Debugging microcontroller code

Compared with more powerful embedded platforms, such as the Raspberry PI, the debugging capabilities of Arduino are limited. The Arduino IDE does not provide an integrated debugger, and the Arduino board itself does not have a built-in screen. It does, however, have UART, and provides a serial interface that can be used for debugging purposes.

In this recipe, we will learn how to use the Arduino serial interface for debugging and reading user input.

How to do it...

We will implement a simple program for the Arduino controller that waits for user input on the serial port and turns the built-in LED on or off depending on the data:

1. Open Arduino IDE and select New in its File menu. A new Sketch...