, go to File - New** 2. **You'll see a blank sketch with this basic structure**: ```cpp void setup() { // put your setup code here, to run once: } void loop() { // put your main code here, to run repeatedly: } ``` ### **Understanding the Code Structure** - **setup()**: Runs once when the board starts - **loop()**: Runs continuously, over and over again - **//**: These are comments (notes for humans, ignored by the computer) ### **Write the Blinking LED Code** **Replace the empty sketch with this code**: ```cpp // Pin 13 has a built-in LED connected to it const int ledPin = 13; void setup() { // Set pin 13 as an output pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT); } void loop() { // Turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); // Wait for 1 second (1000 milliseconds) delay(1000); // Turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); // Wait for 1 second delay(1000); } ``` ### **Code Explanation (Simple Terms)** - **const int ledPin = 13;**: We're giving the number 13 a name "ledPin" - **pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);**: We're telling the board that pin 13 will send signals (not receive them) - **digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);**: Turn the LED on - **delay(1000);**: Wait for 1 second - **digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);**: Turn the LED off - **delay(1000);**: Wait for 1 second - **Then the loop starts over!** ## **Step 5: Upload Your Code** ### **Save Your Sketch** 1. **Go to File - Save As** 2. **Choose a location** (like Desktop or Documents) 3. **Name it "BlinkingLED"** 4. **Click "Save"** ### **Upload to Your Board** 1. **Click the "Upload" button** (right arrow icon) in the toolbar 2. **Or go to Sketch - Upload** 3. **Watch the progress bar** at the bottom 4. **Wait for "Upload complete"** message  ### **What Happens During Upload** - **Arduino IDE compiles your code** (checks for errors) - **Code is sent to your board** through the USB cable - **Board restarts and runs your program** - **Built-in LED starts blinking!** ### **Troubleshooting Upload** - **"Board not found"**: Check USB connection and board selection - **"Port not available"**: Select the correct port in Tools - Port - **Compilation errors**: Check your code for typos ## **Step 6: Test Your Program** ### **What You Should See** - **Built-in LED on pin 13 blinking** - **1 second on, 1 second off** - **Continuous blinking pattern** ### **If the LED Doesn't Blink** 1. **Check the upload was successful** 2. **Look for the small LED near pin 13** 3. **Make sure the board is powered** 4. **Try pressing the reset button on the board** ### **Congratulations!** **You've just created your first Arduino program!**  ## **Understanding What You Built** ### **The Blinking Pattern** ``` LED ON - Wait 1 second - LED OFF - Wait 1 second - Repeat ``` ### **Why This Works** - **Digital pins** can only be HIGH (5V) or LOW (0V) - **HIGH** = LED on (current flows) - **LOW** = LED off (no current) - **delay()** pauses the program so you can see the changes ### **The Loop Concept** - **loop() runs forever** - **Each cycle**: ON - wait - OFF - wait - **This creates the blinking effect** ## **Experiment and Learn** ### **Try These Modifications** **Change the Blinking Speed** ```cpp // Faster blinking (0.5 seconds) delay(500); // 500 milliseconds = 0.5 seconds // Slower blinking (2 seconds) delay(2000); // 2000 milliseconds = 2 seconds ``` **Create Different Patterns** ```cpp // Quick double blink digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); delay(100); digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); delay(100); digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH); delay(100); digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); delay(1000); ``` ### **Common Questions** **Q: Why does the LED blink?** **A**: The **loop()** function runs continuously, turning the LED on and off with delays in between. **Q: Can I change the blinking speed?** **A**: Yes! Change the numbers in the **delay()** functions. Smaller numbers = faster blinking. **Q: What if my LED doesn't work?** **A**: Check your USB connection, make sure the upload was successful, and look for the small LED near pin 13. **Q: Can I use a different pin?** **A**: Yes! Change **ledPin = 13** to any other digital pin (2-12), but you'll need to connect an external LED. ## **Next Steps** Now that you've mastered the blinking LED, you're ready for more exciting projects: 1. **Control multiple LEDs** 2. **Add buttons and sensors** 3. **Create different light patterns** 4. **Build interactive projects** **You've taken your first step into the amazing world of Arduino programming!** The blinking LED is the "Hello World" of electronics - simple but powerful. Every complex Arduino project starts with understanding these basic concepts. **Keep experimenting, keep learning, and most importantly, have fun!**