Arduino is the open source electronics prototyping platform that is the heart of the Maker world. This thorough introduction, updated for the latest Arduino IDE release and the new ARM-based boards, 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!

Getting started with the Arduino is a snap! To use the introductory examples in this guide, all you need is an Arduino Uno or Nano, along with a USB cable and an LED. The easy-to-use, free Arduino development environment runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Join hundreds of thousands of hobbyists who have discovered this incredible (and educational) platform.

In Getting Started with Arduino, you will 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
• Using the Cloud IDE and the new Arduino IoT Cloud
• Building a custom plant-watering system
• Making a WiFi-enabled internet fistbump

Written by Massimo Banzi, the co-founder of Arduino and Michael Shiloh, Arduino educational lead.