How to Install Arduino 1.8.5 on Ubuntu Linux via DEB Package

=====================================================================================================

In this article, we'll cover the process of installing the popular microcontroller development environment - Arduino IDE v1.8.5 - directly onto an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution using a standard DEB package.

Why Choose a Deb Package?

----------------------

When it comes to managing software on modern operating systems like Ubuntu, deb packages have become the norm due to their ease-of-use and low maintenance overhead compared to manually compiling from source or relying on third-party repositories. In this case, we'll explore how to install Arduino 1.8.5 using a pre-built DEB package specifically designed for use with Ubuntu distributions.

Prerequisites

---------

Before proceeding with the installation process outlined below, ensure you've met these basic requirements:

* You're running an officially supported version of Ubuntu Linux (e.g., Ubuntu LTS or Focal/18.04+).

* Your system has a working internet connection to download and install necessary dependencies.

* The `dpkg` package manager is installed on your system, which it should be by default if you've followed the standard Ubuntu installation process.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

------------------------------

1. Open up a terminal window or launch an equivalent text-based command prompt (e.g., Konsole in LXDE/Ubuntu Mate).

2. Next, update the package index to ensure your system has access to all available DEB packages:

```bash

sudo apt-get update -y

```

3. Now that our local repository is up-to-date, we can proceed with installing Arduino IDE v1.8.5 itself using the following command:

```

sudo dpkg -i arduino-ide_1.8.5_x86_64.deb --force-all

```

4. Once the installation process has completed, you'll likely encounter a series of dependency-related errors due to missing libraries and other supporting software required by Arduino IDE v1.8.5:

```

sudo apt-get install -y libboost-all-dev libqt5-opensource-src5 libusb-1.0-7 \

libudev-dev cmake build-essential git curl automake unzip

```

5. After installing all missing dependencies, we can safely purge the temporary DEB package and its associated configuration files:

```bash

sudo apt-get autoremove -y --purge arduino* && sudo rm -rf ~/.arduino15/*

```

6. Finally, start up Arduino IDE v1.8.5 by executing one of these commands depending on your system's default desktop environment (e.g., `startx` for LXDE/Ubuntu Mate or simply typing 'arduino' in a terminal):

```bash

sudo update-alternatives --set java /usr/local/bin/java-11-x86_64 \

&& sudo alternatives --set javac /usr/local/bin/javac-11-x86_64 \

&& sudo alternatives --set jar /usr/local/bin/jar-1.8.x86_64 \

&& arduino &> /dev/null &

```

Troubleshooting

-----------

If you encounter any issues during the installation process, such as dependency errors or other problems related to missing software packages, please refer to official Ubuntu documentation for troubleshooting guidance specific to your distribution and architecture.

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With these simple steps completed, you should now have a fully functional Arduino IDE v1.8.5 environment up-and-running on your Ubuntu Linux system, ready for unleashing your creativity in the world of microcontroller programming and electronics prototyping!

Arduino 1.8.5 deb