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In addition to what others have suggested, Adafruit and Sparkfun both have loads of tutorials. Even if you're not using their parts their documentation is still

by gh02t 9y ago

In addition to what others have suggested, Adafruit and Sparkfun both have loads of tutorials. Even if you're not using their parts their documentation is still some of the best if you're using a similar part. Good way to get started is to pick up one of their beginner kits and follow through, they are meticulously documented. https://learn.adafruit.com https://learn.adafruit.com https://learn.sparkfun.com https://learn.sparkfun.com There's also some really high quality material on YouTube for a variety of skill levels, I'd especially recommend these two channels: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6mIxFTvXkWQVEHPsEdflzQ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6mIxFTvXkWQVEHPsEdflzQ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu7_D0o48KbfhpEohoP7YSQ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu7_D0o48KbfhpEohoP7YSQ Scroll through their videos and you will find a lot on the sort of things you are asking about.

tzs 9y ago
> In addition to what others have suggested, Adafruit and Sparkfun both have loads of tutorials. Even if you're not using their parts their documentation is still some of the best if you're using a similar part. If, however, you are not using their parts pay particular attention to voltages. For example suppose you are playing around with a range finding module that uses one of ST Microelectronics' nifty time-of-flight IR laser rangefinder chips. These are 2.8 V chips and are not 3.3 V or 5 V tolerant. Adafruit has modules for two of them, a short range one [1] and a longer range one [2]. The Adafruit modules add a 2.8 V regulator and level shifters so you can hook them right up to your 3.3 V or 5 V system with no additional components. Sparkfun has two modules for the shorter range one [3] [4]. The first of those, which is about the same price as the Adafruit module, does NOT provide a regulator or level shifters. The second Sparkfun module, which is about $10 more, does provide a regulator and level shifting. If you are following the Adafruit tutorials, which hook the module directly up to an Arduino, but you are using the first Sparkfun module and just hook it directly up you are probably going to fry your module. [1] https://www.adafruit.com/product/3316 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3316 [2] https://www.adafruit.com/product/3317 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3317 [3] https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12784 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12784 [4] https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12785 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12785
fenwick67 9y ago
I particularly recommend Adafruit for dev boards, because their tutorials are just so good, and they have one for pretty much everything they make.
- gh02t 9y ago
  I have mixed feelings. Their tutorials and selection are great, but their markup is pretty obscene on some parts and their libraries are often over-complicated/take up a ton of space. I try and support them and buy parts from them occasionally because I love what they do, but it's hard to justify getting more stuff from them price wise and I don't generally like using their code. But for someone just getting started? Absolutely, you'll have a pretty seamless experience.

by gh02t 9y ago

tzs 9y ago

> In addition to what others have suggested, Adafruit and Sparkfun both have loads of tutorials. Even if you're not using their parts their documentation is still some of the best if you're using a similar part. If, however, you are not using their parts pay particular attention to voltages. For example suppose you are playing around with a range finding module that uses one of ST Microelectronics' nifty time-of-flight IR laser rangefinder chips. These are 2.8 V chips and are not 3.3 V or 5 V tolerant. Adafruit has modules for two of them, a short range one [1] and a longer range one [2]. The Adafruit modules add a 2.8 V regulator and level shifters so you can hook them right up to your 3.3 V or 5 V system with no additional components. Sparkfun has two modules for the shorter range one [3] [4]. The first of those, which is about the same price as the Adafruit module, does NOT provide a regulator or level shifters. The second Sparkfun module, which is about $10 more, does provide a regulator and level shifting. If you are following the Adafruit tutorials, which hook the module directly up to an Arduino, but you are using the first Sparkfun module and just hook it directly up you are probably going to fry your module. [1] https://www.adafruit.com/product/3316 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3316 [2] https://www.adafruit.com/product/3317 https://www.adafruit.com/product/3317 [3] https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12784 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12784 [4] https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12785 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12785

fenwick67 9y ago

I particularly recommend Adafruit for dev boards, because their tutorials are just so good, and they have one for pretty much everything they make.

gh02t 9y ago
I have mixed feelings. Their tutorials and selection are great, but their markup is pretty obscene on some parts and their libraries are often over-complicated/take up a ton of space. I try and support them and buy parts from them occasionally because I love what they do, but it's hard to justify getting more stuff from them price wise and I don't generally like using their code. But for someone just getting started? Absolutely, you'll have a pretty seamless experience.