Topics Covered

Every program starts somewhere. As you gain experience, you'll be able to start with chunks of code you've previously written or seen. 

Here, you'll start with the smallest amount of code that will make something happen on your Maker Screen: writing a message. As you'll see, there are many pieces that have to be put even to make that happen.

/* * Programming is a process of problem solving. You have a goal in mind * and you break it into manageable steps to achieve that goal. * * The goal you're after is the Jump Man game, so a good starting * point is using the screen it's played on. This lesson starts with a * message printed on your Maker Screen */ //Include the MakerScreenXVI library so you can control Maker Screen. #include "MakerScreenXVI.h" /* * A library is a collection of tools that are prepared in advance * to make programming easier. This one is for the Maker Screen 16x2 LCD * screen. You'll use methods and commands built into the library to * control it.Each method will be explain as it's introduced. */ /* * Once the library is included the code, you need to be able to use * the resources it provides. To do that, create what's called * an object. An object is a specific, named version of the thing you * want to use the library's methods on. */ MakerScreenXVI lcd; /* * 'MakerScreenXVI' is the type of thing you'll use and 'lcd' is * the name of the screen object connected to the hardware. * You can name an object almost anything. */ /* * Arduino is designed with two specific places for code to run: * void setup() and void loop(). Everything bewtween the { and the } * of void setup() is run one time. It's where you put code that starts * devices or initializes settings. */ void setup() { // In setup, the screen is made ready to take commands, // which is accomplished by the 'begin' method: lcd.begin(); /* * Methods are how you use objects, they tell the object you named to * do something. Here, you tell the object named lcd to set its * settings to default. */ /* The backlightOn() method turns on the LED embedded in the screen. * Place two slashes (//) in front of this line to 'comment it out'. * Re-upload the code and see what it looks like without backlight. */ lcd.backlightOn(); /* * Once the screen is on and lit up, send it some text.Use the print() * method. Note that characters must be within double quotes " " */ lcd.print("Hello world!"); /* * This method has something between the parenthesis: the text you * want to show on the lcd. Data given to a method this way are called * 'arguments'.They provide directions to an object through a method. * The command 'print this on the screen' wouldn't make much sense * without telling Maker Screen what to print! */ } //This brace is the end of the void setup() section /* * After setup() is loop(). Code written between the { and } of * void loop() executes over and over as long as the Maker Board is * powered on. Most code you write will be in loop, as you usually want * continuous operation. Loop can run millions of times per second! */ void loop() { /* * No code is needed in loop for this program. The program has no * changing parts. */ } /* * That's the end of your first program! To recap: * - You included a library so that you could use the screen * - Created an object called 'lcd' to represent your screen * - Activated Maker Screen and turned on the backlight * - Sent Maker Screen some text to display * * Here you typed lcd.print() in void setup so that it only wrote to * the screen once. After you've run this example, * try copying that line into loop() between the { and } and uploading it. * Watch the screen closely for different behaviors * * Try replacing 'world' in the .print method with your name or type a * whole new message. Re-upload your code to see the effects. */ // (c) 2017 Let's Start Coding. License: www.letsstartcoding.com/bsdlicense
 

 That's the end of your first program! To recap:
 - You included a library so that you could use the screen
 - Created an object called 'lcd' to represent your screen
 - Activated Maker Screen and turned on the backlight
 - Sent Maker Screen some text to display

Here you typed lcd.print() in void setup so that it only wrote to the screen once. After you've run this example, try copying that line into loop() between the { and } and uploading it. Watch the screen closely for different behaviors

Try replacing 'world' in the .print method with your name or type a whole new message. Re-upload your code to see the effects.