Make Arduino Executable File

Question

On a Pi, to execute a C++ code, you'll need a Makefile.

Is there an equivalent with the Arduino? Where I have some valid C++ files to upload without the IDE's help, but instead with an executable?

• gilhad: See also arduino.stackexchange.com/questions/32998/…
• jfpoilpret: On a Pi you absolutely do not need a Makefile to execute C++ code. Regarding building an executable from C++ code on Pi, you may want to use a Makefile to help you do it, but having a Makefile is in no way mandatory.
• jfpoilpret: You can find several Makefile solutions for Arduino on Internet. Some of them are listed in this question: arduino.stackexchange.com/questions/348/… Now since I am using NetBeans IDE for my Arduino projects (check out github.com/jfpoilpret/fast-arduino-lib/blob/master/… for a description of my setup), it automatically creates Makefiles for me.

Answer 1

Whether you compile manually with a Makefile (or Arduino-Builder) or in the IDE, the end result is a HEX file. This is a text file describing the data to load into the flash memory.

You then use avrdude to install it into the Arduino - either from the IDE or by running it manually (or specifying it in your Makefile, etc).

A Makefile doesn't produce an executable. A Makefile is merely a recipe - a set of instructions - telling the make program which programs to run (gcc, avr-gcc, etc) and in what order (and with what flags) to compile your code.

There are many Arduino Makefile projects out there that do it all for you.

Answer 2

Take a look at platformio.org. It Provides a simple CLI environment to compile, upload and monitor.