Using VS Code & PlatformIO to build complex projects on the ESP32
This article explains how to install the Visual Studio Code software with the PlatformIO plugin to be able to program more than 400 development boards within the same software, such as Arduino, ESP32, Nucleo, and STM32, Teensy, and Raspberry Pi. In our case, we can program the ESP32 boards with the Arduino language or with the native ESP-IDF framework.
Boards and libraries are installed automatically by the software.
Visual Studio Code is available on all platforms (Windows / macOS / Linux).
Installation of VS Code
To install Visual Studio Code on Windows, follow the steps below:
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Download the latest version of the software on the Arduino website by clicking on “Download for Windows (Stable Build).”
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Run the .exe installation file; then, after accepting the terms of the license agreement, you can choose the installation folder :
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In the window on additional tasks, check at least the following boxes:
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The installation is now complete, the VS Code welcome page is as follows:
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VS Code is in English by default. To put it in French, you have to download an extension “French Language Pack” available in the plugins manager (last icon in the left menu).
Note
Even if VS Code can be put in French, PlatformIO remains in English .
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Then VS Code must restart to change the language
Visual Studio Code est maintenant en français après redémarrage
Note
To change the language, click on Cogwheel > Command palette and type language in the command palette, then click on Change the display language .
VS Code can be completely customized; among other things, you can change the theme.
Now that the text editor has been installed, PlatformIO must be installed to be able to program the ESP32 boards.
PlatformIO
Installation on VS Code
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The installation of the PlatformIO plugin is done directly in VS Code from the plugin manager. Just type in the search bar PlatformIO and then click on Install .
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If the installation was successful, a window appears inviting you to reload VS Code:
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A new icon has been added to the left menu. We arrive on the home page of PlatformIO :
The installation of PlatformIO is complete.
Configuring PlatformIO for ESP32
Until now, no platform (Arduino / ESP-IDF / STM32Cube) has been installed. All the necessary tools will be downloaded and installed when creating a project on the chosen board.
To be able to program an ESP32 like on the Arduino IDE software (using the Arduino language) :
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Create a new project by clicking on Projects > Create New Project
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Then give a name to your project, and select an ESP32 board, for example, the Espressive ESP32 Dev module . You can then choose between the Framework Arduino or ESP-IDF . Select Arduino to program the ESP32 in the same way as on the Arduino IDE.
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Click on src > main.cpp in the drop-down menu on the left to start programming like on the Arduino IDE.
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To be able to use the PSRAM of the uPesy Wrover Devkit board, you must add in the configuration file platformio.ini
build_flags =
-DBOARD_HAS_PSRAM
-mfix-esp32-psram-cache-issue
