Arduino IDE on Linux

I'm leaning to setting up a new machine on Linux.

How does the IDE compare on Windows versus Linux? similar user experience, quality-wise?

Thanks in advance for your options and suggestions.

Sometimes it is a little more work to get it working on your Linux box. You have to bite the bullet, do some googling, and learn command line and use apt-get. But like most other things, once you have it working on your Linux box you will be glad that you made the extra effort.

Compare-wise: Once working, Linux is much less likely to get a virus or screw up and cause you a bunch of lost time and grief.

Thanks jogl.

I've done some dev work on Linux so I can get around. I'm going to try Android Studio on Linux for the first time and was hoping to host the Arduino IDE on the same machine.

I guess the Linux intro docs on "playground wiki" gave me pause.

The IDE behaves identically to Windows; you won't notice any difference there. What you will likely notice are problems accessing the USB port when you're logged in as a non-superuser; you might need to create a "udev" rule for that. Just come back and ask for help if that happens :wink:

Debian Linux and derivates (Ubuntu, Mint, etc )
With packaged software :

Solution 1 --> all graphical like Windows
open "synaptics"
search "arduino" in the program list
click

That is finish

Solution 2 ---> fastest way
Open a terminal
Make root
write : apt-get install arduino
Click on ENTER

That is finish.

Avantage of Debian/Ubuntu version : if you use the Debian packaged version you will use the last version of software (avr-gcc, avrdude, etc) .
In the version downloaded from arduino.cc ( and arduino.org) version are often obsolete.

Problem : due to the Arduino family dispute and the different IDE (1.6.x for arduino.cc, 1.7.y for arduino.org), Debian packager is waiting for an "Official version" and only 1.05 and 1.5.6 are available.
If you want to use 1.6 or 1.7 you must download the IDE from the corresponding site.
Extract the file in a repertory and run the file named "arduino".

NB : for avr micro-contrĂ´ler 1.0.5 is sufficient

lol, less likely to "get a virus or screw up and cause you a bunch of lost time and grief" good stuff thanks for taking me back to 2001!

My experience with the IDE on Linux is not very good... Depending on the distribution I was using, I had issues scrolling. Horizontal scrolling was recognized as a right-click, which is very annoying. This isn't specific to the Arduino IDE btw, it's an issue of Java (I had similar issues in another Java app). Also, when I was still using Awesome WM, the app did not behave well at all... The menu's were appearing with some offset from where they were supposed to be (couple 100 pixels to the right), making it a real PITA to use. Long story short: the behavior of the IDE on Linux depends on your distribution (probably mainly the Window Manager it's using).

What I tend to do for quick 'n dirty projects, is enabling the "external editor" function and use the IDE just for compiling and uploading. This way, you can use a proper editor (let's face it, the IDE is very basic and not intended for mature programmers). An even better solution when business gets serious, is to setup a Makefile and be done with it! This does require some tinkering, but it's worth it in the end (especially if you like working from the CLI)!

Good luck!

the IDE is very basic and not intended for mature programmers

I agree but you can use an externel editor like Kate, oh sorry it is only for Linux (KDE).

Linux is not a close system like W$ and Mac. You can use different graphical interface (KDE, Gnome, Xfce, LXde, and so on).
Perhaps have you not choose the appropriate graphical interface or perhaps have download sofware out of the repository ?

I agree but you can use an externel editor like Kate, oh sorry it is only for Linux (KDE).

As I said: with the "external editor" option enabled you are free to use any editor of your choice.

Linux is not a close system like W$ and Mac. You can use different graphical interface (KDE, Gnome, Xfce, LXde, and so on).
Perhaps have you not choose the appropriate graphical interface or perhaps have download sofware out of the repository ?

I'm well aware of the many desktop environments offered, but I don't think either of those is more "appropriate" than others. As I suggested, it's probably due to the IDE being implemented in Java, and some window managers (an integral part of any DE) or other elements not coping with that properly, causing the specific problems I encountered personally. This is kind of speculative but based on a similar experience with a Java GUI in the past. Whatever the cause, my point is that the experience may vary depending on your setup.

I don't think I really got the point you were making.

I use only Debian Testing since 10 years (Etch) and I never have difficulties.
I precise I'm not a specialist, I did nothing special
I know that there are distribution as Gentoo where it is necessary to do everything yourself, but it's too complicated for me.