If you're interested in programming microcontrollers using the Go programming language, you're in the right place. This tutorial will walk you through the basics of Go programming for microcontrollers, from setting up your development environment to writing your first microcontroller program.


Getting Started

  • Before you start programming microcontrollers in Go, you'll need to set up your development environment. Here are the steps you'll need to follow:
  • Install Go: First, you'll need to download and install the Go programming language on your computer. You can download the latest version of Go from the official website.
  • Install a cross-compiler: To compile Go programs for microcontrollers, you'll need to install a cross-compiler. A cross-compiler is a compiler that runs on one platform (your computer) but generates code for another platform (the microcontroller). There are several cross-compilers available for Go, including TinyGo and Go-STM32.
  • Install an IDE or text editor: You can write Go code using any text editor, but an integrated development environment (IDE) can make your life easier. Some popular Go IDEs include Visual Studio Code, GoLand, and IntelliJ IDEA.
  • Choose a microcontroller: There are many microcontrollers you can program using Go, including the popular Arduino and Raspberry Pi. Choose a microcontroller that fits your needs and budget.


Writing Your First Program

Once you have your development environment set up, you can start writing your first program. Here's a simple program that blinks an LED on an Arduino board:

package main

import (
	"time"

	"github.com/tinygo-org/drivers/arduino"
	"github.com/tinygo-org/tinygo/src/machine"
)

func main() {
	machine.InitADC()
	arduino.LED.Configure(machine.PinConfig{Mode: machine.PinOutput})
	for {
		arduino.LED.High()
		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 500)
		arduino.LED.Low()
		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 500)
	}
}
  • This program uses the TinyGo cross-compiler and the Arduino driver library to blink the built-in LED on an Arduino board. Here's what the code does:
  • The package main statement at the top of the file tells the Go compiler that this is a standalone executable program.
  • The import statements at the beginning of the file load the necessary libraries for the program.
  • The func main() function is the entry point of the program.
  • The machine.InitADC() function initializes the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) on the microcontroller.
  • The arduino.LED.Configure() function configures the built-in LED on the Arduino board as an output pin.
  • The for loop repeatedly turns the LED on and off with a half-second delay between each state change.


Compiling and Uploading Your Program

Once you've written your program, you'll need to compile it and upload it to your microcontroller. Here are the steps you'll need to follow:

1. Compile your program: To compile your program, run the following command in your terminal: 

tinygo build -o program.bin -target=arduino -size=short main.go


This command compiles your program for the Arduino board and generates a binary file called program.bin.

2. Upload your program: To upload your program to the microcontroller, you'll need to connect your microcontroller to your computer using a USB cable and run the following command in your terminal:

tinygo flash -target=arduino -port=/dev/ttyACM0 program.bin

This command uploads your program to the microcontroller via the USB cable.


Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to program microcontrollers using the Go programming language. We covered the basic steps for setting up your development environment, writing your first program, and compiling and uploading your program to a microcontroller.

Programming microcontrollers in Go can be a fun and rewarding experience. The Go language offers many benefits, such as its simplicity, speed, and concurrency features. It also has a growing community of developers who are creating libraries and tools specifically for microcontroller development.

If you're interested in learning more about Go programming for microcontrollers, there are many resources available online. The TinyGo website is a great place to start, as it provides documentation, tutorials, and examples for programming microcontrollers using Go. You can also check out the Go for Embedded Systems book, which covers Go programming for a variety of microcontrollers and embedded systems.

With the information provided in this tutorial and the resources available online, you should have everything you need to start programming microcontrollers in Go. So, go forth and create amazing things!