MCUXpresso for VS Code documentation

Overview

MCUXpresso for VS Code is an NXP extension for Microsoft Visual Studio Code that turns VS Code into a full embedded development environment for NXP microcontrollers. It provides an easy and fast way to create, build, flash and debug applications based on MCUXpresso SDK, Zephyr or Matter projects.

The extension is designed around a few core ideas:

• Guided setup - a companion tool, the MCUXpresso Installer, manages all external dependencies (toolchains, debug probe software, CMake, Ninja, Python, Zephyr SDK, and more) so you can focus on development rather than environment configuration.

• Repository-centric workflow - import an MCUXpresso SDK, a Zephyr west workspace, a Matter application-layer, or an Application Code Hub example, and manage all your projects from a dedicated MCUXpresso view in VS Code.

• Familiar VS Code experience - projects use standard CMake, launch.json and tasks.json files, so everything remains transparent, scriptable, and CI-friendly.

• Rich debug capabilities - Flash Programmer, multi-probe support (LinkServer, SEGGER J-Link, PEmicro), Peripherals, SWO, RTOS thread awareness, memory inspector and Image Info views.

If this is your first time using the extension, the recommended path is:

1. Read the Explore Extension chapter to learn what the extension contributes to VS Code.

2. Install the required dependencies with the Installer Overview.

3. Import a software repository and open one of the Getting Started guides for the ecosystem you are targeting.

Table of Contents

MCUXpresso for VS Code

• Explore Extension
• Settings

Getting Started

• Getting Started
  • Available Getting Started guides

Software Repositories

• Import Repository
• Working with MCUXpresso SDK
• Working with Zephyr
• Application Code Hub
• Working with Matter
• Git Authentication
• MCUXpresso Terminal

Project Management

• Create Project
• MCUXpresso IDE Project Converter
• Import Multiple Projects
• New Project Wizard
• Working with Pure CMake Projects
• Working with MCUXpresso Config Tools
• Working with MCUXpresso Secure Provisioning Tool (SEC)
• Serial Memory Quick Start Guide
• Device Tree
• CMake
• Sysbuild (System build)
• Component Management
• Offline Peripherals
• Linked Projects
• Binary Utilities
• Image Info
• Collaborative Work On Projects
• Add Files to Project/ Remove Files from Project
• Open Linker script

Flash and Debug

• Flash
• Debug
• Debug Common Operations
• Debug Views
• RTOS Details
• Peripherals
• Heap and Stack
• Serial Wire Output (SWO)
• Energy Measurement

MCUXpresso Installer

• Installer Overview
• VS Code Integration
• Offline Installation
• Installer update
• MCUXpresso Installer troubleshooting
• Command line for MCUXpresso Installer

MCUXpresso Tasks for CI/CD

• MCUXpresso Tasks Introduction
• MCUXpresso Task Definition
• MCUXpresso Tasks Usage Examples
• Important notes and limitations of MCUXpresso Tasks automation framework

Reference Guides

• TrustZone Examples on LPC55S6x
• Multicore Examples on LPC55S6x
• SDRAM Examples on RT1060 and MCUXpresso SDK
  • For Segger Probes
  • For LinkServer probes
• Debugging Linux apps with VS Code: a step-by-step guide
  • Outline
  • Preconditions
  • Hello World
  • VS Code
  • Open Project Directory
  • Building with Debug Information
  • Debugging
  • Update launch.json
  • Start Debugging
  • Summary
  • Links

Troubleshooting

• Network Troubleshooting
• General Troubleshooting
• Windows Long Path Support

Useful Links

• MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code

• Community page