Building up your prototype – function by function

It’s finally time to get building. With our thoughts on planning done, there’s just a few reminders of some of the techniques we’ve been learning along the way.

Here are some top tips for a successful project:

• Try to build your projects in sections. This also gives you a sense of accomplishment when something works. I’ve had the experience of trying to do too much at once and then there seems to be an insurmountable number of errors to fix.
• Prototype small and in a non-permanent way. All I mean by this is when you start the circuit, try to use croc clips or breadboards, and hook up wires so that you can easily fix, move, repair, and try things out.
• Don’t forget to check your board and port every time you disconnect and connect the board to your computer and Arduino.
• It’s a good idea to prototype and test the connections as you finish them. This might be checking...