How to set up Invent One with Arduino Software
What is Invent One (Main board)?
Invent One board is a device (based on the ESP8266 chip set) that allows quick and easy prototyping of embedded systems. This device has a Wi-Fi Soc at its core therefore it enables easy prototyping on and off the web which allows it to be influential especially in IoT and cloud technologies.
What is Arduino Software?
Arduino software is a tool used to design firmware for embedded systems whose main controller is the very popular AVR chip-based board called Arduino. Over the years, the software has grown to support varieties of chip-set.
Why need an Arduino Software with Invent One?
- Programming
There are several ways of programming the Invent One, using Arduino software is by far the easiest. The Arduino software supports the development of the firmware for the Invent One. - Serial debugging
Sometimes, you may need to see whats coming in or going out from the UART pins of the Invent One. Using the Arduino software enables this seamlessly. - Community support
Of all the embedded systems software programming tools out there, Arduino is by-far the most trusted due to its heavy community support. It is regularly updated and you are sure to always get answers from challenges you face while using the software. - Libraries and Yes, a lot of Libraries!!!
Arduino software support for the ESP8266 chip-set allow for open-source release of libraries that enables speedy and easy prototyping and development. There are libraries out there written by good folks for the ESP8266 chip-set and invariably for the Invent One.
Steps to follow to set up your Invent One board with Arduino Software
Step 1
Include a web-link in the Arduino Preferences.
Go to File –>Preferences and add http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json into the Additional Board Manager URLs (If you found a web-link already inside the box, just append the above web-link and make sure to add the delimiter ' ; ').
step 1
Step 2
Go to Board Manager
Go to Tools –-> Board –-> Board Manger to download the package you need to install in order to start tinkering with the Invent One main board.
If you are in the right place, you would see an interface as depicted in the picture above. Wait for the download bar to complete and enter into the search box “esp8266”. You should get a result.
Hover over the esp8266 searched result and an install button will show up. Click on the install button.
Well-done!!
You are almost done!!
Step 3
Go to Tools
step 3
When you are done, you should see an INSTALLED text on the esp8266 item.
Great Job!!
You are good to go.
Step 4
Lets have an example project (VERY IMPORTANT!!!, PLEASE DON'T MISS THIS STEP)
Head to File –-> Example –-> ESP8266 –-> Blink
Go to Tools –>Board and select “Generic ESP8266 Module”
Also make sure that;
Flash mode : “DIO”
Flash frequency: “40MHz”
CPU frequency: “80MHz”
Flash size: “2M(1M SPIFFS)”
Debug port: “Disabled”
Debug level: “None”
Reset mode: “NodeMCU” (if you select “ck” instead, before you debug i.e. run your code into the board, make sure D2 is connected to ground, press the reset button and then remove D2
from ground)
Upload speed: “115200”