Optimize Embedded Development: Must-Have VSCode Extensions

And welcome back to a new article in the firmware 101 series! In this article, we won't focus on how to do things, but more on with what to do things. I will list the best VS-Code extensions for embedded development. I will also list some other extensions that are not directly related to embedded development, but are very useful.

Disclaimer

The Extensions that I will list are my personal favorites. These extensions are a must-have for me and I use them in every project. I am not sponsored by any of the extension developers.

Extensions

C/C++ Extension

This is the most important extension. It is developed by Microsoft and is the official C/C++ extension for VS-Code. It is a must-have for embedded development. It provides IntelliSense, debugging, and code browsing capabilities. The IntelliSense aspect of this extension is the most important one. It provides code completion, parameter info, and member lists.

PlatformIO

If you are developing firmware for commonly used boards like Arduino, ESP8266 or ESP32, PlatformIO is a must-have. This extension allows you to directly upload your code to the board, and it also provides a serial monitor. It also has a library manager that allows you to easily add libraries to your project. PlatformIO also has a very nice feature called "Project Tasks". This allows you to run common tasks like building, uploading, cleaning, etc. with a single click. After you get comfortable using PlatformIO, you will never go back to the Arduino IDE.

Error Lens

The Error Lens extension is one of my favorite extension for VS-Code. Instead of showing errors with squiggly lines, it shows the error message directly on the line of code where the error is. The error is more visible, and you don't have to hover over the squiggly line to see the error message and save time.

Notes

The Notes extension adds a new tab in the left sidebar. In this tab, you can add general notes that are not related to a specific file. These Notes are markdown friendly, and you can add links, images, etc. to them. I like to use it when I am working on a project and need to design the structure of the flash memory, or allocating pins for peripherals. e.g.:

GitHub Copilot

Copilot is the only extension in this list that is a paid service. Copilot is an artificial intelligence that knows your workspace and gives you completions based on your code. It costs you $10 a month, but it's worth it, and it saves you a lot of time. Here is an example of copilot in action in one of my newest projects:

Logic completion:

Function completion:

Even if these are small snippets, over the project they save you a lot of time.

Finale & your favorite extensions

These are my favorite extensions for VS-Code. I hope you found some new extensions that you can use in your projects! Comment down below what your favorite extensions are for embedded development. I hope you enjoyed this article and see you in the next one!

May your code be bug-free!