Best first 5 topics to read to reach Trust Level 1?

[DaveX]

This forum limits new users from posting images until they reach Trust Level 1. This often trips up new users, since they can't really ask a smart question unless they can share things like schematics or legible pictures of their project.

My suggestions for what they need to do is this:

@PerryBebbington

To post images etc. you need trust level 1, you can get there by:

• Entering at least 5 topics
• Reading at least 30 posts
• Spend a total of 10 minutes reading posts

My top picks for the best first five topics to read are:

• How to get the best out of this forum by @PerryBebbington -- to learn how to post productive questions.
• How to Wire and Program a Button -- A discussion of the official Arduino "How to Wire and Program a Button" tutorial that goes with the Arduino IDE's built-in File/Examples/02Digital/Button.ino example. This thread shows some concerns about the tutorial and advice about how to wire up a button safer and easier.
• Planning and Implementing an Arduino Program by @Robin2-- A great way to plan your program to be flexible, easy to read, understand, maintain, and extend. ( Live Sim: Lesson A ... Lesson G )
• Demonstration code for several things at the same time by @Robin2-- An example running a couple blinking LEDS, a button and two servos, all independently. (Live Simulation)
  • (Off-site: Adafruit: Multiasking the Arduino Part 1, Part 2)
  • Combining multiple non-blocking codes
• Flashing multiple LEDs at the same time (thread by @PerryBebbington & others) -- several different styles of blinking leds. These are a collection of some natural extensions to the Blink.ino and BlinkWithoutDelay.ino . There's more than one way to do it. (And if you can blink LEDs, you can run a motor, trigger a device, or do many other tasks) Also, these multiple ways of doing the same thing task might help folks understand the important concepts behind the often-recommended BWOD example.
  • (Off-site: @nickgammon on blink)

Edit: Shared From Below:

• Serial Input Basics - updated by @Robin2 -- How to read serial input without blocking other code from running. (HT @DeltaG)
• Other Serial processing:
  • pcRead by @gcjr -- one-character parsing diagnostic/control tool (w/ Simulation).
  • Two ways communication between Python3 and Arduino
  • (off-site: @nickgammon on serial)
  • Wokwi simulations of Serial processing
• How to make a schematic you can post by @johnerrington -- Suggestions about how to explain the connections to your Arduino with a legible diagram.

============

If you've got a better list of the top 5 topics for a noob to earn trust by reading, please share.

[johnerrington]

@DaveX

unless they can share things like schematics or legible pictures of their project.

How to make a schematic you can post.

When you submit a question on the forum you will usually need to add a schematic (circuit diagram). The tutorial that follows will explain some ways to create a useful image; however lets start by explaining how to add the image to your post. Its easy. Having created the image all you need to do is : Save the image somewhere convenient - maybe your desktop Start your post, and place the cursor (insertion point) where you want the image to be shown; [upload image to forum] 3: click th…

[camsysca]

Your first 3, then serial... and schematic...

Other possible detail - the usefulness of Serial Monitor for debugging, if not mentioned in Serial basics.

[gilshultz]

Legible Schematics as they have wired them. not frizzes. I find most of the time the problem is solved before the schematic is finished.

[DaveX]

I find that by the time I've gone through the recommended steps to present my problem well enough for someone to actually understand my issue, I've often solved the problem myself.

[alto777]

@DaveX

I've often solved the problem…

and smacked myself in the forehead.

a7

[oldcurmudgeon]

@DaveX

I find that by the time I've gone through the recommended steps to present my problem well enough for someone to actually understand my issue, I've often solved the problem myself.

Known as "Rubber Duck Debugging" (search on the term). There is even a dedicated web site.

Rubber Duck Debugging

Other items can be substituted for the rubber duck, but may be less effective

[DaveX]

You better buy a duck. It will understand that it doesn't need to understand, and won't get annoyed.

[PerryBebbington]

This is good but the title is wrong. New users don't know that the reason they can't do stuff is because they are at TL 0, so the title is not going to attract them to read it. Maybe something along the lines of 'I want to post images, how do I do it?'. Or something. I'm sure someone can do better than that.

[DaveX]

What error does the forum deliver to TL 0 users?

[PerryBebbington]

I don't know.

I could put you on TL0 and you can try it.

Edit:
You are TL 0. Try it. Tell me when you want me to restore your TL.

[DaveX]

Trying:

Edit: Looks like it worked.

[PerryBebbington]

Did it work? You are still TL0, it's locked. There might be some other factor I've forgotten about.

[DaveX]

It liooks like I can still cut and paste:

and also use the upload icon:

[PerryBebbington]

I don't know then. I've restored your trust level.

[DaveX]

Basic

This badge is granted when you reach trust level 1. Thanks for sticking around and reading a few topics to learn what our community is about. New user restrictions have been lifted; you’ve been granted all essential community abilities, such as personal messaging, flagging, wiki editing, and the ability to post multiple images and links.

Now that I've re-earned Basic/Trust Level 1, maybe I wasn't trying to post enough images as a level 0.

[PerryBebbington]

@DaveX

Now that I've re-earned Basic/Trust Level 1, maybe I wasn't trying to post enough images as a level 0.

You haven't re earned TL1, I have restored you to TL2, which is what you had before. I can put you back to TL0 if you wish, but it will be locked there. I don't think it will stay at TL0 if it's not locked because you already qualify for TL2.

[DaveX]

No worries. I was interested in the text in the TL1 badge that listed some explicit permission changes.

[pert]

Hi @DaveX

@DaveX

It liooks like I can still cut and paste:

[...]

and also use the upload icon:

When you attach an image, whether it is done by copy/paste or by using the upload icon on the post composer toolbar, this is treated differently by the Discourse forum software than a normal file attachment (e.g., a .ino file). Images are classified as "embedded media". Since images often provide very valuable information (e.g., schematics, picture of hardware setup) and we haven't seen any significant abuse of the forum platform by embedding images (yes, we do see people inappropriately posting images of text, but that is not really forum platform abuse), we give TL0 users an allowance of three embedded media items per post. You only used two embedded items in your post so this is why you didn't encounter any restriction. If you had attempted to publish a post after adding four, you would have seen a dialog like this:

If you had attempted to attach a non-embedded media file (either via the upload button on the post composer toolbar or by drag and drop), you would have seen a dialog like this:

It is true that neither of these dialogs communicates to the user how they can easily overcome these restrictions and also become more knowledgeable about the forum's mores and that is unfortunate. Discourse does make some efforts to onboard new users in other ways, which I describe here:

Posting without reading the rules

The Discourse software encourages correct use of the forum in several ways: "Greetings!" tutorial When first entering the site after signing up, new users see a screen overlay that directs them to read a "Greetings" PM from the "@discobot" bot account: This PM invites them to participate in an interactive tutorial about the basics of using the forum. There is a video at the link above, but if anyone would like to experience the tutorial (the overlay is only shown for new accounts) in perso…

The "Greetings!" message that is automatically sent to new users and highlighted by the forum software contains this message which is intended to introduce the concept of "trust levels" and links to the guide with the information on what is required to earn a higher trust :

For safety reasons, we temporarily limit what new users can do. You’ll gain new abilities (and badges) as we get to know you.

[DaveX]

There's Using millis() for timing. A beginner's guide by @UKHeliBob -- Explains the details behind using millis() to create a Blink Without Delay example, and builds upon it for coordinating several processes.

Using millis() for timing. A beginners guide

Part 1 It is not usually long before new Arduino users discover that although the delay() function is easy to use it has side effects, the main one of which is that its stops all activity on the Arduino until the delay is finished (not quite true, I know, but that is usually how the problem presents itself). When this occurs the new user is usually directed to the BlinkWithoutDelay example sketch (BWoD) and/or the excellent thread entitled Several things at the same time. Several things at the…