Getting Started w/ Arduino on Mac OS X
This document explains how to connect your Arduino board to the computer and upload your first sketch.
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1 | Get an Arduino board and USB cable
In this tutorial, we assume you're using an Arduino Uno, Arduino Duemilanove, Nano, or Diecimila. If you have another board, read the corresponding page in this getting started guide.
You also need a standard USB cable (A plug to B plug): the kind you would connect to a USB printer, for example. (For the Arduino Nano, you'll need an A to Mini-B cable instead.)
2 | Download the Arduino environment
Get the latest version from the download page.
When the download is finished, double click the .zip fle. This will expand the Arduino application.
3 | Install the Software
Copy the Arduino application into the Applications folder (or elsewhere on your computer). If you're using an Arduino Uno or Mga 2560, you don't have any drivers to install. Skip ahead to the next step.
If you're using an older board (Duemilanove, Diecimila, or any board with an FTDI driver chip that looks like this:
you will need to install the drivers for the FTDI chip on the board. You need to download the latest version of the drivers from the FTDI website. One downloaded, double click the package, and follow the instructions in the installer. You'll need to restart your computer after installing the drivers.
4 | Connect the board
The Arduino Uno, Mega, Duemilanove and Arduino Nano automatically draw power from either the USB connection to the computer or an external power supply. If you're using an Arduino Diecimila, you'll need to make sure that the board is configured to draw power from the USB connection. The power source is selected with a jumper, a small piece of plastic that fits onto two of the three pins between the USB and power jacks. Check that it's on the two pins closest to the USB port.
Connect the Arduino board to your computer using the USB cable. The green power LED (labelled PWR) should go on.
If you're using the Arduino Uno or Arduino Mega 2560, a dialog box will appear telling you that a new network interface has been detected. Click "Network Preferences...", and when it opens, simply click "Apply". The Uno or Mega 2560 will show up as "Not Configured", but it's working properly. Quit System Preferences.
5 | Launch the Arduino application
Double-click the Arduino application. (Note: if the Arduino software loads in the wrong language, you can change it in the preferences dialog. See the environment page for details.)
6 | Open the blink example
Open the LED blink example sketch: File > Examples > 1.Basics > Blink.
7 | Select your board
You'll need to select the entry in the Tools > Board menu that corresponds to your Arduino.
Selecting an Arduino Uno
For Duemilanove Arduino boards with an ATmega328 (check the text on the chip on the board), select Arduino Duemilanove or Nano w/ ATmega328. Previously, Arduino boards came with an ATmega168; for those, select Arduino Diecimila, Duemilanove, or Nano w/ ATmega168. (Details of the board menu entries are available on the environment page.)
8 | Select your serial port
Select the serial device of the Arduino board from the Tools > Serial Port menu. On the Mac, this should be something with /dev/tty.usbmodem (for the Uno or Mega 2560) or /dev/tty.usbserial (for older boards) in it.
selecting an Uno, Mega2560, or newer board
selecting an older FTDI-based board
9 | Upload the program
Now, simply click the "Upload" button in the environment. Wait a few seconds - you should see the RX and TX leds on the board flashing. If the upload is successful, the message "Done uploading." will appear in the status bar. (Note: If you have an Arduino Mini, NG, or other board, you'll need to physically present the reset button on the board immediately before pressing the upload button.)
A few seconds after the upload finishes, you should see the pin 13 (L) LED on the board start to blink (in orange). If it does, congratulations! You've gotten Arduino up-and-running.
If you have problems, please see the troubleshooting suggestions.
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The text of the Arduino getting started guide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. Code samples in the guide are released into the public domain.