Arduino is the hot open source prototyping platform for artists, hobbyists, students, and anyone who wants to create interactive physical environments. The latest Getting Started with Arduino is co-authored by Arduino co-founder Massimo Banzi, and incorporates his experience in teaching, using, and creating Arduino.

• Everything beginners and experienced hackers need to know to get started with Arduino, the open source electronics prototyping platform
• Introduces the basic principles of Arduino, along with two projects and troubleshooting tips
• Gets readers up to speed with Arduino quickly so they can begin building projects
• Includes detailed, hand-drawn illustrations of Arduino-based principles and projects
• Covers the low-cost Arduino Leonardo as well as the Uno

Getting started with Arduino is a snap. To use the introductory examples in this guide, all you need is an Arduino Uno or Leonardo, along with a USB cable and an LED. The easy-to-use, free Arduino development environment runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux. This thorough introduction, updated for the latest Arduino release, helps you start prototyping right away. From obtaining the required components to putting the final touches on your project, all the information you need is here! 

In Getting Started with Arduino, you'll learn about:

• Interaction design and physical computing
• The Arduino board and its software environment
• Basics of electricity and electronics
• Prototyping on a solderless breadboard
• Drawing a schematic diagram
• Talking to a computer--and the cloud--from Arduino
• Building a custom plant-watering system