Programming the Pico using the Arduino IDE

In the projects we've discussed in this book, we have been programming in CircuitPython or MicroPython. In this section, we will discuss programming the Pico using the Arduino platform. If you are not familiar with the Arduino platform, it is an open source electronics hardware and software that is meant to ease prototyping. It simplified prototyping through easy-to-use software and hardware that is available for a very low cost. It has enabled engineers, artists, and creators to rapidly build prototypes. There is a vast ecosystem of add-on hardware (known as shields) available for the Arduino platform. The Arduino platform enables the Pico to be programmed in C++. It also provides access to the vast ecosystem of libraries and add-on hardware that's available for the Arduino platform. You can learn more about the Arduino platform at https://www.arduino.cc/en/Guide/Introduction.

Downloading and installing the Arduino IDE

You...