Arduino CLI Skill

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name: arduino-cli

description: Provides commands and workflows for Arduino CLI. Use when the user wants to create, compile, or upload Arduino sketches, manage boards (list, attach), install/search/list cores (platforms) and libraries, or configure Arduino CLI. Triggers on phrases like "arduino-cli", "compile sketch", "upload arduino", "install arduino core", or "arduino library".

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# Arduino CLI Skill

This skill provides guidance for using the `arduino-cli` to manage Arduino projects, boards, cores, and libraries from the command line.

Quick Reference

1. Configuration & Setup

Initialize the configuration file (usually in `~/.arduino15/arduino-cli.yaml`):

arduino-cli config init

Update the local cache of available platforms and libraries (do this first!):

arduino-cli core update-index

2. Board Management

List connected boards to find the port and FQBN (Fully Qualified Board Name):

arduino-cli board list

List all supported boards and their FQBN strings:

arduino-cli board listall <search_term>

3. Core (Platform) Management

Search for a core:

arduino-cli core search <keyword>

Install a core using its ID (e.g., `arduino:samd`):

arduino-cli core install <core_id>

List installed cores:

arduino-cli core list

4. Sketch Workflow

Create a new sketch:

arduino-cli sketch new <SketchName>

Compile a sketch (requires the board's FQBN):

arduino-cli compile --fqbn <FQBN> <SketchName>

*Example:* `arduino-cli compile --fqbn arduino:samd:mkr1000 MyFirstSketch`

Upload a sketch to a connected board:

arduino-cli upload -p <port> --fqbn <FQBN> <SketchName>

*Example:* `arduino-cli upload -p /dev/ttyACM0 --fqbn arduino:samd:mkr1000 MyFirstSketch`

5. Library Management

Search for a library:

arduino-cli lib search <keyword>

Install a library:

arduino-cli lib install "<Library Name>"

Adding 3rd Party Cores (e.g., ESP8266)

To install 3rd party cores, pass the `--additional-urls` flag to your core commands:

arduino-cli core update-index --additional-urls https://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json
arduino-cli core install esp8266:esp8266 --additional-urls https://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json

*(Alternatively, these URLs can be added to the `board_manager.additional_urls` array in `arduino-cli.yaml`)*