Dino gives you a high-level Ruby interface to low-level hardware, without writing microcontroller code. Use LEDs, buttons, sensors and more, just as easily as any Ruby object:

led.blink 0.5

lcd.puts "Hello World!"

reading = sensor.read

button.down do
  puts "Button pressed!"
end

Dino doesn't run Ruby on the microcontroller (try mruby-esp32 for that). It runs a C++ firmware that exposes as much low-level I/O as possible, so we can use it in Ruby. It becomes a peripheral for your computer.

High-level abstraction in Ruby makes hardware classes easy to implement, with intuitive interfaces. They multitask a single core microcontroller, with thread-safe state, and callbacks for inputs, but no "task" priority. If you need more I/O, integration is seamless. Connect another board and instantiate it in Ruby.

Each physical component connected to your board(s) maps to a Ruby object you can use directly. You get to think about your hardware and appplication logic, not everything in between.

See a full list of supported mircocontroller platforms, interfaces, and components here.

gem install dino

Before using the microcontroller in Ruby, we need to flash it with the dino firmware (or "sketch" in Arduino lingo). This is needed only once for each board, but future dino versions may need reflashing for firmware functions.

Get the Arduino IDE here for a graphical interface, or use the command line interface from here, or Homebrew.

CLI Installation with Homebrew on Mac, Linux, or WSL on Windows:

brew update
brew install arduino-cli

Dino uses Arduino cores, which add support for microcontrollers, and a few libraries. Install only the ones for your microcontroller, or install everything. There are no conflcits. Instructions for supported microcontrollers:

• Install Dependencies in IDE
• Install Dependencies in CLI

The dino command is included with the gem. It will make the Arduino sketch folder for you, and configure it.

For ATmega boards, Serial over USB: (Arduino Uno, Nano, Mega, Leonardo, Micro)

dino sketch serial

For ESP8266, Serial over USB:

dino sketch serial --target esp8266

For ESP8266 or ESP32 over WiFi (2.4Ghz and DHCP Only):

dino sketch wifi --target esp8266 --ssid YOUR_SSID --password YOUR_PASSWORD
dino sketch wifi --target esp32 --ssid YOUR_SSID --password YOUR_PASSWORD

Note: This example shows how to connect to a board with a TCP socket, but the WiFi & Ethernet sketches fall back to the serial interface when no TCP client is connected.

• Connect the board to your computer with a USB cable.
• Open the .ino file inside your sketch folder with the IDE.
• Open the dropdown menu at the top of the IDE window, and select your board.
• Press the Upload ➡️ button. This will compile the sketch, and flash it to the board.

Troubleshooting:

• If your serial port is in the list, but the board is wrong, select the serial port anyway, then go to Tools > Board in the menus and choose your board from the list.
• If your board doesn't show up at all, make sure it is connected properly. Try disconnecting and reconnecting, use a different USB port or cable, or press the reset button after plugging it in.

• The path output by dino sketch earlier is your sketch folder. Keep it handy.
• Connect the board to your computer with a USB cable.
• Check if the CLI recognizes it:

arduino-cli board list

• Using the Port and FQBN (Fully Qualified Board Name) shown, compile and upload the sketch:

arduino-cli compile -b YOUR_FQBN YOUR_SKETCH_FOLDER
arduino-cli upload -v -p YOUR_PORT -b YOUR_FQBN YOUR_SKETCH_FOLDER

Troubleshooting:

• Follow the same steps as the IDE method above. List all FQBNs using:

arduino-cli board listall

Most boards have an on-board LED. It's internally connected to pin 13 on Arduinos, but might be different for you. Run the LED example here. Change the pin number if needed. If the LED starts blinking, you're ready for Ruby!

• The first 5 examples are sort of a mini-tutorial, to familiarize you with the basics. Read the comments and try modifying the code. You will need the following:

  • 1 microcontroller (Arduino Uno, Leonardo and Mega are most compatible)
  • 1 button or momentary switch
  • 1 potentiometer (any value)
  • 1 external RGB LED (4 legs common cathode, not a Neopixel or individually addressable)
  • 1 external LED (any color, or use one color of the RGB LED)
  • Current limiting resistors for the LEDs
  • Breadboard
  • Jumper wires

  Tip: Arduino kits are a cost-effective way to get started. They will almost certainly include these parts, plus more, getting you well beyond the starter examples.

• The remaining examples will usually demonstrate the interface for a specific component class, or how to use multiple components together.

• Each example folder should incldue a wiring diagram alongside its code.

• Try Getting Started with Arduino and Dino from Jumpstart Lab (ignore old install instructions).
• An example rails app using Dino and Pusher.
• For a Sinatra example, look at the site used to shoot the cannon at RubyConf2012.

• "Arduino the Ruby Way" at RubyConf 2012
  • Video by ConFreaks
  • Slides on SpeakerDeck