The Arduino® bootloader is software on all Arduino® boards that allows for easy reprogramming. It runs when the device is turned on and can download new software from a computer. It eliminates the need for an external programming device but takes up space on the chip. Some users remove it to free up space, but it is not recommended. Alternative bootloaders are available online.
The Arduino® bootloader is a small piece of software burned into a chip in all Arduino® boards. Its purpose is to facilitate quick and easy reprogramming. The Arduino® bootloader is open source, which means it can be freely copied, modified, and redistributed, and is only useful on Arduino® systems.
Bootloaders are small pieces of software that run when a computer is first turned on. Most desktop computers use a bootloader to load the computer’s operating system into memory or to boot the operating system along the loading path itself. On machines configured to boot multiple operating systems, a bootloader also serves to prompt the user to select which operating system to use. Despite their relative simplicity, Arduino® devices are essentially very small general purpose computers and require a bootloader when turned on.
The default Arduino® bootloader runs a sequence to determine what software to load into short-term memory. If the board is connected to a computer via USB cable, Xbee® radio, or serial connection, the bootloader will attempt to download new software from the computer. Arduino® programs are also called Arduino® sketches. Once the sketch is downloaded, it will be written to long-term memory and then loaded back into short-term memory for execution. If the card is not connected to a computer or if it fails to download new software, it will load the most recently written program from long-term memory.
An Arduino® bootloader is especially useful because it eliminates the need for an external programming device usually required to modify software on similar devices. Arduino® inventions typically run software directly from chips without the benefit of magnetic storage devices. This approach is faster and cheaper than using magnetic storage. The main disadvantage of a bootloader is that it uses up some of the limited space on the chips, minimizing the space available for software.
Some users have become frustrated with the limitations of the Arduino® bootloader and resort to using an external programming device to remove the bootloader and manually add new programs. While this technique frees up available space and somewhat increases the speed of running the software, it is quite time consuming and not recommended for most users. Other users have written alternative Arduino® bootloaders, some of which are open source and freely available online.
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