# Source: https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-started-with-flora.md

# Getting Started with FLORA

## Overview

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/539/medium800/flora_659_orig.jpg?1396784171)

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/025/470/medium800thumb/flora_FLORA_GIF.jpg?1448318143)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiBbRU5rwQc

FLORA is Adafruit's wearable electronics platform. We designed it from the ground up to provide the best experience for Adafruit's community of makers, hackers, crafters, artists, designers and engineers. It's built around the Atmega32u4 chip, which has built-in USB support. No pesky special cables or extra parts for programming, just plug it in and get started making the wearables project of your dreams! Works on Windows and Mac.

**New! As of May 12th, 2015, we're now selling the&nbsp;Flora v2!&nbsp;The Flora v2 now comes with a micro-USB port instead of a mini-USB port and a programmable NeoPixel installed** (it's connected to Digital 8, ready for your blinky commands)  
  
The FLORA is extremely beginner-friendly-- it is difficult to destroy the FLORA by connecting a battery backwards due to polarized connector and protection diodes. The onboard regulator means that even connecting a 9V battery will not result in damage or tears.   
  
This guide is the first step in using FLORA, plugging it in and programming it to blink its onboard LED! After that you can move on to our[Flora RGB Smart Pixels tutorial](http://learn.adafruit.com/flora-rgb-smart-pixels) and/or [Flora GPS tutorial](http://learn.adafruit.com/flora-wearable-gps "Link: http://learn.adafruit.com/flora-wearable-gps").

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/003/395/medium800/flora_eagle.jpg?1396796115)

Adafruit created the FLORA from scratch after many months of research and we really think we came up with something that will empower some amazing wearable projects.  
  
The FLORA is small (1.75" diameter). We wanted the smallest possible board for our wearable platform. It's based on our experiences shipping our own, shipping, customer-tested [Atmega32u4](https://www.adafruit.com/products/296)[Breakout Board](https://www.adafruit.com/products/296) with 32K flash, 2.5k RAM running at 16MHz.  
  
FLORA has a small but easy to use onboard reset button to reboot the system. The power supply is designed to be flexible and easy to use. There is an onboard polarized 2 JST battery connector with protection schottky diode for use with external battery packs from 3.5v to 9v DC in (It can run on 3V but 3.5V-5V or higher is ideal). Can be used with LiIon/LiPoly, LiFe, alkaline or rechargeable NiMh/NiCad batteries of any size.&nbsp;

Warning: If you plan to use rechargeable batteries, do consider getting a charging solution separate from the Flora.

The FLORA does **not** have a LiPo charger included by design. This allows safe use with multiple battery types and reduces risk of fire as it is not recommended to charge these batteries on fabric.

### Adafruit Micro Lipo - USB LiIon/LiPoly charger

[Adafruit Micro Lipo - USB LiIon/LiPoly charger](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1304)
Oh so adorable, this is the tiniest little lipo charger, so handy you can keep it any project box! Its also easy to use. Simply plug in the gold plated contacts into any USB port and a 3.7V/4.2V lithium polymer or lithium ion rechargeable battery into the JST plug on the other end. There are...

In Stock
[Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1304)
[Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1304/guides)
![Top view of Adafruit Micro Lipo - USB LiIon/LiPoly charger - v1 above a 2-pin JST cable.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1304-06.jpg)

FLORA has built-in USB support. Built in USB means you plug it in to program it, it just shows up. No additional purchases are needed! Works with Mac, Windows, Linux, any USB cable works great. Currently the PCB comes with a mini B connector but future versions may change to microUSB.&nbsp;  
The FLORA has USB HID support, so it can act like a mouse or keyboard, etc.

![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/003/396/medium800/flora_pt_486.jpg?1396796122)

- [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/getting-started-with-flora/flora-pinout-diagram.md)

## Featured Products

### FLORA - Wearable electronic platform: Arduino-compatible

[FLORA - Wearable electronic platform: Arduino-compatible](https://www.adafruit.com/product/659)
FLORA is Adafruit's fully-featured wearable electronics platform. It's a round, sewable, Arduino-compatible microcontroller designed to empower amazing wearables projects.FLORA comes with Adafruit's support, [tutorials and...](http://learn.adafruit.com/category/flora)

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### 3 x AAA Battery Holder with On/Off Switch and 2-Pin JST

[3 x AAA Battery Holder with On/Off Switch and 2-Pin JST](https://www.adafruit.com/product/727)
This battery holder connects 3 AAA batteries together in series for powering all kinds of projects. We spec'd these out because the box is slim, and 3 AAA's add up to about 3.3-4.5V, a very similar range to Lithium Ion/polymer (Li-Ion) batteries and have an on-off switch. That makes...

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### USB cable - USB A to Micro-B

[USB cable - USB A to Micro-B](https://www.adafruit.com/product/592)
This here is your standard A to micro-B USB cable, for USB 1.1 or 2.0. Perfect for connecting a PC to your Metro, Feather, Raspberry Pi or other dev-board or microcontroller

Approximately 3 feet / 1 meter long

In Stock
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### Getting Started with Adafruit FLORA Book Pack

[Getting Started with Adafruit FLORA Book Pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2404)
Pickup a copy of&nbsp;[Getting Started with Adafruit FLORA](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1839)&nbsp;and then hit the ground running with everything that you need to become an [Adafruit FLORA](https://www.adafruit.com/products/659) supreme being!

This pack is...

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### Getting Started with Adafruit FLORA

[Getting Started with Adafruit FLORA](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1839)
 **Making Wearables with an Arduino-Compatible Electronics Platform**  
  
This book introduces readers to building wearable electronics projects using Adafruit's tiny FLORA board: at 4.4 grams, and only 1.75 inches in diameter, and featuring Arduino compatibility, it's the...

No Longer Stocked
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### FLORA Budget Pack

[FLORA Budget Pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1405)
Get started with the fabulous Adafruit Flora platform with this lovely budget kit, just enough to get you started with this fun wearable computer. Included are enough parts to make your first wearable electronic project. There's a Flora motherboard, four ultra-bright chainable RGB pixels,...

Out of Stock
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### FLORA GPS Starter Pack

[FLORA GPS Starter Pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1090)
Get started with the fabulous Adafruit Flora platform with this lovely starter kit. Included are plenty of parts to make a few different fun projects! There's a Flora motherboard, a GPS module that can also perform location datalogging, eight ultra-bright chainable RGB pixels, a battery...

No Longer Stocked
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### FLORA Sensor Pack

[FLORA Sensor Pack](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1458)
Sense the world around you! The FLORA Sensor Pack includes many types of sensors for your wearable enjoyment. Sense motion, direction, color, light levels, touch, and connections with FLORA sensor breakouts and conductive materials, and a few NeoPixels for experimenting with displaying your...

No Longer Stocked
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## Related Guides

- [Datalogging Hat with FLORA BLE](https://learn.adafruit.com/datalogging-hat-with-flora-ble.md)
- [Experimenting with NeverWet + Electronics](https://learn.adafruit.com/neverwet-electronics.md)
- [Flora GPS Jacket](https://learn.adafruit.com/flora-gps-jacket.md)
- [SMSsenger Bag](https://learn.adafruit.com/smssenger-bag.md)
- [Conductive Thread](https://learn.adafruit.com/conductive-thread.md)
- [3D Printed Wireless MIDI Controller Guitar](https://learn.adafruit.com/ez-key-wireless-midi-controller-guitar.md)
- [Mailbox Notification Service](https://learn.adafruit.com/mailbox-notification-service.md)
- [GPS Logging Dog Harness](https://learn.adafruit.com/gps-logging-dog-harness.md)
- [NeoPixel Matrix Snowflake Sweater](https://learn.adafruit.com/neopixel-matrix-snowflake-sweater.md)
- [Chameleon Scarf](https://learn.adafruit.com/chameleon-scarf.md)
- [Adafruit Arduino Selection Guide](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-arduino-selection-guide.md)
- [Citi Bike Helmet](https://learn.adafruit.com/citi-bike-helmet.md)
- [FLORA TV-B-Gone](https://learn.adafruit.com/flora-tv-b-gone.md)
- [Flora Wearable GPS](https://learn.adafruit.com/flora-wearable-gps.md)
- [Flora Accelerometer](https://learn.adafruit.com/flora-accelerometer.md)