Using the Examples

Using the Examples

Every example lives under File → Examples → ANSITerm in the Arduino IDE after the library is installed.

Suggested learning path

Basic → Advanced → Buttons → Graphic
                    ↘ ANS files (needs SD card + Mega-class RAM)
Network / ESP examples when you have Wi‑Fi or Ethernet

Order	Example	What you learn	Extra hardware
1	Basic	Colors, box, button	USB only
2	Advanced	Tables, symbols, animation	USB only; wider window (~70 columns)
3	Buttons	Menus with keyboard + mouse	USB only; onboard LED
4	Graphic	Game loop, WASD keys	USB only
5	ANS files	SD card file list	SD module; best on Mega
6	Network terminal	UI over TCP	Wi‑Fi or Ethernet
7	ESP Wi‑Fi control	Dual Serial + network dashboard	ESP32 or ESP8266

Shared tips for all examples

1. Upload first, then open the terminal — do not leave the Serial Monitor open.
2. Match the baud rate in the sketch header / Serial.begin(...).
3. Prefer a UTF-8 terminal (guide).
4. If the screen goes blank after you unplug/replug USB on Leonardo-style boards, many demos redraw automatically.
5. Examples that wait for a click also accept Enter or Space where noted.

Which board should I use?

• Uno / Leonardo — Basic, Advanced, Buttons, Graphic.
• Mega — All of the above plus ANS files (more memory).
• ESP32 / ESP8266 — Network terminal + ESP Wi‑Fi control (and the Serial demos too).

Official compile coverage is listed in the README.

Customizing an example

1. Open the example.
2. Use File → Save As… so you edit a copy in your sketchbook (not the library copy).
3. Change colors, text, or button labels.
4. Upload and test again.

When you are ready to write your own sketch from scratch, start from Basic or Buttons and keep the pattern: Serial.begin → terminal.begin → draw → read input in a loop.