It is now easier than ever for any programmer to submit their own Arduino library onto the Arduino ecosystem with Arduino’s new and more transparent workflow.

Libraries

Libraries are groups of code that help create a foundation for your programming projects. They are considered a pillar of the Arduino ecosystem. Libraries carry the data needed to control a wide variety of hardware and software functions so that all components of your Arduino system will work with efficiency and stability, from displays and sensors to storage devices and Ethernet & Wi-Fi connectors. 

Currently, there are nearly 4000 open-source libraries available for open-source use for all your programming needs. These libraries are used to make each part of your system perform a variety of tasks including communicating with other components of your system and applying algorithms to process and arrange your data. These libraries are the building blocks to your very own Arduino system, whether it is a robot or a device. With the help of libraries, you don’t need to create many lines of code just for one piece of hardware.

Some libraries are officially produced, released, maintained, and continuously updated by the Arduino organization. These official libraries include “EEPROM” to read and write permanent storage in your system, “Firmate” to communicate with applications from your computer onto the board, “LiquidCrystal” to manage and control your liquid crystal displays (LCDs), “TFT” to draw text, images, and shapes onto the Arduino TFT screen, and “Wire” to send and receive operatable data from all your connected devices and sensors connected on the board.

In addition to these official libraries, there are thousands more that are supplied and added by the ever-growing Arduino programming community. These custom libraries have helped many Arduino programmers access more data, devices, and sensors outside what the official Arduino team has created for each system. 

Many of the well-known community libraries available are “lvgl” which uses a graphical user interface (GUI) to create and display advanced visual effects, “ArduinoJSON” which is the most popular JSON library for Arduino systems, “FastLED” to control dozens of LED types, and “WiFiManager” which helps your Arduino board connect to the Wi-Fi. 

Anybody is free to create, submit, and distribute a brand-new original code library to include in the continuously expanding library ecosystem provided your library meets the specific requirements for inclusion. In addition, it must also be accepted in the Arduino Lint confirmation process.

However, there’s been a problem in that this particular process has been slower than necessary since you needed to open an issue to the Arduino IDE repository to open and access the said library manually, and it could have taken a few hours or days just to be added to the repository.

Thankfully, Arduino has now updated the submission process for libraries from the community!

A New Way to Submit 

On June 7, 2021, Arduino announced they established a GitHub repository for the library registry. This will make the submission process for new libraries more automated, more transparent, and more efficient for everyone. 

It’s now easier than ever to submit a new library. It starts by opening a request for that repository. You then put the website link to access your library on GitHub to the list. An automated bot checks your library to make sure it works, and when your library passes, your library application will be added to the repository as fast as possible. 

Your library is subject to monitoring by the Arduino team to make sure it is not abused. After your custom library is categorized in the repository list, updates to your library will be routinely inspected and added to the repository (if the updates continually comply with Arduino standards), so nothing is changed for the said libraries as more community programmers like you use your library for their project.

Check out the updated Arduino library repository and directory at GitHub today! When you do, we’d love to hear your feedback.

And if you’re curious about more launches, updates, and new from Arduino and Raspberry Pi, you can always find articles on our Vilros blog to discover more!