Using Code Explorers and Diagrams to Learn Arduino

Community Education
12

Hi Lefty,

I agree that without the plugin Visual Studio would be as impossible for new users as Eclipse, Netbeans or any other IDE than the Arduino.

However, the plugin does what the Arduino IDE does and is installed from a one-click installer. It makes things very easy yet provides intellisense suggestions and help.

Code completion suggestions as we type make it a must for anyone who does not know the Arduino syntax and especially for new users.

NB: If Eclipse is your preferred route then there is a great Eclipse plugin that also helps. As a Microsoft user I prefer Visual Studio but everyone has their own preferences

There is one click compile and upload, board selection, serial ports and a simple sketch creation system that just requires the name of a sketch. It's that easy!

There are plenty of articles on the web, not authored or associated to me, from people who are pleased to have this option instead of the Arduino IDE. I can provide some links if required but we all have google :slight_smile:

The plugin is free, there are no adverts on the visual micro web site and a forum/wiki is also provided free. It is a great option for many and this is the right place to tell people about it.

Below is an example that shows how we have, in Microsoft Visual Studio, the same simple options that are provided by the Arduino IDE. I know the image shows two Arduino projects open at the same time that some might consider confusing but this is an optional feature that I like to use in my testing. I also recognise some extra clutter on the tool bars which can be hidden using the right click menu. However, the "clutter" can be ignored, there are no options that need to be set other than a serial port (or programmer) and the board.

Finally, I do appreciate that there are many different types of "new users". I speak for the ones like myself a few years ago when I was suprised to find how little support the Arduino IDE provided. I had to search the web or open an example to learn every single command. I found it a painfully slow and fustrating process.