I read through this quick book last night instead of falling asleep. I didn't get much done at work today, but it was worth it.This is a great introduction to the Arduino microcontroller project. It's as open source as all get out -- the hardware designs, the IDE, etc. are all under open source license. I saw a couple Arduino compatible boards at Fry's this week, and I've been debating buying one to fool around with it and to introduce my kids to the wonderful world of electronic prototyping on a breadboard. The only things really holding me back are (1) not really having time for a new hobby and (2) not really having space for sprawling electronics projects. (I really need to find myself a part time job so that I can read more and goof around more...)This book is by a founder of the project, so you are getting the real information and a real sense of the "community over code" (or whatever Orwellean phrase the open source guys are using these days). There are a few very basic but very practical projects for getting around real-world problems like switch bounce and driving devices that require more current than an LED.You could probably get the same information reading through arduino.cc, but it wouldn't be as convenient or as linear.There is a companion starter kit (called the Make Getting Started with Arduino Kit) that you can get at Radio Shack or on the makezine.com web site that has all the necessary components to implement the projects in the book. This book provides an introduction to Arduino. It is meant for an audience with no background in computer programming and hardware. It can be very boring and naive for a reader with background in programming/hardware. However, it would be really good for a geek-in-the-making teenager or a non-technical professional that would like to use micro-controllers in his field.The book's method is a hand-on experience, mostly examples. It also provides information about the community and history of Arduino. Impressive how the author simplifies technical details to the non-technical, a feat all engineers and scientists must have.
Do You like book Getting Started With Arduino (2009)?
Excellent little book for getting started with simple and cheap electronic controller circuits.
—Justin
Good intro, fairly limited in scope but clear and well illustrated.
—maureen
i expected a more challenging book with way more projects...
—Phepye
