> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.protonverse.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quick Start Guide: Set Up Your Proton AI Core Board

> Set up Proton AI Core in minutes. Install drivers, configure Arduino IDE or PlatformIO, and run your first sketch on the ESP32-S3 board.

This guide walks you through everything you need to go from unboxing to running your first program on Proton AI Core. You'll install the required USB driver, add the ESP32-S3 board package to your IDE, connect your board, and upload a simple sketch to verify that everything is working correctly.

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

* A Proton AI Core board
* A USB-C cable (data-capable — charging-only cables will not work)
* A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux
* Arduino IDE 2.x **or** PlatformIO (VS Code extension)

## Setup Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install the USB Driver">
    Proton AI Core uses an onboard USB-to-serial chip to handle programming and serial communication. Before your computer can communicate with the board, you need to install the correct driver.

    Visit the [Driver Installation](/setup/drivers) page for download links and platform-specific instructions. The required driver is for the onboard USB-to-serial chip — **exact chip model: To be confirmed** (typically CP210x or CH340).

    Once installed, restart your computer if prompted before proceeding.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the ESP32-S3 Board Package">
    You need to add Espressif's Arduino core to your IDE so it recognises the ESP32-S3.

    **In Arduino IDE 2.x:**

    1. Open **File → Preferences** (macOS: **Arduino IDE → Settings**).
    2. Paste the following URL into the **Additional boards manager URLs** field:

    ```text theme={null}
    https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json
    ```

    3. Click **OK**, then open **Tools → Board → Boards Manager**.
    4. Search for `esp32` and install the package published by **Espressif Systems**.
    5. Once installed, go to **Tools → Board → esp32** and select **ESP32S3 Dev Module**.

    **In PlatformIO:**

    See the [PlatformIO Setup](/setup/platformio) guide for the equivalent `platformio.ini` configuration.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect Your Board">
    Plug your Proton AI Core into your computer using the USB-C cable. The board will power on immediately.

    Next, identify the correct serial port:

    * **Windows:** Open **Device Manager** and look under **Ports (COM & LPT)** for a new entry such as `COM3` or `COM4`.
    * **macOS:** Open a terminal and run `ls /dev/cu.*` — look for a device named something like `/dev/cu.usbserial-XXXX`.
    * **Linux:** Run `ls /dev/ttyUSB*` or `ls /dev/ttyACM*` — the board typically appears as `/dev/ttyUSB0`.

    In Arduino IDE, select the correct port under **Tools → Port**. In PlatformIO, the port is usually detected automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload Your First Sketch">
    With your board connected and the correct port selected, you're ready to upload your first sketch. Copy the following code into a new Arduino sketch:

    ```cpp theme={null}
    void setup() {
      Serial.begin(115200);
      Serial.println("Proton AI Core ready!");
    }

    void loop() {
      Serial.println("Hello from ESP32-S3");
      delay(1000);
    }
    ```

    Click the **Upload** button (right-arrow icon) in Arduino IDE, or run `Upload` in PlatformIO. The IDE will compile the sketch and flash it to the board. You should see upload progress in the output console, followed by a success message.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the Serial Monitor">
    Once the upload completes, open the Serial Monitor to verify your sketch is running:

    * **Arduino IDE:** Click the magnifying glass icon in the top-right corner, or go to **Tools → Serial Monitor**.
    * **PlatformIO:** Click the plug icon in the bottom toolbar, or run the **Monitor** task.

    Set the baud rate to **115200** to match the rate configured in your sketch. You should see the following output repeating every second:

    ```plaintext theme={null}
    Proton AI Core ready!
    Hello from ESP32-S3
    Hello from ESP32-S3
    Hello from ESP32-S3
    ```

    If you see garbled text, double-check that the baud rate is set to 115200.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Now that your board is up and running, explore what Proton AI Core can really do. Check out the [Camera Guide](/guides/camera) to start capturing images with the OV2640 or OV3660 module, or head to the [AI Inference Guide](/guides/ai-inference) to deploy your first on-device machine learning model.
</Tip>