LED Flashlight

Use the ‘Parts List’ image along with the component cards in your box to correctly plug in the electronic hardware to your Maker Board. The colorful dots next to the legs of the components match up to the ports where that leg should go on Maker Board’s ports.

Code

The code in the editor below is ready to run! Plug in the electronic components just like the Parts List card above, connect Maker Board to your computer's USB port with the cable, and hit 'Upload Your Code!'. Tinker with the code and change something! If you get stuck, you can hit the 'Restore' button to make the code go back to the working example.

/* Create a 'flashlight' that switches on an LED when the button is pressed, then turns off the LED when the button is pressed again */ int pressCount = 0; //An integer (whole number) variable to keep track of how many times the button is pressed void setup(){ pinMode(2,OUTPUT); //LED pinMode(6,INPUT_PULLUP); //button } void loop(){ if(digitalRead(6)==LOW){ //if button 6 is pressed pressCount++; //++ is a way to add one to a variable. Now pressCount = its former value + 1 delay(250); //a delay allows you to release your finger from the button without counting multiple presses } if(pressCount == 1){ //if pressCount equals 1.. digitalWrite(2,HIGH); //turn on the LED } else{ //if pressCount is anything other than 1... digitalWrite(2,LOW); //turn off the LED pressCount = 0; //reset the count to 0 before the loop starts again } } // (c) 2019 Let's Start Coding. License: www.letsstartcoding.com/bsdlicense

Walkthrough Video

Watch the video for a line-by-line explanation of how the example program works. Then you'll be ready to make some changes of your own!

Challenges

Can you complete the challenges? Change the code in your code editor above. Upload your code to see the effect when you're finished. Complete a challenge? Check it off the list!

Make the code turn on multiple LEDs when the button is pressed. Don’t forget to turn the LEDs off in the ‘else’ statement!

Change the delay inside the first ‘if’ statement. How small can you make the delay before it’s hard to reliably turn on and off the LED?

Concepts

These are the new code concepts covered in this example program. To become a great coder, read through these concepts to learn new vocabulary.

Quiz

If you're having trouble, try to run an experimental program or look at the example code to help you find the answer.

1. Which syntax ends the entire 'void loop' function?

semicolon ;
parentheses )
closing curly brace }

2. Which syntax ends a single code command?

semicolon ;
closing curly brace }
period .

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