Getting started

What tools do you need before you start

A short bench list: computer, board, cardboard tools, and the parts named in the build.

The problem

You opened a gallery prompt or a generated package and are not sure what to put on the table before cutting or plugging anything in.

Microcontroller board: The small computer that runs your code. In Overhaul QA we use an Arduino Uno, a common starter board with numbered pins along each side.
Jumper wires: Short coloured cables that clip between the board and a part. Colour is a hint, not a rule.

1
You need a computer with a USB port and an internet connection to open the copilot, plus the Arduino IDE (free software from Arduino) to send code to the board.
2
You need the board named in the build, a USB cable that can carry data (some phone cables only charge), and the parts listed on that gallery or shop page: usually cardboard, a servo or motors, sensors or LEDs, and jumper wires.
3
For cardboard: a ruler, scissors, and a cutting mat. A craft knife is useful for slots. An adult should handle the knife. White glue or hot glue both work; hot glue needs adult supervision.
4
You do not need CAD software, a 3D printer, or a soldering iron for the current QA sample builds. If a generated package asks you to solder, stop and use jumper wires instead, or pick a different prompt.
5
If physical kits are not for sale yet (they are not, as of this writing), buy equivalent parts from any electronics shop, or wait. Missing a listed part is covered in “What to do if you don’t have all the parts listed.”

If you walked the steps and the mechanism still does not move, write to us. This is the fallback, not the first stop.