book

Getting Started with the Photon

by Simon Monk

May 2015

Beginner

204 pages

3h 48m

English

Make: Community

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What’s in a Name?Conventions Used in This BookUsing Code ExamplesSafari® Books OnlineHow to Contact Us
The Internet of ThingsSparks in the CloudsOther IoT PlatformsArduinoRaspberry Pi and BeagleBoneIntel EdisonA Tour of the PhotonThe Spark Core vs. PhotonProgrammingSummary
Signing UpConnecting to WiFiConnecting a CoreConnecting a PhotonControlling Pins with the Tinker AppProject 1. Blink the Tiny Blue LEDProject 2. Control the Photon’s LEDSummary
The Web IDECoding an AppCommentsVariablesMorse CodeFlashing SOSFunctionsTypesThe int TypeThe float TypeOther TypesArraysLoopsStringsIfsProject 3. Morse Code FlasherSoftwareSummary
How a Breadboard WorksAttaching an LEDDigital OutputsProject 4. Morse Flasher (External LED)PartsHardwareSoftwareAttaching a SwitchDigital InputsProject 5. Morse Flasher with SwitchPartsSoftwareHardwareRunning the ProjectAnalog OutputsanalogWriteAn ExampleA Real Analog OutputSummary
FunctionsProject 6. Control an LED over the InternetSoftwareSecurityTrying It OutInteracting with loopRunning Functions from a Web PageProject 7. Control Relays from a Web PagePartsDesignConstructionSoftwareProject 8. Morse Code Text MessagesPartsSoftwareHardwareUsing the ProjectVariablesAnalog InputsProject 9. Measuring Light over the InternetPartsSoftwareHardwareUsing the ProjectProject 10. Measuring Temperature over the InternetPartsSoftwareHardwareUsing the ProjectSummary
If This Then ThatProject 11. Temperature Email AlertsProject 12. Ring a Bell for TweetsSoftwareIFTTTHardwareUsing the ProjectProject 13. Flash Email as Morse CodeSoftwareHardwareIFTTTUsing the ProjectSummary
Project 14. Web-Controlled RobotPartsSoftware (Photon)Software (Web Page)HardwareUsing the ProjectSummary
Publish and SubscribeTemperature Monitor ExampleIFTTT and Publish/SubscribeAdvanced Publish and SubscribePublishSubscribeProject 15. Magic RopePartsSoftwareHardwareUsing the ProjectSummary

Configuring a Photon Using USBFactory ResetProgramming a Photon Using Particle DevDebugging with the Serial MonitorThe ElectronPower ManagementSummary
Component SuppliersPartsElectronic ComponentsModules and ShieldsHardware and ConnectorsOther
Reset SequenceOther Status CodesError Codes
CorePhoton

Overview

The Photon is an open source, inexpensive, programmable, WiFi-enabled module for building connected projects and prototypes. Powered by an ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller and a Broadcom WiFi chip, the Photon is just as happy plugged into a hobbyist's breadboard as it is into a product rolling off of an assembly line.

While the Photon--and its accompanying cloud platform--is designed as a ready-to-go foundation for product developers and manufacturers, it's great for Maker projects, as you'll see in this book. You'll learn how to get started with the free development tools, deploy your sketches over WiFi, and build electronic projects that take advantage of the Photon's processing power, cloud platform, and input/output pins. What's more, the Photon is backward-compatible with its predecessor, the Spark Core.