Getting Started with Arduino: The Open Source Electronics Prototyping Platform (Make)
Arduino is the open source electronics prototyping platform that has taken the Maker Movement by storm. This thorough introduction, updated for the latest Arduino release, helps you start prototyping right away. From obtaining the required components to putting the final touches on your project, all the information you need is here!

Getting started with Arduino is a snap. To use the introductory examples in this guide, all you need is an Arduino Uno or Leonardo, along with a USB cable and an LED. The easy-to-use, free Arduino development environment runs on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

In Getting Started with Arduino, you'll learn about:

Interaction design and physical computing
The Arduino board and its software environment
Basics of electricity and electronics
Prototyping on a solderless breadboard
Drawing a schematic diagram
Talking to a computer--and the cloud--from Arduino
Building a custom plant-watering system