Install Arduino Software

Install Arduino IDE

The code in this kit is written based on Arduino, so you need to install the IDE first. Skip it if you have done this.
Now go to the arduino.cc website and click DOWNLOAD. On the page, check the software list on the right side under Download the Arduino Software.

Find the one that suits your operation system and click to download. There are two versions of Arduino for Windows: Installer or ZIP file. You're recommended to download the former. Just download the package, and run the executable file to start installation. It will download the driver needed to run Arduino IDE. After downloading, follow the prompts to install. For the details of installing steps, you can refer to the guide onGetting Started with Arduino, scroll down and see Install the Arduino Software.
After installing, you will see Arduino icon on your desk and double click to open it.

 

Plug in the Board

Connect the control board to your computer with a USB cable. If you use Uno, Mega2560 or Mars as the control board, the system will automatically install the driver when you plug it in. After a while, a prompt will show up at the bottom right corner telling you which port the board locates at. If the control board is Nano, then you need to install the driver by yourself. For more details, you can refer to WIKI on our website www.sunfounder.com.

How to Use the IDE

Double-click the Arduino icon (arduino.exe) created by the installation process

Double click the Arduino IDE icon and then the window will pop up. Now open a sample code to learn the basic use of IDE. Click File->Examples->01.Basics->Blink and then a new window will appear.

Click Tools ->Board and select Arduino/Genuino Uno.

Then select Tools ->Port.

Click the Upload icon to upload the code to the board. And the icon Compile to compile sketches (usually used to refer to a code file), which always checks the code. Also when you click Upload, the code will be compiled. The sketches can be uploaded to the board when there is nothing wrong with them. Therefore, generally you just need to click Upload. During the upload, the TX LED and the RX LED will be alternately flickering. It means the board is sending signal to the computer and then receives the signal from the computer. After upload is completed, the two LEDs will go out.

If "Done uploading" appears at the bottom of the window, it means the sketch has been successfully uploaded. And if you see the pin 13(L) LED starts to flicker, it means the codes have been successfully run.

For more details about Arduino IDE, go to Learning->Getting started->Foundation on the arduino.cc and click Arduino Software (IDE) on the page http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Environment
If your sketch fails upload, on the same page click Troubleshooting http://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Troubleshooting.