Code Introduction

This IoT Code Guidebook is a supplement the IoT Project Guidebook.

This is Version 2.0 (In Development)

During the summer of 2022, we will be updating the code documentation for our IoT project to match the new IoT kit.

Expect frequent updates to this documentation!

What's in this Guidebook?

This guidebook contains a series of IoT code tutorials to help you get familiar with using your IoT electronics kit to build smart devices and program apps for them.

In addition, this guidebook contains coding references to help show and explain how to create a device app and web app that interact with each other through the internet. There are also references that show and explain how to connect specific inputs and outputs to your device and how to add code in your device app to control the inputs and outputs.

Finally, this guidebook also contains links to external resources, such as an online code editor (web IDE) for creating your device app, programming language references, and additional experiments for learning how to use your IoT kit.

Be sure to check out the recommended prerequisite knowledge that will help ensure students are successful with the IoT code tutorials and IoT project.

HOW TO COPY CODE: When using these coding tutorials and references, you can copy a code block by clicking the copy icon displayed in the upper-right corner of the code block.

// example code block

void setup() {
​
}
​
void loop() {
​
}

Your IoT Electronics Kit

This guidebook is tailored for an IoT electronics kit called the SparkFun Inventor's Kit for Photon, which will simply be referred to as the Photon kit.

SparkFun sells a variety of other sensors and outputs that can be used with the Photon kit. If possible, it is highly recommended to add an ultrasonic sensor to the kit for more design possibilities.

NOTE: Your instructor may have provided you with a different IoT electronics kit. If your IoT kit uses Arduino, then you can still use this guidebook to help get familiar with using your IoT kit to build smart devices and program apps for them. The Photon kit is programmed using a language called Wiring that is nearly identical to Arduino. In addition, the Photon circuit board is similar to an Arduino circuit board (though there are a few differences).

FYI: This IoT code tutorial focuses on coding web apps (using JavaScript) that interact with a Photon device. However, it is also possible to code native mobile apps for iOS and Android (using Objective-C, Swift, or Java) that interact with a Photon device.

Copyright and License

Copyright © 2016-2021 Michael Frontz and Jim Lyst, Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI

This material is part of the Computing by Design high school computer science curriculum developed for the Informatics Diversity-Enhanced Workforce (iDEW) program, an award-winning community partnership in central Indiana that is broadening student participation in computing and helping students develop the skills essential for success in the 21st century workplace. The iDEW program is managed by the Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing at IUPUI.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. You are free to use, share, or adapt this material for noncommercial purposes as long as you provide proper attribution and distribute any copies or adaptations under this same license.