Simplifying Raspberry Pi Pico Programming with Arduino-Pico

Simplifying Raspberry Pi Pico Programming with Arduino-Pico

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The Raspberry Pi Pico has quickly become a popular choice among embedded developers due to its powerful capabilities and low price. However, for developers accustomed to the Arduino platform, getting started with the Pico may require some time to learn the new development environment and tools. The advent of the Arduino-Pico project provides developers with a familiar platform, allowing them to easily develop for the Raspberry Pi Pico using the Arduino IDE and familiar syntax.

Simplifying Raspberry Pi Pico Programming with Arduino-Pico

Advantages of Arduino-Pico

  • • Arduino IDE Support: The Arduino-Pico project connects the Arduino IDE with the Raspberry Pi Pico, enabling developers to program directly using the Arduino IDE without having to learn a new development environment.

  • • Familiar Syntax: The Arduino-Pico project uses syntax compatible with Arduino, allowing developers to easily port existing Arduino code to the Pico without having to learn a new programming language.

  • • Rich Libraries: The Arduino-Pico project supports a wealth of Arduino libraries, enabling developers to quickly build various functionalities such as GPIO control, SPI communication, I2C communication, PWM control, serial communication, and more.

  • • Multi-Platform Support: The Arduino-Pico project supports multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it convenient for developers to work across different environments.

  • • Community Support: The Arduino-Pico project has an active community, allowing developers to easily get help and support to solve any issues they encounter.

Application Scenarios of Arduino-Pico

  • • Beginner Learning: The Arduino-Pico project provides a simple and easy-to-learn platform for beginners, enabling them to quickly get started with embedded development and learn various hardware control techniques.

  • • Prototype Design: The Arduino-Pico project can be used to quickly build various prototypes, such as smart home devices, sensor networks, robots, and more.

  • • Embedded Applications: The Arduino-Pico project can be used to develop various embedded applications, such as industrial automation, agricultural monitoring, environmental monitoring, and more.

  • • Personal Projects: The Arduino-Pico project can be used to develop various personal projects, such as smart assistants, automatic watering systems, pet trackers, and more.

How to Use Arduino-Pico

  • • Install Arduino-Pico Core Library

In the Arduino IDE, open File > Preferences, and add the following address in “Additional Boards Manager URLs”:

https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-pico/releases/download/global/package_rp2040_index.json

Then click “OK” to close the window.

  • • Add Board

Open Tools > Board > Board Manager, search for “pico” and install the “Raspberry Pi Pico” core library.

  • • Select Board

Select Tools > Board, and choose the model of your Raspberry Pi Pico development board.

  • • Select Port

Select Tools > Port, and choose the serial port connected to your Raspberry Pi Pico.

  • • Upload Code

Click the Upload button to upload the code to the Raspberry Pi Pico development board.

  • • Run Program

Once the code upload is successful, the Raspberry Pi Pico will start running the code.

Conclusion

The Arduino-Pico project provides developers with a simple and powerful platform, making it easy for them to use the Arduino IDE and familiar syntax to develop for the Raspberry Pi Pico. It lowers the barriers to embedded development, allowing more developers to easily use the Raspberry Pi Pico for various creative projects.

Project Address: https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-pico

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