If you are familiar with C# then .Net Gadgeteer is probably the fastest way to build embedded electronics. Development is done inside Visual Studio, and you can use the free version. A good range of modules for input or output is available (or you can create your own).

You can pretty much find anything you need as a module.
Like a temperature module, barometric pressure, touchscreen, light sensor, gas sensor, accelerometer, microphone, LCD display, Wifi, bluetooth, rs232, SD card reader/writer, camera, distance sensor, moisture sensor, stepper motor controller, relay, etc.

In this post I’m using a mainboard and sensor from GHI Electronics (www.ghielectronics.com/catalog)

So. Here is 10 steps to get you started!

1)

You need a mainboard and a power supply.
For example these two:

a Fez Spider Mainboard and a power supply USB Client DP Module.  It can be powered by USB or by an adapter (any with 2.1mm barrel jack and from 7  to 30 volts).

2)
I’ll also be using a Barometric Pressure sensor and a LCD Character Display.

And everything is connected using these cables (one supplied with each module)

3)
Install .Net MF and packages for Gadgeteer

4)
Start Visual Studio and create a new Gadgeteer project.

Create a .Net Gadgeteer Project

5)
Select your mainboard from the list

Select mainboard from the list

6)
Visual studio creates a basic skeleton program for you. With a few tips on how to get started.

7)
And you are ready to go!
Add modules from the toolbox into the canvas.

8)
When you are done, right click the canvas to select Connect modules automatically (you can do this manually if you want a specific configuration)

.Net Gadgeteer in Visual Studio

9)
Add some code. Intellsense aids you with available properties, events and methods that are available for each module.

For examples of how to use each module, select it from the list at:
www.ghielectronics.com/docs

The codes here is so simple that I don’t include a download. It’s faster to write it yourself 🙂

10)
done!
This example just read the barometric pressure and temperature so that it can display it on the LCD panel.