Pico C/C++ Development with Visual Studio Code (VS Code): A Development Container Approach!

RE: Pico C/C++ Development with Visual Studio Code (VS Code): A Development Container Approach!

DAB — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 19:45:53 GMT

An interesting approach.

RE: Pico C/C++ Development with Visual Studio Code (VS Code): A Development Container Approach!

BigG — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 22:01:56 GMT

The Development Container technique allows for quickly developing Pi Pico projects without needing to set up the local PC with an SDK and toolchain.

Hi Shabaz

I've been going round in circles all day trying to get the official VS Code extension for Raspberry Pi Pico development working on my Linux OS laptop. I have not got very far..

This is primarily because my VSC is in a bit of a mess with Intellisense complaining about clangd and my new bazel build extension complaining along with cmake getting into a twist. Then when I try building any Pico example there's then the problem of not finding the right compiler etc (more settings issues).

Hence, I thought to look for tips and advice on Element14 and found your excellent blog.

Now, I've stayed well clear from Docker and Git on VSC as I have found in the past that these extensions caused me headaches too.

So, I am trying to understand the benefits of using this container technique.

In light of my problems maybe you can explain how it would make my life easier.

Thanks,

Colin

RE: Pico C/C++ Development with Visual Studio Code (VS Code): A Development Container Approach!

balajivan1995 — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 13:22:39 GMT

Most of the time I hate developing applications in Windows for the lack of proper support when it comes to setting up environment for embedded system applications. This is a really helpful blog. I am trying something similar like this, with support for auto complete as well. I will post my findings soon.

RE: Pico C/C++ Development with Visual Studio Code (VS Code): A Development Container Approach!

DAB — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 20:28:15 GMT

Nice post.

I have just been using the Arduino IDE to program my Pico.

RE: Pico C/C++ Development with Visual Studio Code (VS Code): A Development Container Approach!

dougw — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 15:25:37 GMT

Great step-by-step tutorial...

RE: Pico C/C++ Development with Visual Studio Code (VS Code): A Development Container Approach!

Andrew J — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 09:20:18 GMT

Doh! Got so carried away with asking the question that I forgot to say what a great post it was. When I gave VS as an example, I generically meant “are applications, files etc wholly contained within a container”.

RE: Pico C/C++ Development with Visual Studio Code (VS Code): A Development Container Approach!

Andrew J — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 09:17:28 GMT

With a VM it’s quite easy for me to visualise: everything is contained within the VM. When, if, I’m done with it and delete it, all trace is gone. There are no leftover files in hidden and/or obscure directories or configurations kicking around in equally obscure OS files. How does this work with a container? For example, I could expect that VS Code installs entries into Windows Register when installed normally; on MacOS there’d be files all over the OS file system. Do containers encapsulate this stuff entirely as well?

RE: Pico C/C++ Development with Visual Studio Code (VS Code): A Development Container Approach!

genebren — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 03:41:11 GMT

I just might have to try this. Nothing else has worked for me yet,