@sternj Well, the Arduino IDE ver2 IDE is very good.
Just type in C, C++ and download (it compiles automatically.)
This is NOT your grandad's Arduino IDE ver 1 !!!
Here is a sample program to test serial:
bool ticktock; //declare ticktock as a boolean flag
void setup() { //runs once on start up
Serial.begin(115200); //open the serial port for USB cable
delay(500);
}
void loop() { //runs in circles!
ticktock = !ticktock; //every pass through reverse the flag
if (ticktock) { //test current value of the ticktock flag
Serial.println("tick");
} else { //prints one or the other to the USB port
Serial.println("tock");
}
delay(1000); //wait for a second and run again!
}