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Development Environment§

Prefer to use your kit without coding?

Install Gadget OS directly from your browser and configure it on the touchscreen. The development tools below are only needed for the Weather Station coding path.

This page prepares your computer to configure and upload the Weather Station project. You only need to do this setup once.

You will install three tools: Visual Studio Code (VS Code), the editor; Git, which downloads a required project library; and PlatformIO IDE, the VS Code extension that builds and uploads the firmware. Keep your computer connected to the internet during setup.

Installation Steps§

1. Install Visual Studio Code§

  1. Download the desktop version of Visual Studio Code for your operating system.
  2. Install it and open it.

2. Install Git§

Git is required even if you download the Weather Station project as a ZIP file. PlatformIO uses it to download a library needed by the project.

  1. Follow the Git installation instructions for your operating system. If Git is already installed, go straight to the check below.
  2. After installation, quit VS Code completely and open it again.

  3. In VS Code, select Terminal > New Terminal. In the terminal panel that opens, type the following command and press Enter:

    git --version

You should see a response starting with git version, followed by a version number. If the command is not found or not recognized, finish installing Git and restart VS Code before continuing. See the Git troubleshooting instructions if needed.

3. Install PlatformIO IDE§

  1. In VS Code, open View > Extensions. You can also use Ctrl+Shift+X on Windows/Linux or Cmd+Shift+X on macOS.
  2. Search for PlatformIO IDE and select the extension published by PlatformIO.
  3. Click Install. Wait for the extension and its initial setup to finish; this can take several minutes. Follow any prompt to restart or reload VS Code.
  4. Click the PlatformIO icon in the left sidebar, then open Home under Quick Access.

PlatformIO IDE in the VS Code Extensions view

Linux setup

PlatformIO also requires the python3-venv package on Linux. See the official installation instructions for this requirement and further setup help.

Ready to continue?§

You are ready when:

  • git --version prints a version number in the VS Code terminal.
  • PlatformIO Home opens without an installation error.

Continue with Weather Station Project to download and open the existing project. You do not need to create a new PlatformIO project or complete the Blink tutorial.

If setup does not work§

  • PlatformIO is missing from the sidebar: Open View > Extensions and check that PlatformIO IDE is installed and enabled. Let setup finish, then restart VS Code.
  • PlatformIO reports an installation error: Note the exact message and consult the PlatformIO installation guide. If you remain stuck, contact support with your operating system and the error message or a screenshot.
  • PlatformIO asks you to install Git: Follow Install Git above and check the command in a newly opened VS Code terminal.

Video Tutorial§

If you prefer a video, see Video Tutorials for a walkthrough of the development environment setup.