In previous two guides – in Part 1 we talked about how to prepare and run Visual Studio Code on Mac, in Part 2 we talked how to setup environment to debug WordPress things. This is the Part 3 of how to setup Visual Studio Code on Mac for debugging Arduino, WordPress etc. In this part we will only talk about how to setup Visual Studio Code on Mac as Arduino IDE to upload code. This is really not what our hugely favourite way as there are probably better alternative IDUs for Arduino – some paid, some free.
Setup Visual Studio Code on Mac For Debugging Arduino : Part 3
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We will not use the official Arduino extension, although in our previous guides we installed that for various reasons. Instead, we will install an extension named PlatformIO :
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1 | http://platformio.org |
Advantage of this PlatformIO is zero manual configuration. It is really easy to setup. Official Arduino extension is not exactly easy or great or has Usood amount of documentations to setup than it is “promoted”. We will simply open Visual Studio Code extension manager, search for official platformio-ide extension and install PlatformIO IDE. It will take good amount of time to install the extra needed components.
Although PlatformIO says that it is an IDE, it really is a plugin for the open source Atom editor. Rest after installation is just easy and matter of getting used with GUI based wizard to setup :
1 | http://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/ide/vscode.html |
In order to use official Arduino extension or something like that, the common method is to open Arduino IDE, go to Preferences, tick Use external editor option (which will make the Arduino IDE have a grey background).
Basically I have not liked the thing, but exactly like I tested on interest which eventually became a guide cum negative feedback, you can also try. Basic problem of official Arduino IDE is it is made for as if child will use. Otherwise it is not so bad. Official Arduino IDE can be hugely modified and we think that part can be a practical guide in future as well as list of “real alternative IDE” for Arduino.
