C++ Tutorial

• Visual Studio allows one main() function per project. To accomplish the tasks in the tutorial, you'll could create multiple projects or just delete each task as you go. Other solutions are fine, too.
• If you are using strings and get a weird compile error, make sure you have the following include command at the top of your file:

  #include <string>
  

• If you are using cout and get a weird compile error, make sure you have the following commands at the top of your file:

  #include <iostream>
  
  using namespace std;
  

• If you get an undefined function error, make sure you have either a) written its code before you call it or b) included a prototype at the tope of the file. A function prototype is just the return type, name, and parameter definition followed by a semicolon.

Project Illuminate

• When the lights first begin a program in the pattern framework, they should all turn white, then all red, and then they should alternate red and blue. If they do not, it is likely that the bulbs do not have the right address. The bulb address is how we refer to the bulb---so, in the pattern framework, this is 0, 1, 2, 3, etc. when the bulbs are initially powered on (i.e, plugged in), each expects the first piece of data it receives to be its address and will interpret any data it receives as an address. So, if the Arduino board is in the middle of a program when the lights are plugged in, you may end up with weird addressing issues.

  To repair these issues, either:
  a) Hold down the reset button (it's the red button on the Arduino board) and while holding it down, unplug and re-plug the lights. Once the lights are plugged in again (and the bulbs are thus waiting for an address), release the reset button.
  b) Upload the Blink LED program to the Arduino board. This program does not send data to the lights, so the lights are then not receiving any data. Unplug and then re-plug the lights. Upload your program that controls the lights.

• turn_all_off() (in color.cpp) uses protocol_broadcast(), which breaks under some conditions. If you are using turn_all_off() and your lights turn off but not back on, try turning each light off individually instead. (You could do this by replacing the turn_all_off() code.)
• In loop() in pattern_framework and in its prototype in test.h, blink_alternating_lights() is missing the s.
• In test.h, chase_two_colors_with_scroll() is listed as chase_three_colors_with_scroll().