What is Arduino Toolkit?
Arduino Toolkit is a collection of virtual components that work with your physical microcontroller via the EDGEY interface. The EDGEY interface is a device that connects your microcontroller to your computer via USB and allows you to communicate with virtual components hosted by VBB. You can buy an EDGEY interface from here or build your own using this guide . The Arduino Toolkit contains several virtual components that you can use to test your Arduino code, such as:
LiquidCrystal: A liquid crystal display via 4-bit parallel interface .
OLED SSD1306: An OLED 128x64 display via SPI interface .
NEOPIXELS: Neopixel strips and arrays via WS2812 pixel pulse width interface .
Max 7219: A MAX7219 chip via SPI with up to 8 segment 7 displays .
EPaper: An EPaper 122x250 display via SPI with BSY signals .
DSO: An 8MHz logic analyzer capture .
Servo: A servo motor with pulse width controller .
How to use Arduino Toolkit?
To use Arduino Toolkit, you need to have the VBB software installed on your computer. You can get it from the Microsoft Store or from the official website . Once you have installed the software, you can launch it and click on the "File" menu, then select "Open". A dialog box will appear where you can browse for the Arduino Toolkit file, which has a .vbb extension. You can download the file from here . After you open the file, you will see a virtual breadboard with various components connected to an Arduino Uno board.
To use these components, you need to connect them to your physical microcontroller using the EDGEY interface. Once you have connected your microcontroller to the EDGEY interface, you can upload your code to it using the Arduino IDE or any other compatible software. Then, you can run the virtual circuit in VBB and see how your code interacts with the virtual components. You can also modify the virtual circuit by adding or removing components, changing their properties, or wiring them differently.
Why use Arduino Toolkit?
Arduino Toolkit is a useful tool for Arduino enthusiasts who want to explore new possibilities, test their code before deploying it to real hardware, or learn more about electronics and microcontrollers. Arduino Toolkit can help you to:
Save time and money by avoiding buying unnecessary components or damaging them by mistake.
Debug your code more easily by observing the behavior of the virtual components and using the logic analyzer.
Experiment with different configurations and scenarios without affecting your physical circuit.
Create interactive demonstrations or tutorials that can be shared online or offline.
Apply Test-Driven Development (TDD), a software development methodology that improves code quality, understanding and developer satisfaction .
Conclusion
Arduino Toolkit for Virtual Breadboard is a powerful and versatile tool that can enhance your Arduino experience and skills. It allows you to connect real or virtual components to your Arduino board and test your code in a simulated environment. You can also use it to learn, teach, or create interactive demonstrations. Arduino Toolkit is a pay-feature of VBB and can be purchased from the webshop . You can also get a discount by supporting the VBB Kickstarter campaign .
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