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Tim<BR>
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Programming an Arduino is hard and has many show-stopper problems for the novice. I think your articles will have to dedicate a large amount of space to the basics of the development environment and how to program the Arduino ... complex stuff for a novice who just wants to achieve some project using an Arduino.<BR>
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One alternative worth considering is to install python, pyserial and pyduino on a PC, and Standard_Firmata sketch on the Arduino (I personally would have loved to have just a hex file for the Duemilanove with instructions for using avrdude).<BR>
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Benefits:<BR>
<BR>
1) For an article series, there are lots of fantastic things you can do with a PC that has a hardware interface. PC's are traditionally difficult to interface with real hardware - the Arduino is a great solution to that problem!<BR>
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2) Python: Python is brilliant for novices. Python programming at the PC allows you to quickly try different programs, with debugging "print" statements. You can assume a novice will just "get" Python with little explanation, whereas C is an advanced topic (types anyone!?). I have very little experience with Python but it has been a pleasure to use (and it is well known to be a great language for novices and experts alike).<BR>
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3) Avoiding getting depressed by C/IDE frustrations (I have experience in those areas and I still find them to be a huge timesink). The electronics interfacing is where most of my time goes and I reserve my frustrations for that area!<BR>
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4) You can presume a lot about a user's knowledge of PCs.<BR>
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My idea of a good series of articles is one that gives some excellent examples of fun things to do, where it is obvious how to modify those examples to do something else I want to do. <BR>
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The main downside is that the Standard Firmata does not have servo control and I agree servos would be fantastic for your articles (there is a servo firmata but it is very limited). I love servos and want to control them from my PC (I intend to integrate <A HREF="http://www.arduino.cc/playground/ComponentLib/Servo">http://www.arduino.cc/playground/ComponentLib/Servo</A> into the Standard Firmata but am away for a month so not going to happen soon!).<BR>
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Disclaimer: I am a programmer by trade, have an EE degree, and have worked in embedded design so I am not your target audience!<BR>
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I do think it is a great topic for a series of articles!<BR>
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Cheers<BR>
<BR>
Morris<BR>
<BR>
On Mon, 2009-08-03 at 23:00 +1200, Tim Carr wrote:<BR>
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Hi all, I'm hoping I may be able to help me with some ideas. I've been asked by APC Magazine in Australia to write a series of articles related to getting started with Arduino. APC have picked up on the growing popularity of the platform and I've been tasks with writing a complete beginners article that gives them an interesting grounding in Arduino in just 2-3 magazine pages and followed on by one or two more advanced articles.<BR>
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The challenge I see is not so much in the technology but in picking an interesting first project that leaves them with the desire to experiment and extend their knowledge. As a result I'm loath to start with the blinking light 'hello world' as I imagine there must be better options that haven't been thrashed. I must admit though, at this point it really does seem to be the best fit. Please prove me wrong....please.<BR>
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So, my question is this: When you started building robots, what really took your fancy and what do you feel may be a good starting 'micro-project' for others to start with?<BR>
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One aim (that may be asking too much) is to develop the howto in such a way that the initial article demonstrates the key essential elements of Arduino setup and use while being easily extended in the second article to produce something fun and functional. So perhaps the first may be setting up a servo to move and the second may make it follow the light (I'm not sure if that's too hard for newbies but you get my drift).<BR>
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Thanks in advance for any thought you can share on this.<BR>
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-- <BR>
Regards,<BR>
Tim<BR>
MindKits Chief Ninja
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