To get the most out of this book
You need basic knowledge of the following:
- Linux, especially on how to use the command line (with auto-completion) and write code with text editors, and you should understand a bit about the file system and how the environment works (with files such as
.bashrc). - Python programming: most of the code will be in Python 3, using object-oriented programming. The better your Python skills, the easier it will be.
- C++ programming: you could decide to only start by following the Python examples, and thus you don’t need C++. If you want to follow C++ examples as well, of course, C++ is needed.
Regarding software and operating systems, you will need to install Ubuntu on your computer (better as a dual boot, and also works with a virtual machine). This book targets Ubuntu 24.04 and ROS 2 Jazzy, but you should be able to get the most out of it with the later versions as well. Step-by-step instructions on how to install Ubuntu (in a virtual machine) and ROS 2 will be provided in the book.
If you are using the digital version of this book, we advise you to type the code yourself or access the code from the book’s GitHub repository (a link is available in the next section). Doing so will help you avoid any potential errors related to the copying and pasting of code.
