I signed up for a class on edX that involves microcontroller programming, and my kit arrived today so I wanted to start experimenting a bit, the only problem is, I have no clue how to connect the LaunchPad (TI Tiva C Series TM4C123GXL) to the breadboard. I was hoping to create a simple "traffic light" project, following Arduino Street Traffic Light – Breadboard Edition
The problem is that tutorial uses an Arduino. I see on the back of my LaunchPad there are several female headers marked PA#, PB#, PC#, PD#, PE#, PF#, 2 GNDs, RST, VBUS, and +3.3V.
I have a very (very) limited knowledge, so I know GND is ground and goes to the – column on the breadboard's voltage rail. Is there a difference which GND I connect? Do I need to connect the Reset, VBUS, or +3.3V pins? Are any of the P… pins similar to the digital out pins on the Arduino? I'm just trying to figure out which pins on the LaunchPad I need to connect to the breadboard.
I have extensive programming background, but hardware is a mythical beast to me, so if this should be obvious (or if what I was thinking is impossible) please forgive me.
Best Answer
PX#, PBx, etc are Port X, Pin #. PA1 is Port A Pin 1.
You would need a ground connection (all grounds should be connected together internally, i.e. they are the same), and depending on how you want to connect your leds, either 3.3v or Ground, and the other end into a PX#. (VBUS is the USB 5v, and not all pins on the Tiva are 5v tolerant!)
For the most part, the Tiva is like the ATMega on an Arduino. But the Arduino provides more than just hardware, it also adds a level of software abstraction by hiding certain tasks in libraries, like the digitalwrite function, which enables an output pin to a high or low.
The nice part is, the Arduino Language has a great port to Texas Instruments Launchpads, called Energia. It works with the Tiva Launchpad (Essentially a renamed Stellaris Launchpad) as seen here: Guide to the Stellaris LaunchPad (EK-LM4F120XL)
A fair deal of beginner and intermediate Arduino projects can move over easily with little rewriting, including your Traffic Light project.