Arduino Basics: Install the Arduino IDE

The Arduino is a microcontroller chip, with a platform built around it to make it easy to program for and easy to connect components to. In fact, the Arduino Uno is available with a socketed chip that can be removed. Some tinkers will use the platform to program the chip, and then remove it from the board for integration into their own board. To program the microcontroller on the Arduino, we need to install the Arduino IDE.

The basic components of the Arduino development platform are:

• The Arduino board, such as an Uno or Nano
• The Arduino IDE, for writing code and programming the Arduino
• Any sensors or other components you wish to connect (see our Arduino Sensor Wiki)
• The code you write inside the IDE to control it

Download and Install the Arduino IDE

The Arduino IDE is the place where you can type in your code, compile it to machine code, and then upload it to the chip on the Arduino over a USB connection.

You can download and install the IDE from here.

Next Steps

Its time to move on to the next step! From here you can: