Installation Options
There are three options available to install EX‑CommandStation:
EX‑Installer is aimed at the Conductor or Tinkerer level user utilising the recommended hardware, and is the simplest option to get EX‑CommandStation installed and running.
The Arduino IDE is more aimed at the Engineer level user who is using different hardware options or requires a level of customisation not available in EX‑Installer.
Microsoft Visual Studio Code (VSC) is more aimed at the Engineer level user who is using different hardware options or requires a level of customisation not available in EX‑Installer. It better that the Arduino IDE in most respects but takes a bit more effort to setup initially. We don’t cover this option on these pages.
Note
A word of caution on the approach of using the Arduino IDE to install the software:
While it is possible install the software using the Arduino IDE, we seriously DO NOT RECOMMEND IT for a Conductor or Tinkerer. It is an order of magnitude more complex, much slower, and with a very high probability of getting something wrong unless you really know what you are doing.
The EX‑Installer described below will meet 100% of the needs of a Conductor or Tinkerer with considerably less effort.